Nika'h, The Muslim Marriage
Imam Bukhari's collection of Hadith records
the Prophet of Islam S.A.W.S. saying (as reported by Mua'viyah):
When Allah wills a person good,
He makes him comprehend religion.
I am only the conveyor and
Allah, the Supreme Lord, is the Benefactor;
and this Ummah will remain loyal and obedient
to Allah's commands till the Day of Judgment
and will not be harmed by those who oppose it.
To marry and set up a family and bring up children in the best traditions of Islam is not only a religious duty in Islam; it is the best and happiest part of a Muslim's life and achievements.
Whether it is an arranged marriage or a marriage resulting from love, it is most welcome. Marriage is not only a physiological necessity but an Islamic duty, a most pleasing obligation.
The Holy Prophet S.A.W.S. has said: 'Marry the women; whoever avoids my Sunnah does not belong to me.'
Centuries before marriage contracts became the order of the day, the Holy Qur'an prescribed marriage as a "strong pledge".
Islam does not approve of celibacy. Keeping aloof from the requirement of marriage is contrary to Islam.
The Holy Qur'an commands us in Surath Al Furqan verse 54:
"It is He (Allah) Who has created man from water. Then has He established relationships of lineage and marriage; for your Lord has power (over all things)."
In the Sahih Muslim compilation, the Sahabi (Companion) of eminence Abdulla bin Masood has conveyed to us:
the Holy Prophet S.A.W.S.'s saying:
Young men, those among you
who can support a wife must marry.
Marriage restrains eyes (from casting evil glances)
and preserves one from depravity.
If there is a young man who cannot afford it,
he must observe fast.
The fast is a means of controlling (one’s) sexual desire.
The option to fast for this purpose, is not available to us when Allah Saheb has blessed us with His Glorious Neymaath.
By marrying a Muslim girl whom he finds most suitable to be his partner in life, a Muslim attains perfection in his faith and gains mastery over life.
Muslim scholars of every school of thought have taught us that matrimony is among the best of Allah's blessings and a magnificent neymat to us for this world and the life to come. Marriage is the crowning glory of a Muslim’s life.
Once we are married, we will find that
We have a loved one to share our dreams.
She is an excellent partner who helps us in realizing our
highest ambitions.
We find it easier to protect ourselves from temptations and sin.
Our mind and our heart work in unison and in pefect harmony.
Our religion and our material concerns are steered into
the right direction.
When the union is blessed with fruition and by Allah's grace
Children are born to us, a glorious and wonderful world opens before us.
Both husband and wife resolve that the offspring must be provided the best of care and upbringing.
They plan for their children's higher education and start saving for it right away.
Some parents seek more rewarding careers.
Businessmen get new ideas for growth and expansion of their enterprises.
Men in public service fine tune their talents and widen their perspectives and appreciation of the community's problems.
As they start loving their own children, they find their hearts warming up to the children of all their brothers and sisters in Islam.
Life is sweeter, more invigorating and by Allah's grace, most rewarding to the entire community as a result.
Our Niyyath, our motivation, remains elegant and immaculate and we become better and better Muslims every day of our Islamic matrimonial life. Mashaa Allah!
It is not uncommon for unmarried young men and women, especially the most intelligent and sensitive ones, to be facing an unusual set of problems that deny them peace of mind. Once they dare to get married, they will find, insha Allah, that all their problems have vanished.
When you have with you someone to love and care for and protect and provide with all the fine things that make married life such a sweet experience, you find that you are left with no time for yourself.
This proves a blessing. You are not brooding any more on the illusory problems that caused you so much anxiety in the past.
Nika'h is the formalisation of a matrimonial alliance between a Muslim male and a consenting Muslim female, in the presence of a Qazi, designated by the government.
The bride is given away by the Wa'li, who is her father, mother or legal guardian.
There must be present at least one more adult officiating as witness to the event.
The Qazi records the full particulars, such as names, dates of birth, parents' names, addresses, profession and so on of the couple and of the two functionaries named above, in a Dafthar, the Marriage Register.
The Qazi, now asks the bridegroom to hold the hand of the bride's
father or guardian (if he is a male)
The latter tells him he is giving his daughter/ward to the groom on
a 'mahar', dower, of a specified sum (which has been paid already
or will be paid by the groom to his bride).
The groom is duty bound to settle the mahar amount soonest.
The Qazi asks for the groom's response.
The bridegroom declares thrice his wholehearted consent to the
alliance and signs the Dafthar (the Community Register of Marriages)
in a formal commitment to honor the terms of the union.
The process is repeated for the bride in the presence of her Wa’li and
the Witness and her signature is obtained on the document after
she has formally given her consent thrice by word of mouth.
In purdah-nisheen families here the womenfolk are seated in a curtained
enclosure or in a separate hall, the Qazi hands the Dafthar to the Wa’li or
guardian to go to the bride and explain the terms of the Nikah to her.
The Wa’li asks her if she consents to the marriage of her own free will. She has to state her consent thrice.
Her signature is then obtained on the Marriage Register and it is brought back to the Qazi.
The Qazi now seeks the permission of the people assembled and if they say "Yes" en bloc, he delivers the Sermons of the Nika'h.
