Marriage in Islam
The second chapter of the Quran
says: {Your wives are a tilth for you. Go then,
into your tilth as you will Do good deeds, and fear God and know that you shall
meet him. And give good tidings to believers.} [Al-Baqarah 2:223]
In this verse, the words “do good
deeds” sum up the basic theme. This central idea explains the full verse, which
means that one should be engaged in activities which are beneficial for the
future. Man must prepare himself for all the different tests in life, so that
he may gain a place in the world to come. This should be the goal of a person
in life.
The Role of Woman in Building a Successful Life
The verse further says that one
should try to understand how a woman relates to this goal in life. God has
created woman to support man in life, just as the field supports the farmer in
the subsistence of life. This verse of the Quran was revealed in Makkah at a
time when people were debating about the role of women in life. People those days knew only two things about women:
sexual satisfaction and the continuation of the human race. But the Quran says
that over and above those two things, a woman extends a supporting hand in building a successful life.
Therefore, man should utilize
this provision, gifted by nature, and work at building successful lives for
themselves. Any other concept of a woman—less dignified than this—belittles a
woman’s position. A man and a woman come together in marriage so that they may unitedly play
their part in building a greater role in human life.
Marriage as a Source of Repose and Strength
The 30th chapter of
the Quran says, {He created for you from among
yourselves spouses so that you may find repose in them.} [Ar-Rum 30:21]
“Repose” or “comfort” here does
not only mean comfort in a marriage; it also refers to the contribution a
peaceful partner makes towards playing a greater role in life. A unified effort alone enables great tasks to be accomplished in this world. A
solitary person cannot perform any great feat.
The Power of Partnership in History
The first and most natural form
of this united feat is for a man and a woman to come together in marriage. This
brings two souls together, and this unity of the two souls is the only unity
that produces mutual trust and love. The coming together of a man and a woman
in marriage creates the greatest companionship in this world.
If both the husband and wife
realize this and take it as a blessing from God, they can unitedly perform such
great feats that no other human companionship can ever accomplish. Take the
example of the famous French couple Pierre Curie (d 1906) and Mary Curie (d
1934), who unitedly performed great feats in the field of modern science. Their
work was acknowledged, and they were duly awarded the Nobel Prize in 1903 and
1911.
This same potential is waiting to
be discovered in other men and women too. Any couple can achieve success in
their special fields and help in the shaping of history. Nature has endowed men
and women with great capabilities. Anyone who recognizes his role and works
hard can achieve success in his own particular field. Unfortunately, the
superior role of women has not been fully recognized either by the western or
eastern world.
Also Read:
- Male Leadership and Responsibility in Maintaining Family Stability in Islam
- Why Muslim Couples Struggle After Marriage?
- Marriage in Islam As a Sacred Covenant
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Taken from: “The Secret of a Successful Family Life” book by Sheikh
Wahiduddin Khan
