Marriage in Islam is not merely a social arrangement or a personal relationship. Rather, it is a legislated contract established by Allah for clear and defined purposes that benefit both individuals and society.
This page gathers what four books say about why marriage exists: The Book of Marriage by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, Tafsir as-Sa’di by Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahman ibn Nasir as-Sa’di, Rulings Pertaining to Muslim Women by Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan, and Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen defines marriage in The Book of Marriage, from his Explanation of Bulugh al-Maram:
According to the definition in Shariah law, it is a meeting between a male and a female in a designated manner. This manner is designated by Shariah in the form of the marriage contract with certain conditions.
This shows that marriage is not based on desire alone, but upon responsibility and long-term purpose.
Evidence for the Purpose of Marriage
The purpose of marriage is clearly established in the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
Allah says:
“Among His signs is this: He created for you from among yourselves spouses, so that you might find comfort in them, and He has instilled love and compassion between you. Verily in that there are signs for people who reflect.”
(Qur’an 30:21)
‘Abdur-Rahman ibn Nasir as-Sa’di explains this verse in his Tafsir, in these words:
“Among His signs” that point to His mercy and care for His slaves, and His great wisdom and all-encompassing knowledge “is this: He created for you from among yourselves spouses” who feel in harmony with you and you feel in harmony with them, and you are compatible with one another. “so that you might find comfort in them, and He has instilled love and compassion between you” because of what results from marriage of love and compassion.
Thus a man will find physical pleasure in his wife, and the benefit of having and raising children, and he will find comfort in his spouse. Usually you will not find between any two people what you find between spouses of love and mercy.
This shows that marriage is meant to bring:
- Tranquility
- Love
- Mercy
Allah also says:
“and who restrain their carnal desires, except with their wives or any slave women they may own, for then they are free of blame.”
(Qur’an 23:5–6)
From its explanation, this includes avoiding anything that leads to immorality, and keeping desire within what Allah has made lawful: a man’s wives, or the slave women he owns.
This proves that marriage protects a person from falling into what is unlawful.
The purpose this restraint serves is named by as-Sa’di in his explanation of Allah’s words in Surah al-Baqarah (2:187), where he says:
“and seek what Allah has ordained for you” that is, by being intimate with your wives, you should have the intention of drawing closer to Allah and of fulfilling the greater purpose behind intercourse, which is to produce offspring, to keep yourselves and your spouses chaste, and to fulfil the purposes of marriage.
Allah also says:
“Arrange marriages for those among you who are single, and those who are righteous and fit for marriage among your male and female slaves. If they are poor, Allah will suffice them from His bounty, for Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.”
(Qur’an 24:32)
‘Abdur-Rahman ibn Nasir as-Sa’di explains that this is a command to assist those in need of marriage, and on the verse’s promise to the poor he says:
“If they” that is, married people or those who want to get married “are poor, Allah will suffice them from His bounty”. So you should not let what you imagine – that if he gets married, he will become poor because of having too many dependents – prevent you from getting married. This offers encouragement to get married, and is a divine promise to the one who gets married that he will become independent of means after having been poor.
This shows that marriage is encouraged for the stability of individuals and society.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“O young men! Those among you who can afford to marry a wife should marry for it restrains eyes from casting (evil glances) and fortifies oneself against immorality, but those who cannot should devote themselves to fasting for it is a means of controlling sexual desire.”
(Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim; al-Bukhari, Book of Saum, No. 1905; Muslim, Book of Marriage, No. 1400.)
This confirms that marriage protects a person’s religion and behavior.
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“But still I observe fast and break it, perform Salat and sleep at night and take wives. So, whoever turns away from my Sunnah does not belong to me.”
(Bukhari and Muslim; al-Bukhari, Book of Nikaah, No. 5063; Muslim, Book of Nikaah, No. 1401.)
This shows that marriage is part of the Prophetic way and not merely a cultural practice.
In his explanation of this hadeeth, Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen lists the benefits taken from it. The first benefit is:
Islam combats monasticism because the Prophet ﷺ condemned abstinence from marriage and excessive worship (prayers and Saum).
And the ninth benefit is:
Marriage (nikāh) is legislated because it is the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ who said, “I take wives.” If one argues that this act is naturally and instinctively needed, just like eating and drinking. So, it may not be legislated itself. The answer is that there is a difference between them. The Prophet ﷺ presented this ḥadīth as an act of worship. The Prophet ﷺ did not say, “I eat and drink.” Moreover, marriage (nikāh) has many advantages such as being responsible for the wife and children whom he shall bring up. This is not like eating and drinking.
The Purposes of Marriage in the Words of Shaykh al-Fawzan
Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan opens his chapter on marriage and divorce from the same verse carried above (Qur’an 30:21), then sets out what marriage is meant to bring. He quotes Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim, from al-Hady an-Nabawi [3/149], explaining the benefits of sex, which is one of the objectives of marriage:
“The reason for sex is to attain three basic objectives. The first is protection of lineage and the continuation of genus until the end of the time that Allah has destined for this world. The second is the release of semen, which is harmful if it remains in the body. The third is the fulfilment of desire and enjoyment of blessing.”
