Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

12 June 2025

3-minute read

The institute of nikah is a sacred one dating back to the inception of humankind. With the wedding season upon us once again, Ml Ebrahim Bham has produced an inspiring series on the process of marriage from the outset.

So…why do we get married?

The first reason is that it is a Sunnah of Nabi SAW and all the Ambiya AS. Aside from Yahya AS who renounced the material world, and Isa AS who will get married when he comes back to earth as one of the major signs of Qiyamah, all the other Prophets AS got married. In the time of Nabi SAW, there were three Sahabah RA, one of whom wanted to spend all his time in fasting, the other in salaah all night, and the third who felt that marriage would hinder his worship and thus decided never to make nikah. When Nabi Muhammad SAW came to know of this, he put his own example before them, stating “I also get married.” Following the Sunnah is part of deen and Rasulullah SAW said something to the effect: “he who forsakes my Sunnah is not from amongst me.”

Marriage brings about comfort and tranquillity in our lives. Unlike other relationships, marital life has been referred to by Allah SWT as from amongst “His signs,” predestined and divinely written by Allah SWT, who Himself puts love, kindness and mercy between the married couple.

The sanctity of nikah guards us from falling into sin; it protects our modesty and chastity. Physical desires exist naturally in men and women, and to suppress these desires can be harmful for one’s health. Fulfilling one’s desires outside the institution of marriage will lead to people thinking that pleasure does not come with responsibility. Loyalty, devotion and other values will fall by the wayside if men and women feel that they can fulfil their desires with whomsoever they want. Desires fulfilled within the beautiful domain of nikah are a form of sadaqah. If a man cannot control his desire, it is Waajib for him to get married. However, if he does not have the means, the ability or the capability to enter into nikah, he should fast to curb his lustful inclinations. Marriage is not a solution to rectify a faulty individual, or to get someone who is involved with someone unsuitable onto the right track.

Another objective of marriage is the continuation of the human race with dignity. As the representatives of Allah SWT, civilization continues through intimacy between men and women. Nikah is the ideal environment for the next generation to come into existence. The tarbiyah of the child is nurtured within a stable home environment where a mother and father are both present. However, this is not the sole objective of nikah. Some couples are unable to bear children, and this does not mean that those couples who are not blessed with children have unsuccessful marriages.

Finally, marriage creates emotional and spiritual companionship between a couple, as well as peace of mind. It develops Akhlaq and good character by instilling a sense of kindness, compassion, responsibility and tolerance within both partners.

Listen to the podcast with Ml Ebrahim Bham here.