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
Talking about value of marriage in Islam this article is very helpfull for those who have less knowledge about an Islamic marriage
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THE ARTICLE IS VERY WONDERFUL, AS SO MANY YOUTH TODAY JUST GET FOR MARRYING WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT CRITICALLY
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Great
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This is appreciable, youth need to understand more and more before they are going to marry. marriage is really serious affair in Islam, once we have given the promise to the partner we should not break within time of temptaion.
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I am convinced that Islam provides the best way of selecting spouse, and infact, we need to educate our youth on Islamic marriage. thank you very much
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I think you should provide more information on the importance of marriage itself.
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itz really gr8 each and everythn written is true accordingly to shariah and quaran i really appreciate in this keep up the spirit and let us know more about the islamic way do and donts and also plzz give more concentration for the youth purpose like me who is goin to get a marraige and no idea wat our religion says thank you very much i have learned so many thinks from this wonderful site thanks again shakeel
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essalamou alikom,it is agood article , i'am not married but i want to add that if the wife or the hasband love eash ather because they love god they will forme a succeseful marriage they will encorege them selfs and forme one hand to win paradise together
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Asalam alehum,Keept up and may Almighty Allah increase your knowlege amino and have little things to say,Am so glad to write this letter because we muslim,we have alont of things to do in islam,we have to know al-qurian very well but is not all of us,know al-qurian so we need to ask before we do thing in life so that we will not be in wrong way and even soneome know al-qurian we need to sarech for more knowlege ,thanks.
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This article was great and very understandable. there are books based on issues like these and make no sense at all.
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