Al-Fawzan then gathers the benefits of marriage in his own words:
“So marriage has great benefits, the greatest of which is that it is a protection from fornication, and it helps in lowering the gaze from things that are haraam; it is also the means of continuation of the progeny of mankind and the protection of lineage. The benefits also include the attainment of harmony between the married couples, and psychological stability, as well as the mutual co-operation between them in the creation of a righteous family - which is one of the building blocks of a Muslim society. Among the benefits also is the responsibility the husband takes to support the woman and take care of her, and the responsibility the woman undertakes to do the housework and the fulfilment of the duties of her primary function in life.”
On the same verse carried above (Qur’an 24:32), al-Fawzan records Ibn Katheer noting that marriage is one of the causes of attaining wealth, taking as proof the promise:
“If they are in poverty Allah will enrich them out of His Bounty.”
He records Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq saying:
“Obey Allah in what he has ordered you concerning marriage, and He will fulfil His promise of wealth to you.”
And he records from Ibn Mas’ud:
“Seek wealth through marriage.”
Marrying Young: Shaykh al-Fawzan’s Counsel
Al-Fawzan urges that marriage should not be postponed:
“The Muslim sister should seek to marry while she is still young and desirable, and she should not delay that under the pretext of wishing to continue her education or her career. Instead, a successful marriage is her true happiness and contentment, and it is better than any studies or career. Studies and a career are no substitute for marriage, however high their level.”
And he cites the words of the Prophet ﷺ:
“If a man comes to you and you are satisfied with his religiousness and character, then you should marry him. If you do not, there will be great Fitna in the earth and great corruption.”
(Narrated by Tirmidhi who declared it hasan, while other narrations support it.)
The same counsel stands in Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women, where Shaykh Ibn Baz, answering a question about refusing a proposal in order to finish studying, cites the Prophet ﷺ saying:
Marry the child-bearing, loving woman for I shall outnumber the peoples by you on the Day of Resurrection.
(This was recorded by Ahmad and graded sahih by ibn Hibban.)
Therefore, there are many benefits to marriage which the Prophet ﷺ alluded to, including lowering the gaze, protecting the private parts, increasing the numbers of the Muslim Nation and being saved from great evil and misfortune.
Key Lessons
- Marriage is meant to bring tranquility, love, and mercy between husband and wife.
- Marriage protects a person from sin, by guarding the gaze and keeping desire within what Allah has made lawful.
- Marriage is an act of worship, legislated as the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, carrying responsibility for the wife and children.
- Marriage continues the progeny of mankind and protects lineage.
- Through marriage, righteous families are established, and husband and wife co-operate in building them.
- Marriage is encouraged for the stability of individuals and society.
- Poverty is no barrier to marriage, for marriage is one of the causes of provision, and Allah has promised to enrich the married from His bounty.
When its purpose is understood and followed, it leads to stability, balance, and benefit in both this life and the next.
References
The Book of Marriage, from the Explanation of Bulugh al-Maram, by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, Maktabatulirshad Publications USA, First Edition, February 2017, trans. Mustafa Lamei ‘Abdul Hakim al-Misri: definition of marriage, printed p. 15; Hadith 970, printed p. 16; Hadith 971, printed p. 32, and its explanation, benefit 1, printed p. 40, and benefit 9, printed p. 44.
Tafsir as-Sa’di, by Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahman ibn Nasir as-Sa’di, International Islamic Publishing House (IIPH), English Edition 1, 2018, trans. Nasiruddin al-Khattab, edited by Huda Khattab: Vol. 1 (Juz’ 1-3), on Surah al-Baqarah 2:187, printed p. 230; Vol. 6 (Juz’ 16-18), on Surah Al-Mu’minoon 23:5-6, printed p. 315, and Surah An-Noor 24:32, printed pp. 406-407; Vol. 7 (Juz’ 19-21), on Surah Ar-Room 30:21, printed pp. 300-301.
Rulings Pertaining to Muslim Women, by Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan, Darussalam, Second Edition, June 2003, ISBN 9960-347-29-5, trans. Burhan Loqueman: Marriage and Divorce chapter, printed pp. 105-110: the purposes and benefits of marriage in his words, Ibn al-Qayyim on its objectives as he quotes it, marriage as a cause of provision through Qur’an 24:32, and the counsel to marry young.
Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women, Darussalam, First Edition 1996, compiled by Muhammad bin Abdul-Aziz al-Musnad, trans. Jamaal al-Din M. Zarabozo: Q156, Shaykh Ibn Baz, “Marriage Comes First”, printed pp. 166-167: the hadeeth on marrying the child-bearing, loving woman, and the benefits of marriage in his closing words.
The book prints the divine name as “Allaah”; on this page it is spelled “Allah”, by the site’s spelling decision.
Further Reading
- The Conditions of a Valid Marriage (Nikah): what makes a marriage contract valid
- How Do You Choose a Righteous Spouse in Islam?: choosing a husband or wife by religion and character
- Polygyny in Islam: marrying more than one wife, its conditions and its wisdom
- Can a Muslim Man Marry a Second Wife Without His First Wife’s Permission?: the permission question answered from the conditions the books name
- The Rights and Obligations of Men and Women in Islam: what the purpose requires of each spouse
Verified on 2026-10-26 against the books listed above.