Marriage is a beautiful journey that requires patience, love, and understanding to thrive. While there are many factors that contribute to a happy and successful marriage, Islamic teachings and values play a crucial role in sustaining it over time. The Qur’an endorses marriage and mentions the rights and values that encompass a successful and happy marriage. Let’s go through some of the verses in the Qur’an that mention the values of marriage in Islam.
Significance of Marriage
“And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty, and Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.” [24:32]
Marriage is regarded highly and emphasized throughout the Quran. Everyone who is single and righteous has God’s blessing to be married, according to this scripture. This means not only having the right frame of mind, but also having the ability required to carry out the duties of matrimony. This verse reassures us that material possessions shouldn’t prevent us from tying the knot. Some families may forbid their children from dating or marrying unless the prospective bride or groom reaches a certain financial threshold. The quality of a person’s character, however, is more permanent than their financial standing.
The distribution of wealth is never stable and is always subject to change. This passage reassures us that Allah is all-knowing and always there to lend a hand. That’s why it’s important to go into marriage (or the pursuit of marriage) with the right attitude. Seeking marriage can be put on hold, though, if one is in a position where they cannot provide for themselves or a possible spouse. Those who are financially unable to marry are advised to fast, since this protects their chastity and can lead to rewards that can help them get married.
“The Messenger of Allah said: ‘O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity, and whoever cannot, then he should fast, for it will be a restraint (wija’) for him.’” [Sunan an-Nasa’I, 3209]
Role of Wives and husbands in Marriage
“They are clothing for you, and you are clothing for them.” [2:187]
In this verse from the Quran about marriage, spouses are compared to clothes or garments. In this way, both the husband and the wife have the same role to play in the relationship. Because the purpose of a garment is to hide and protect, spouses are each other’s shelter and protection. If one partner is lacking in some way, it is the other’s job to make sure that this is not shown to people outside of the marriage.
To be like clothes to each other means to be there for each other and look out for each other. If one partner is feeling vulnerable, the other partner is ready to comfort and support them. This verse also talks about how important it is to spend quality time together and respect each other’s rights. Spouses should work together to make sure their marriage is a place where they can trust and rely on each other. The idea that spouses are like clothes paints a clear picture of the closeness and bond that are at the heart of a healthy relationship.
The Quran says that marriage is a safe place and a place of warmth.
Being kind and fair to women
“O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear immorality. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them – perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good. But if you want to replace one wife with another and you have given one of them a great amount [in gifts], do not take [back] from it anything. Would you take it in injustice and manifest sin?” [4:19-20]
Since marriage is a contract in which both people agree to the terms and conditions, including the type and amount of the dowry, breaking what was agreed upon is seen as unfair. These verses about marriage are meant to protect women from wrongdoing. They say that men or their relatives shouldn’t think of women as their property or as things they own. Also, a woman’s husband or his heirs can’t take back anything she owns, including her dowry or any gifts that were given to her. If a husband doesn’t ask his wife for money willingly, forcing and bothering her to get her money is considered unfair and an act of oppression.
Even when they are fighting or getting a divorce, the Quran tells men to treat women with kindness and respect. Even though being kind to your spouse should be a given, the fact that it is stressed in the Quran shows how important it is to treat each other well. These verses say that a person should treat their spouse well, even if they dislike something about them. This is because there may be good things about their partner that make up for their flaws.
Marriage and the Quran
The verses in the Quran that talk about marriage show that it is not just a “legal or religious” relationship, Marriage is a union that is held together by feelings like love, friendship, kindness, compassion, and support. The Quran tells married people to be kind to each other. A relationship is safe when both people are committed, respect each other’s rights, and are honest in their intentions and actions.
In the end, the Quran says that marriage is about building a life that makes it easier for the couple to be happy and successful. This makes for a good home environment for the family, which is good for society as a whole.
