This document discusses the essentials of Muslim marriage according to Islamic teachings. It defines marriage as a contract that results in a man and woman living together with rights and obligations to support one another. Key aspects of a successful Muslim marriage highlighted include having a shared faith, patience, developing friendship with one's spouse and in-laws, choosing pious friends, incorporating fun activities together, establishing financial plans, prioritizing family, allowing freedom while being considerate of one another, planning for the future, and finding fulfillment in fulfilling one's role to their spouse. References are also provided at the end.

1. Essentials of Muslim Marriage
Course-LL.B
Subject-Family law
Unit-3
1

2. The Definition of Marriage (Nikah) in
Islam
• Sheikh Muhammad Abu Zahrah (a modern
scholar) defines it like this:
"A contract that results in the man and woman
living with each other and supporting each other
within the limits of what has been laid down( in
Islam) for them in terms of rights and obligations."
Sheikh Ibn Uthaimeen takes an even more
comprehensive view of the institution of marriage:
"It is a mutual contract between a man and a
woman whose goal is for each to enjoy the other,
become a pious family and a sound society."

3. Marriage-source of love and mercy
"And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates
from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility
with them, and He has put love and mercy between your
hearts. Undoubtedly in these are signs for those who
reflect." [Noble Quran 30:21]
Your wives are a garment for you, and you are a garment
for them." (2:187)

4. Marriage a way to procreation
• And Allah has made for you your
mates of your own nature, and made
for you, out of them, sons and
daughters and grandchildren, and
provided for you sustenance of the
best." [Noble Quran 16:72]

5. Importance of Marriage in Hadith
• "O you young men! Whoever is able to marry should
marry, for that will help him to lower his gaze and guard
his modesty." [Al-Bukhari]
• Modesty was regarded as a great virtue by the Prophet.
He said, "Modesty is part of faith." [Al-Bukhari]
• "Marriage is my sunnah. Whosoever keeps away from it is
not from me.
• When a man marries, he has fulfilled half of his religion,
so let him fear Allah regarding the remaining half."

6. 11 Essentials of Successful Marriage
1-Faith
2-
Forbearance
3-Friendship
with spouse
4-Friendship
with in laws
5-Our
friends
6-Fun
7-Financial
plan
8-Respect
for family
9-Freedom
10-Plan for
future
11-
Fulfillment

7. Characteristics of good
spouses
• For Muslim men and women for
believing men and women for devout
men and women for true men and
women for men and women who are
patient and constant for men and
women who humble themselves for
men and women who give in charity for

8. 1-Faith (Iman)
• The most essential attribute of a Muslim marriage is
the common faith that binds the couple.
• Since Islam is a way of life and not just a religion
confined to weekly worship it becomes an integral part
of a Muslim's life.
• The religious frame of reference shared by the
couple creates an ease of communication
• This helps in sharing of values that is not possible in
an interfaith marriage.

9. Faith
• Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said that when a
husband feeds his wife, he gets a reward for this
act and Allah increases the bond of love between
them.
• So when we love each other for the sake of Allah
(SWT) we actually increase our faith.
• It is highly recommended that faith play an
important role in developing a loving
relationship.

10. 2-Forbearance (Sabr)
• Sabr is necessary tool to have in managing a
healthy lifestyle.
• Being patient and forbearing puts us in a proactive
frame of mind
• It brings us closer to Allah (SWT) through tawakkul
and reliance.
• We develop an inner mechanism that empowers us
to handle life's difficult moments.
• As Allah states in surah Al-Asr :
• "Surely by time humans are at loss, except those who believe
and do righteous deeds and counsel each other to the truth and
counsel each other to patience [sabr]."
•

11. 3-Friendship With Your Spouse
• We should develop a friendship with our
spouses.
• The relationship based on friendship is strong
enough to withstand outside pressures.
• We must honor, trust, respect, accept and
care for our friends, in spite of our differences.

