The Islamic Marriage

Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) teaches us  that  our  responsibility   and   duty is to  make  the  Nikah in  the  proper Islamic  way,  and  Allah’s (Glorified and Exalted be He)  responsibility is  to create  the  love  and   bond between   us.  This is a vivid truth in front of our eyes.

Experience  shows  us  that  our  elderly  people who  got  married in the  olden  days,  many  of them  went through  great  difficulties in their  lives,  but  up  to  this day  the  couple  is united  and  they have  stood  by one  another through   all  hard  times.

In a Hadith it is mentioned:

“The most Barakah is found in that Nikah wherein the least money and time was spent.” (Narrated by Ahmad/ Kanzul Ummaal, 16:  44577)

Shaikhul Hadith Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (may Allah have mercy on him) used to explain that Nikah is Sunnah. This is well known to everyone. Then  he  used to say that  the  amount of preparation one  makes   to  perform  two  Rak’at of Sunnah Salaah that  is the  amount of  preparation one  should  make to  fulfill the  Sunnah of  Nikah as  well.

These were not just words, but Shaikh (may Allah have mercy on him) practically showed this to the people. On the occasion of an Ijtima (gathering)’ that took place in Saharanpur, Shaikhul Islam Moulana Husain Ahmad Madani (may Allah have mercy on him) told Shaikhul Hadith:

“Here are two good boys, (Moulana Yusuf (may Allah have mercy on him) and Moulana In’amul Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) and you have two daughtes. Why do you not have the Nikah made here?” Shaikhul Hadith agreed and the Nikah was performed then and there.  This was at Jumu’ah time.  After the Jumu’ah Salaah Shaikhul Hadith returned home and told his wife that the two daughters were married.

These  girls  who  hailed from  such  Deeni  households and backgrounds knew  that  their  parents would  make  a good choice  for  them,  so  they  too  agreed.

Shaikhul Hadith then said that the farewell should take place that very night.  Upon  this the  mother  said  that  the girls  do  not  have  any  clothes.  He   replied: “Were they walking around naked till now?  Do they not have clothes?”

Such  were  the  Nikahs of the  pious  people, and  look  at  the Barakah in these  Nikahs, that  Allah   took  work of Deen from Moulana Yusuf (may Allah have mercy on him) to such  an  extent  that when  he  passed away,  his mother  said:  “My Yusuf   tired  himself to  a great   extent  and  he  tired  others  also  to  a great   extent (in  the  propagation of  Deen). Today he is gone to enjoy a sweet sleep.”

Similarly if we look at Moulana In’amul Hasan, millions of people got Hidayah because of him.

As far  as  the  Mas’alah  is concerned,  if the  girl’s  guardians perform  her  Nikah without  her  knowledge and  consent,  the Nikah will be  valid,  but  it will depend on  the  consent of the girl.  If  the  girl is unhappy, and  if she  expresses  her  disapproval on  being  informed,   then  the Nikah will be  cancelled.

This is what Nikahs should be all about in Islam. Today  we utilize  all  our  efforts  in the  Nikah itself,  and  where the  efforts are  really  required, there  we fail to put  in any  effort.

Nevertheless, Barakah in the Nikah is granted by Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), similarly Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) puts Rahmah and blessings  also in that Nikah.