Teachings of Islam on Marriage

By

Dr. Muhammad Jalal Al-Azhari

Jalalraza27@gmail.com

1
 Marriage in Islam

Marriage in Islam is a sacred contract between a man and

woman. Marriage is a natural need blessed by God the Almighty
for the advantages of the people and their spiritual and physical
benefits. Marriage is a sort of worship if good purposes and noble
goals are intended. Marriage is safe source for continuation of
the offspring. Islam supports marriage, facilitates it and paves
the ways for both genders.

Wives of the Prophets and their Offspring

About the messengers and the Prophets who are the chosen
figures and role models, God the Almighty says in the Glorious
Quran.

And before you O Prophet Muhammad! Indeed We have

appointed messengers and made for them wives and
progeny. (Ar-R`aad: 38)

This verse of the Glorious Quran mentions that marriage has

been amongst the practices of the Messengers of God the
Almighty.

2
Marriage in the Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in one of his

Hadith: four things are amongst the practices of the Prophets
(peace be upon them): modesty, using the perfume, using tooth
stick and marriage.(1)

Purpose of Marriage

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) says in another

Hadith: O the group of the youths! Never miss the marriage, as
it is more helpful to lower your gaze, and more helpful to protect
your private part from (prohibited lusts), and whoever of you
cannot bear the marriage then let him observe fasting as fasting
is a shield and protection for him from prohibited sex.(2)

What is Celibacy?

In another Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

has prohibited the celibacy. And celibacy is to remain without
marriage denouncing the worldly life.

3
The Companions of the Prophet Who Vowed not Marry

Once a group of three men came to the houses of the wives of

the Prophet (peace be upon him) asking how the Prophet (peace
be upon him) worshipped Allah. And when they were informed
about that, they considered their worship insufficient and said:
"Where are we from the Prophet (peace be upon him) as his past
and future have been forgiven." Then one of them vowed: "I will
offer the prayer throughout the night forever." The other said: "I
will fast throughout the year and will never break my fast." The
third said: "I will remain away from women and will never
marry." Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) came to them
and asked: "Are you the same people who said so-and-so? By
Allah, I am more submissive to Allah and more careful of Him
than you; yet I fast and break my fast, I do sleep and I also
marry women. So he, who does not follow my tradition in
religion, is not from me (not one of my followers)."(3).

The Prophet Muhammad an Ideal Husband

1-The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to address

his wife, always with dearest name or title to his wife. He used to
shorten Hazrat `Aaishahs name into `Aaish out of love. (4)

4
2- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used consult his
wives in important issues and sought their opinion. As happened
on the occasion of Hudaybiya treaty. The Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) consulted his wife Umm e Salmah (may
Allah pleased with her) and followed her suggestion.(5)

3-The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to help his

wives in domestic duties and goes to Namaz when the prayer
time neared. (6)

4-The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) listened to the

sorrow and grief of his wives and tried to console them.

5- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) praised his

wives and admired them.

6- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to travel

and accompany his wives.

Problems in the Marital Life and their Solutions

This is the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

And these are his teachings but the question is: do we try to
follow his footsteps?

5
If you will adopt the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as
your ideal and role model you surely will avoid many problems of
your marital life, such as Talaq, separation, divorce, and many
other social and family issues.

Why Marriage?

Some of our brothers and sisters may say Dr. Sahib! We are in
the twenty first century, the age of internet, open sky, online
shopping and international friendship. Now, the whole world has
become a small room in communication and information then why
marriage? Do we need the old and outdated traditions?

I will say and advise those brothers and sisters; in fact you are in
illusion.

First of all you are a Muslim and your ideal is the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him). The honored messengers and
Prophets got married and had wives and offspring.

Suppose, you do not want to marry, but do you imagine when

you are in sixty or seventy years of your age, when you are
suffering from old age and weakness and diseases, when you see
the ugly face of death every moment, when you are alone, no
wife, no daughter, no son, no grandson, and no granddaughter.

6
And suppose another person, or one of your friends who is in his
seventy, who is also sick, and weak but he is surrounded by his
wife, son, daughter, grandsons and granddaughters, please, tell
me who is more satisfied with his life; you or your friend? Who is
more confident; you or your friend? Who is more honored and
blessed; you or your friend?

__________

1- Reported by Imam At-Tirmidhy in his Jam`a Al-Kabeer, vol. 2nd, the chapter on
marriage, p.378, Dar Al-Gharb Al-Islami, 1996.

2-Ibid.

3-Al-Bikhari.

4-Ibid.

5- Tafseer At-Tabari vol.2nd, p.233.