Quranic Commandments on Nikah
In Islam, marriage is sacred relationship and Allah has sent down the commandments, which if followed will lead to a blissful married life.
By G.M.Shaikh
The institution of marriage is the foremost and oldest. When Allah created Adam (Pbuh), he had to create Hawwa (Pbuh) also. She was his mate and companion for pro-creation and perpetuation of progeny. "Men, have fear of your Lord , who created you from a single soul. From that soul, he created its mate, and through them, he bestrewed the earth with countless men and women. (Al-Nisa-4:1).
The relation between man and woman through the institution of marriage is not mere gratification of biological urges. However, it is an intimate relationship of cultural, moral and spiritual life. Through the institution of marriage, many of the ills in society are avoided. For a successful and harmonious relation between the twain, Allah has prescribed certain codes of conduct. Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) had said that normally in marriage four things are looked into- family, beauty, wealth and piety, so weigh piety more than other things.
Commandments
1)You shall not wed idolatresses, unless they embrace the faith.
A believing slave -girl is better than an idolatress, although she may please you, nor shall you wed idolaters unless they embrace the faith. A believing slave is better than an idolater, although he may please you. These call to the fire: but Allah calls you, by his will to paradise and to forgiveness. He makes plain his revelations to mankind, so that they may be mindful.
2) It shall be no offence for you to openly propose marriage indirectly to such woman or to cherish them in your heart. Allah knows that you will remember them. Do not arrange to meet them in secret and if you do, speak to them honorably. But you shall not consummate the marriage before the end of their waiting period. Know that Allah has knowledge of all your thoughts. Therefore take heed and bear in mind that Allah is forgiving and merciful. (Al- Baqara: 2.235).
3 ) If you fear that you cannot treat orphans with fairness, than you may marry such women as seem good to you; two three or four of them. But if you fear that you cannot do justice, marry one only or those you possess. ( Al-Nisa: 4.3). 4) Henceforth, you shall not marry the women, who were married to your fathers. That was an evil practice, indecent and abominable.
5) Forbidden to you are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal and maternal aunts, the daughters of your brothers and sisters, your foster-mothers, your foster-sisters, the mothers of your wives, your step-daughters, who are in your charge, born of the wives to whom you have gone in-but there is no sin on you if you have not gone into them (to marry their daughters)-forbidden to you also are the wives of your own begotten sons and to take in marriage two sisters at one and the same time unless this had had happened in the past. Allah is forgiving and merciful (Al-Nisa - 4.23).
6 (Forbidden to you also) are married women, except those, whom you own. Such is the decree of Allah. All women other than these are lawful to you, provided you seek them with your wealth in modest conduct, not in fornication ( Al-Nisa - 4.24).
7 It any one of you cannot afford to marry free believing women (let him marry) from among the owned believing women. Allah best knows your faith; you are all alike (in terms of religion). Marry them with the permission of their masters and give them their dowry in all justice, provided they are honourable and chaste, and have not entertained other men. But if you abstain, it will be better for you. Allah is forgiving merciful. (Al-Nisa - 4.25)
8 Lawful to you are the free believing women; and the free women from among those who were given the Book, before you, provided that you give them their dowries and live in honour with them neither committing fornication nor taking them as mistresses. (Al-Nisa - 5.5). 9 The adulterer may marry only an adulteress or an idolatress and the adulteress may marry only an adulterer or an idolater. True believers are forbidden such (marriages). (Al-Nur - 24.3).
10 Unclean women are for unclean men, and unclean men for unclean women. These shall be cleared of calumny they shall be shown forgiveness, and a generous provision shall be made for them.
11 Believers, when believing women, seek refuge with you, test them. Allah, best knows their faith. It you find them true believers, do not return them to the infidels; they are not lawful to the infidels, nor are the infidels lawful to them. But hand back to the unbelievers what they have spent. Nor is it an offence for you to marry such women, provided you give them their dowries.
Do not hold on to the ties of marriage with unbelieving women; demand what you have spent, and let them ask for what they have spent. Such is the law, which Allah lays down among you. Allah is Wise and All-knowing (Al-Mumtahina - 60.10).
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GUIDELINES
Sincerity Matters Most!
Sincerity is a very important factor in the life of a Muslim, for, all one’s activities are judged only on the basis of one’s intention. If it is good, the action is good. Sincerity can rightly be called the life and soul of the entire moral edifice of Islam. If the action lacks sincerity, however dignified or pious it may be, it will not fetch any reward from Allah. The Prophet (Pbuh) said: “O people! The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions, and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.” (Bukhari).
“If anyone’s intention is to seek the hereafter, Allah will place his sufficiency in his heart and order his affairs, and the world will come to him submissively; but if anyone’s intention is to seek worldly good, Allah will place poverty before him and disorder his affairs, and only so much of it as has been ordained for him will come to him.” (Mishkat)
The only incentive for a Muslim in the discharge of his duties should therefore invariably be only the attainment of the pleasure of Allah, or in other words to obey His commandments only for the adoration of the Hereafter.
Allah is Omnipresent, All-knowing, All-hearing. Nothing is concealed from Him. He knows even the hidden secrets of our hearts.
He is well aware of our intentions. We can deceive man, but can never deceive Him. If we perform a deed only to carry out His order, seeking solely His Pleasure, He will accept it, and grant the promised reward, but if the real incentive of the deed is some worldly gain or just to please people, He will reject it, be it even a prayer.
A Muslim is, hence, required to be on a constant watch of his intention and keep it always pure. Therefore, one should always avoid show and vanity, and should render our actions to only please Allah. Similarly, Salaat is the best of all actions a servant can do, but even this prayer is rejected if it is performed only for the sake of show.
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