Page 1

Marriage in Islam

   
In Islam, marriage is a blessed contract between a man and a woman, in which each  becomes “permitted” to the other, and they begin the long journey of life in a spirit of love, co- operation, harmony and tolerance, where each feels at ease with the other, and finds  tranquility, contentment and comfort in the company of the other. The Qur’aan has described  this relationship between men and women, which brings love, harmony, trust and  compassion, in the most moving and eloquent terms: 

 
(And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves,  that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between  your [hearts] . . . (Qur’aan 30:21) 

  
This is the strongest of bonds, in which Allah (subhaanahu wa ‘ta’aalaa) unites the two  Muslim partners, who come together on the basis of love, understanding, co-operation and  mutual advice, and establish a Muslim family in which children will live and grow up, and they  will develop the good character and behavior taught by Islam. The Muslim family is the  strongest component of a Muslim society when its members are productive and constructive,  helping and encouraging one another to be good and righteous, and competing with one  another in good works.

  
The righteous woman is the pillar, cornerstone and foundation of the Muslim family. She is  seen as the greatest joy in a man’s life, as the Prophet  said:
“This world is just temporary conveniences, and the best comfort in this world is a righteous woman.”   
  
A righteous woman is the greatest blessing that Allah (subhaanahu wa ‘ta’aalaa) can give to a  man, for with her he can find comfort and rest after the exhausting struggle of earning a living.  With his wife, he can find incomparable tranquility and pleasure. 

 
How can a woman be the best comfort in this world? How can she be a successful woman,  true to her own femininity, and honored and loved? This is what will be explained in the  following pages:

  
She chooses a good husband  

 
One of the ways in which Islam has honored woman is by giving her the right to choose her  husband. Her parents have no right to force her to marry someone she dislikes. The Muslim  woman knows this right, but she does not reject the advice and guidance of her parents when  a potential suitor comes along, because they have her best interests at heart, and they have  more experience of life and people. At the same time, she does not forego this right because  of her father’s wishes that may make him force his daughter into a marriage with someone  she dislikes. 

 
There are many texts that support the woman in this sensitive issue, for example the report  quoted by Imam Al-Bukhaari from al-Khansa’ bint Khidam: