Noorullah Online

There are several benefits for marriage, but the major reasons are listed as follows:

(1) To beget children. This is the main purpose for marriage. The aim is to engender and preserve the human race. Four objectives are accomplished through procreation, (i) to increase mankind (ii) Islam is propagated by increasing the number of followers of the Prophet, salla allahu alayhi wassallam (iii) parents will hope to leave behind children who will pray for them (iv) and if a child dies before the parents, the prayers of the child in Paradise will be very beneficial for the parents.

The first objective is very subtle and not easily comprehended by man. It is a natural truth and the following is its proof. Take for example, a landowner who has generously given a servant a large amount of seed and the tools for cultivation, and who has also given this servant land for cultivation. Now if the servant refuses to till this land and instead allows it to remain uncultivated, useless and dormant, and furthermore, if he also carelessly destroys the seeds, it is clear then that this servant will become an object of wrath by the landowner.

Similarly, God has created man and woman with the will to produce and raise children. The uterus is the fertile field and both the male and female organs are the tools for cultivation. He also created sexual passion in both the male and female for the bearing of children through the use of these organs. This is proof of God’s design. The Prophet has clearly substantiated this when he said “Marry and keep a family”. He who does not marry, destroys these seeds and allows these tools to lie useless and dormant and he thereby goes against God’s wishes.

Infanticide has also been prohibited by God for this reason.

(2) Safety from the devil’s manipulation. The second benefit of marriage is to be safe from the machinations of the devil and to satisfy lust and hence protect the private parts. The Prophet said: “If a man marries, half of his religion is saved. Fear God for the remaining half.” The Prophet said: “Whoever among you is able to marry, should marry, and whoever is not able to marry, is recommended to fast, for fasting diminishes his sexual power.” The pleasure which lies within sexual intercourse is an example of happiness in the afterlife. There is no benefit derived from a thing in which there is no pleasure.

(3) Peace of mind and love. Marriage brings peace of mind as love grows between the couple. Peace of mind is necessary for divine service. God says in the Qur’an:

“It is He Who has created you from a single person, and He has created from him his wife, in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her.”

There is a hadith which says that there are three special times for a wise man: - he speaks secretly with his Lord at one time, he takes account of his actions at another time, and he occupies himself with food and drink at another time. In another narration, a wise man is not desirous except in three matters: to earn his livelihood for the next world, to earn his livelihood for this world, and to taste the pleasure of lawful things.

The Prophet salla allahu alayhi wassallam said:

There is effort in every action and there is struggle in every effort. He who adopts struggle goes towards my Sunnah and guidance.

The Prophet salla allahu alayhi wassallam also said:

Three things are dear to me among earthly matters — perfume, woman and prayer, the latter is coolness to my eyes.

These comforts are thus necessary for peace of mind.