The Chapters on Marriage

كتاب النكاح

Chapter 1: What was narrated concerning the virtue of marriage

It was narrated that

Alqamah bin Qais said: “I was with Abdullah bin Masud in Mina, and Uthman took him aside. I was sitting near him. Uthman said to him: 'Would you like that I marry you to a young virgin who will remind you of how you were in the past?' When Abdullah saw that he did not say anything to him apart from that, he gestured to me, so I came and he said: 'As you say that the Messenger of Allah said “O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding one's chastity. Whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for it will diminish his desire.” ' ”

It was narrated from Aishah that

the Messenger of Allah said: “Marriage is part of my sunnah, and whoever does not follow my sunnah has nothing to do with me. Get married, for I will boast of your great numbers before the nations. Whoever has the means, let him get married, and whoever does not, then he should fast for it will diminish his desire.”

It was narrated from Ibn Abbas that

the Messenger of Allah said: “There is nothing like marriage, for two who love one another.”

Chapter 2: Prohibition of celibacy

It was narrated that

Sa'd said: “The Messenger of Allah disapproved of Uthman bin Maz'un's desire to remain celibate; if he had given him permission, we would have gotten ourselves castrated.”

It was narrated from Samurah that

the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) forbade celibacy. Zaid bin Akhzam added: “And Qatadah recited: 'And indeed We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad (ﷺ)), and made for them wives and offspring.'”

Chapter 3: The wife’s rights over the husband

It was narrated from Hakim bin Muawiyah, from his father, that

a man asked the Prophet(ﷺ): “What are the right of the woman over her husband?” He said: “That he should feed her as he feeds himself and clothe her as he clothes himself; he should not strike her on the face nor disfigure her, and he should not abandon her except in the house (as a form of discipline).” (Hassan)

It was narrated that

Sulaiman bin Amr bin Ahwas said: “My father told me that he was present at the Farewell Pilgrimage with the Messenger of Allah. He praised and glorified Allah, and reminded and exhorted (the people). Then he said: 'I enjoin good treatment of women, for they are prisoners with you, and you have no right to treat them otherwise, unless they commit clear indecency. If they do that, then forsake them in their beds and hit them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark. If they obey you, then do not seek means of annoyance against them. You have rights over your women and your women have rights over you. Your rights over your women are that they are not to allow anyone whom you dislike to tread on your bedding (furniture), nor allow anyone whom you dislike to enter your houses. And their right over you are that you should treat them kindly with regard to their clothing and food.' ”

Chapter 4: The husband’s rights over his wife

It was narrated from Aishah

that the messenger of Allah of said: “If I were to command anyone to prostrate to anyone else, I would have commanded women to prostrate to their husbands. If a man were to command his wife to move (something) from a red mountain to a black mountain, and from a black mountain to a red mountain, her duty is to obey to him.”

It was narrated that

Abdullah bin Abu Awfa said “When Muadh bin Jabal came from Sham, he prostrated to the Prophet who said: 'What is this, O Muadh?' He said: 'I went to Sham and saw them prostrating to their bishops and patricians and I wanted to do that for you.' The messenger of Allah said: 'Do not do that. If I were to command anyone to prostrate to anyone other than Allah, I would have commanded women to prostrate to their husbands. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad! No woman can fulfill her duty towards Allah until she fulfills her duty towards her husband. If he asks her (for intimacy) even if she is on her camel saddle, she should not refuse.' ”

It was narrated that from Musawir Al Himyari from his mother that

she heard Umm Salamah say: “I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Any woman who dies when her husband is pleased with her, will enter Paradise.' ”

Chapter 5: The best of women

It was narrated that from Abdullah bin Amr that

the Messenger of Allah said: “This world is but provisions, and there is no provision in this world better than a righteous wife.”

It was narrated that

Thawban said: “When the Verse concerning silver and gold was revealed, they said: 'What kind of wealth should we acquire?' Umar said: 'I will tell you about that.' So he rode on his camel and caught up with the Prophet, and I followed him. He said: 'O Messenger of Allah what kind of wealth should we acquire?' He said: 'Let one of you acquire a thankful heart, a tongue that remembers Allah and a believing wife who will help him with regard to the Hereafter.' ”

It was narrated from Abu Umamah that

the Prophet used to say: “Nothing is of more benefit to the believer after Taqwa of Allah than a righteous wife whom, if he commands her she obeys him, if he looks at her he is pleased, if he swears an oath concerning her she fulfills it, and when he is away from her she is sincere towards him with regard to herself and his wealth.”

Chapter 6: Marrying a religious woman

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that

the Prophet said: “A woman may be married for four things: Her wealth, her lineage, her beauty or for her religion. Choose the religious, may your hands be rubbed with dust (i.e., may you prosper).”

It was narrated from Abdullah bin Amr that

the Prophet said: “Do not marry women for their beauty for it may lead to their doom. Do not marry them for their wealth, for it may lead them to fall into sin. Rather, marry them for their religion. A black slave woman with piercings who is religious is better.”

Chapter 7: Marrying virgins

It was narrated that

Jabir bin Abdullah said: “I married a woman during the time of the Prophet and he said: 'Have you got married, O Jabir?' I said: 'Yes'. He said: 'To a virgin or to a previously-married woman?' I said: 'A previously married woman.' He said: 'Why not a virgin so you could play with her?' I said: 'I have sisters and did not want her to create trouble between them and me.' He said: 'That is better then.' ”

It was narrated from Abdur-Rahman bin Salim bin Utbah bin Salim bin Uwaim bin Sa'idah Al-Ansari, from his father that

his grandfather said: “The Messenger of Allah said: 'You should marry virgins, for their mouths are sweeter, their wombs are more prolific and they are satisfied with less.'”

Chapter 8: Marrying free women who are fertile

It was narrated that

Anas bin Malik said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Whoever wants to meet Allah pure and purified, let him marry free women.' ”

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that

the Messenger of Allah said: “Marry, for I will boast of your great numbers.”