Marriage is an act of worship to Muslims, but a sin to others!

From the principles of truthful faith is: A believer should seek reward for his actions from Allah (may He be Exalted) even if this action is of worldly nature. A believer knows how to direct and devote his intention in all his actions so that he can get the full reward, whereas non-believers cannot direct and devote their intentions to benefit from their actions.

A believer intends to obey Allah in all his actions: food, sleep, purchase, travel, and all the actions that seem to be of worldly nature to some people.

Marriage in the sight of believers is a pure act of worship which they use to draw near to Allah, how would not it be while they think of it as a mean to protect themselves against vice, a mean to keep away from the unlawful, and a way to establish righteous family that contributes in building a good society?

However, the weakness of religious culture - to many people - feebleness of faith, and being away from Allah resulted in producing a new kind of superficial culture which regards marriage as a punishment or sin!

Some people think that marriage is just costs, charges, and unnecessary responsibilities. They believe they should keep away from marriage or delay it under pretence of saving money and effort. As for the human desires and his natural emotions, they do not consider suppressing them harmful. Moreover, they do not object to direct them to unlawful ways because the issue of lawful and prohibited does not concern them.

Housing, psychological calmness, stability, keeping the eye downward, keeping away from what Allah has prohibited, establishing a Muslim family, and seeking knowledge to participate in promoting the nation are all terms that are not found in their dictionary.

From the foolishnesses that some people release: Calling to delay marriage of youth to 30 years old under pretence of providing home and work and preparing the financial circumstances from their point of view. In the meanwhile, tangible reality proved the corruption of this view as follows.

Marriage, even if it is early, makes youth bear the responsibility and engagement in early age directs the interests of a young man to his life mate which makes him lower the gaze as being loyal to his future wife. He will direct the money which he spends without account to the house which he fosters. He also will dedicate time to his home; hence marriage regulates time and priorities and enables them to benefit from their spare times in things that are useful.

Early marriage has a special importance in securing stability and psychological calmness, especially, at this time in which temptations, seditions, and mixture spread, in addition to what the information media broadcasts.

Our Righteous Predecessors and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to marry in early age. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever among you can marry, should marry." `Aishah was married to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) while she was under ten of age then she became a mother of the believers who narrates Hadiths from the Messenger of Allah and teaches Muslims their religion.

I do not think that early marriage for youth, even if they are students, is difficult because many youth have done it, so one has to disengage himself from this illusion.

Sheikh Ali At-Tantawy (may Allah be pleased with him) said: What is the impediment that prevents a student to marry his school mate? Is not that better than having an illegal relationship outside marriage?

Does not marriage help students to lower their gaze and clear their mind for their study instead of busying themselves with something else?

Marriage helps a student to concentrate on study and provides the suitable conditions for it. It is not an obstacle before it because it is the reason of stability, self-comfort, and calmness, otherwise where can a student go? Should he unleash himself for desires and bad morals or keeps on crying for his bad luck until he gets a mental disease?

In short, marriage is full of benefits and gains, such as: keeping the eye downward, achieving psychological and emotional stability, saving time and money, and protecting religion.