A Guide To Traditional Muslim Marriage (Nikah/Zawaj)
Praise be to Allah عزّ وجلّ, peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammed صلَّى الله عليه وسل
The Importance of Marriage in Islam |
Muslim marriage as defined by the Quran and the Sunnah of our Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم, as the only way for a man and a woman to unite in marriage before Allah عزّ وجلّ.
According to Islam, Muslim marriage is the only way for a man and a woman to have intimate relations while avoiding the major sin of fornication (zina).
| Muslim marriage is called traditional or customary when it precisely follows the commandments of Islam as defined by the Quran, the Sunnah, and Fiqh experts across the four Sunni legal schools. |
Marriage in Islam is very important, as the Quran emphasizes:
“And of His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves, so that you may find tranquility in them; and He planted love and compassion between you. In this are signs for people who reflect.”
(Quran 30:21)
“Allah has given you mates from among yourselves; and has produced for you, from your mates, children and grandchildren; and has provided you with good things”.
(Quran 16-72)
Traditional marriage is thus the type of marriage our Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم strongly encouraged with these words:
“O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty, and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power.”
(Muslim Hadith 1400, Bukhari Hadith 5066)
“And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with Me.”
(Muslim Hadith 1401)
“Marriage is part of my Sunnah, and whoever does not follow my Sunnah has nothing to do with me.
Get married, for I will boast of your great numbers before the nations.
Whoever has the means, let him get married, and whoever does not, then he should fast for it will diminish his desire.
“
(Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1846 )
According to Islamic law, marriage is a private contract that the spouses can discuss and negotiate directly with one another or with the help of family members.
But it is also a religious act since the Quran defines a marriage contract in Arabic as a “Mithaq Ghaliz” (Quran 4:21), in other words, a “sacred pact.”
In Islam, marriage is an act of faith.
Marriage is a contract not only between two people, but also between each of them and Allah عزّ وجلّ because marriage is an act of worshiping the creator.
Marriage is considered a duty in Islam (Quran 24:32). |
The couple enters into this contract during a private wedding ceremony that meets certain conditions. You can learn more about it through our Muslim Wedding Ceremony Guide here.
And Allah عزّ وجلّ knows best
