Conditions - Sahih al-Bukhari 2721

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "From among all the conditions which you have to fulfill, the conditions which make it legal for you to have sexual relations (i.e. the marriage contract) have the greatest right to be fulfilled."

Commentary on the Hadith

This noble hadith establishes the paramount importance of fulfilling marital conditions in Islamic law. The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasizes that among all contractual obligations, those stipulated in the marriage contract hold the highest priority and must be scrupulously honored.

The phrase "make it legal for you to have sexual relations" refers to the nikah (marriage contract) which renders physical intimacy permissible between spouses. This indicates that marriage is not merely a social contract but a sacred covenant whose terms carry divine sanction.

Scholars explain that this hadith establishes the binding nature of lawful conditions in marriage contracts, provided they do not contradict Islamic principles. This includes mahr (dower), maintenance obligations, and other mutually agreed terms that define the rights and responsibilities of both spouses.

The emphasis on "greatest right to be fulfilled" underscores that marital commitments take precedence over other worldly agreements, as they directly impact family structure, lineage preservation, and societal morality according to Islamic teachings.

Legal Implications

This hadith forms the foundation for the Islamic legal principle that valid conditions in marriage contracts are binding and must be fulfilled. The four schools of Islamic jurisprudence all derive from this the obligation to honor marital stipulations.

Violating marital conditions without legitimate excuse constitutes both a legal breach and a spiritual transgression, as it involves breaking a covenant made in Allah's name.