12. Friends with mutual respect
• Shariah has placed the husband in a leadership role
within his family and this requires a certain mutual
respect & decorum.
• Husband is not a dictator, but a shepherd who is
responsible to and for his flock.
• This is a position of grave responsibility and places an
enormous burden on the husband.
• Furthermore, the children need to see their parents
as friends who respect each other.

13. 4-Friendship With In-Laws
• We should have friendly relations with in-
laws.
• When couples compete as to whose parents
are more important it becomes a constant
source of grief.
• Much valuable time is wasted trying to
convince one another of whose parents are
most desirable.
• It is better if we accept that our spouses will
not fall in love with our parents overnight just
because we want them to.
• As long as they maintain relationships that
are cordial and based on mutual respect, we

14. 5-Choosing-Friends
• It is ok to have individual friends of the same gender
• Couples must also make an effort to have family friends so that they can
socialize together.
• If there is friction being caused by a certain friendship it must not be
pursued at the expense of the marriage.
• Prophet Mohammad (SAW) advised us to choose God-fearing people as
friends, since we tend to follow their way.
• Friends should be a source of joy and not mischief.

15. 6-Fun
• Couples that do not laugh together have to work on
sharing some fun times.
• The Prophet was known to play with his wives.
• A simple walk in the park can add much spark to the
relationship.
• Taking up a sport together
• Watching appropriate funny movies is another way of
sharing a laugh.

16. 7-Financial-Plan
• One of the most common points of contention in
marriages is money.
• Experts tell us that 80% of marital conflicts are about
money.
• Couple put serious time and effort in developing a
financial management plan that is mutually agreeable and is
reviewed every six months or so.
• Preparing a budget together is also a helpful and wise
way to handling household finances.
• It should be remembered that the wife's money in Islam is
hers to do with as she pleases and therefore should not be
considered family income unless she chooses to contribute it
to the family.

17. 8-Respect &
Priority For Family
• Parenting can be a stressful experience if the
parents are not well informed. This in turn can
put extra pressure on the marriage.
• Sometimes couples are naive about the
changes that come in lifestyle. This can cause
depression in some cases, and resentment and
misunderstanding in others.
• One golden rule that must always be the
guide is "family comes first." Whenever there is
evidence that the family is not happy or not our
first priority, it is time to assemble at the
kitchen table and discuss the situation with
open hearts and open minds.

18. Respect For Family
• Couples who have elderly parents have an
added responsibility to take care of them; this
can also be very stressful if the couple is not
prepared. A care plan must be worked out with
respective siblings and parents as to who will be
the primary care giver and what type of support
network they will have.
• In case of mental incompetence a power of
attorney must be in place. The making of a will
is essential.
•

19. 9-Freedom
• Marriage in Islam is a partnership and not bondage or
slavery. To consider the wife as one's property is
alien to the Islamic concept of husband and wife.
• The team spirit is enhanced and not curtailed when
members of the team are free to be themselves.
• Freedom in the common secular sense is to be free
to do as one pleases, or even to be selfish. But what
is meant by allowing freedom to one's spouse is to be
considerate of her needs and to recognize her
limitations

20. 10-Plan For The Future
• Smart couples plan for their future together.
• They work on their financial and retirement plans.
• They make wills and discuss these plans with their
children.
• This provides peace of mind and secures the
relationship.

21. 11-Fulfillment
• To be all one can be to one's spouse is a very fulfilling
and rewarding experience.
• To be in love means to give one's all.
• The heart does not put conditions or make
stipulations; it gives without expecting anything in
return, but such selfless giving is always rewarded
ten-fold.

24. References
• 1.https://lh6.ggpht.com/vfK4T8lLr2mKw4QOwhb7A8J029ACkCAFBUULM
WDnplpyGvWXB6VeJY5eo7UcIt914ZLpxTs=s153
• Family Law: Paras Diwan,. Allahabad Law Agency
• http://www.slideshare.net/