It should be understood that Islam is a complete and comprehensive religion that takes into account every aspect of human need, including physical, mental, spiritual, and social needs. To fulfill these needs, Islam has declared marriage to be a blessed act, which serves as a means of protection from many harms for both the individual and society.
Through marriage, a man and a woman begin a shared life in a lawful, pure, and dignified manner. As a result, chastity and moral integrity are preserved, and society is safeguarded from destructive evils such as immorality and moral corruption. Due to this great objective, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ declared marriage to be from his Sunnah.
It is narrated from Umm-ul-Mumineen, Sayyidah ‘A’ishah (رضي الله عنها), that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Marriage is part of my sunnah, and whoever does not follow my sunnah has nothing to do with me. Get married, for I will take pride in your great numbers before the other Ummahs. Whoever has the means, let him get married, and whoever does not, then he should fast for it will diminish his desire.”
(Sunan Ibn Mājah, Hadith no. 1846)
This blessed Hadith clearly shows that marriage protects a person from numerous sins and moral failings which, if not kept under control, can lead to the destruction of both the individual and society.
Some people avoid marriage primarily due to fear of financial responsibility. At first glance, this concern appears reasonable, as a person living alone has limited expenses and is not responsible for supporting others. Once a person gets married, the responsibility of a wife and children falls upon his shoulders, and expenses naturally increase.
Nevertheless, there is an important and reassuring reality to consider: Allah Almighty does not send children into the world merely as a burden of responsibility; rather, He sends their ‘rizq’ (sustenance) along with them. Observation and experience show that after marriage, many people experience an increase in their provision, and new sources of income open up that they had never previously imagined. The Qur’an clearly points to this reality when Allah says:
“Arrange the marriage of the spouseless among you, and the capable from among your bondmen and bondwomen. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them out of His grace. Allah is All-Encompassing, All- Knowing.”
(Surah an-Nur, 24:32)
Therefore, every believer should ensure that fear of financial hardship does not become an obstacle to marriage. Instead, one should strive to marry while placing complete trust in Allah. Until marriage becomes possible, one should protect oneself from sin by fasting frequently, guarding one’s gaze, and continuously making dua to Allah, asking Him for ease and facilitation in marriage.
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دلائل:
سنن ابن ماجه: (رقم الحديث: 1846، 592/1، ط: دار إحياء الكتب العربية)
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْأَزْهَرِ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : " النِّكَاحُ مِنْ سُنَّتِي، فَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِسُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي، وَتَزَوَّجُوا فَإِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمُ الْأُمَمَ، وَمَنْ كَانَ ذَا طَوْلٍ فَلْيَنْكِحْ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصِّيَامِ ؛ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ ".
بذل المجهود في حل سنن أبي داود:(7/ 580،ط:مركز الشيخ أبي الحسن الندوي)
فتقديره: من استطاع منكم الجماع لقدرته على مؤنه، وهي مؤن النكاح فليتزوج، ومن لم يستطع الجماع لعجزه عن مؤنه فعليه بالصوم، ليقطع شهوته ويقطع شر منيه كما يقطعه الوجاء، وعلى هذا القول وقع الخطاب مع الشباب الذين هم مظنة شهوة النساء ولا ينفكون عنها [غالبا].
Allah the Almighty knows best.
Darul Ifta al-Ikhlas, Karachi.