Marriage is recommended for partners who share a common way of life. The matrimonial partners should be able to fulfill their purpose of creation as defined by Allah. They should be able to effectively carry out their responsibility as care-takers (khalifah) of earth. They should share the common goal of building a well integrated Muslim community and be able to work harmoniously towards it.
Criteria for Selecting a Marriage Partner
Normally the criteria for selecting matrimonial mates are many: wealth, beauty, rank, character, congeniality, compatibility, religion, etc. The Quran enjoins Muslims to select partners who are good and pure (tayyib)
"Women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity "(Quran 24:26)
Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, recommended Muslims to select those partners who are best in religion (din) and character.
"A woman may married for four reasons: for her property, for her rank, for her beauty, and for her religion (and character). So marry the one who is best in the religion and character and prosper". (Bukhari and Muslim)
Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, assured the bounty of Allah to those who wish to get married and live a pure and clean life.
"Three groups of people Allah obliged Himself to help them: Mujahid in the cause of Allah, a worker to pay his debt, and the one who wants to marry to live a chaste life" (Tirmidhi).
Freedom to Choose a Marriage Partner
Islam has given freedom of choice to those who wish to get married. The mutual choice of the would-be-spouses is given the highest consideration:
"do not prevent them from marrying their husbands when they agree between themselves in a lawful manner" (Quran 2:232)
The process of mate selection should be a function of a healthy balance between the freedom of choice of the would-be-spouses and consideration of the influence and consent of the parents/guardians.
The freedom of choice of those who wish to get married should not preclude the influence and consent of the parents/guardians nor should the parents/guardians ignore the wishes and consent of the would be spouses.
Falling in love is not a pre-condition for marriage in Islam. However, for the purpose of selecting an appropriate mat, the would-be-spouses are allowed to see and/or talk to each other.
Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, recommended:
"When one of you seeks a woman in marriage, and then if he is able to have a look at whom he wishes to marry, let him do so". (Abu Dawood)
The would-be-spouse are allowed to see each other for matrimonial purposes under the direct supervision of their mahram relatives. This provision is expected to be conceived and executed with piety and modesty.
Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, instructed:
"No man has the right to be in the privacy with a woman who is not lawful for him. Satan is their third party unless there is a mahram". (Ahmad)
The would-be-spouses residing in non-Muslim societies are recommended to enter into a pre-nuptial commitment to safeguard Islamic values and Muslim personal law.
Reprinted with permission: "Marriage and Family in Islam' by Mohammad Mazhar Hussaini
Comments
I enjoyed your write-ups on marriage it has helped me to have a better perspective of what marriage is all about.Am planning to get married soon and this articles has helped me reach a better understanding of the do's and don'ts.May Allah continue to guide us.
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This article has done a great deal for me against the future. Actually i was targeting a sister but am confusing about that, but when i visited your web site i discovered that my dellima has been solved. May almighty Allah reward you all abundantly.
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That was a good article.But people who are not moslem needs more information than you have written here.
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Give us more information from Quran.
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excellent
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Great article. Written very well. Just one problem though, the quote from the Quran used is not correct. Quran 2:232 does deal with marriage, but concerns a woman and man who have previously divorced each other. "When ye divorce women, and they fulfil the term of their ('Iddat), do not prevent them from marrying their (former) husbands, if they mutually agree on equitable terms..." Don't want anyone to be confused. Good article though, mashallah. Salaam.
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Assalamu, AlakiumI have the article on marriage and the article has done a great deal for me. Where I understand the islamic law within marriage.
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Very good article. I learned a lot of things that I didnt know before. It was very helpful.
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Well as a member for Physchological issues on women before and after marriages i suggest its really awesome to some one together as a future partner well i must tell you that please keep it up 050-6761737
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As Salaam AlaykumVery enlightening indeed. Marriage is so easy as defined in Islam and yet people have made it so complicated. I learnt some good stuff here. Jazak Allah!Shadaan
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