The Chapters on Marriage

كتاب النكاح

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.' ”

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.”

Chapter 9: Looking at a woman when wanting to marry her

It was narrated that

Muhammad bin Salamah said: “I proposed marriage to a woman, then I hid and waited to see her until I saw her among some date palm trees that belonged to her.” It was said to him: “Do you do such a thing when you are a companion of the Messenger of Allah?” He said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: 'When Allah causes a man to propose to a woman, there is nothing wrong with him looking at her.' ”

It was narrated that

Mughirah bin Shubah said: “I came to the Prophet and told him of a woman to whom I had to propose marriage. He said: 'Go and look at her, for that is more likely to create love between you.' So I went to a woman among the Ansar and proposed marriage through her parents. I told them what the Prophet had said, and it was as if they did not like that. Then I heard that woman, behind her curtain, say: 'If the Messenger of Allah has told you to do that, then do it, otherwise I adjure you by Allah (not to do so)'. And it was as if she regarded that as a serious matter. So I looked at her and married her.” And he mentioned how well he got along with her.

Chapter 10: A man should not propose marriage to a woman to whom his brother already proposed

It was narrated that

Abu Bakr bin Abu Jahm bin Sukhair Al-Adawi said: “I heard Fathima bint Qais say: 'The Messenger of Allah said to me: “When you become lawful, tell me.” So I told him.' Then Muawiyah, Abu Jahm bin Sukhair and Usamah bin Zaid proposed marriage to her. The Messenger of Allah said: 'As for Muawiyah, he is a poor man who has no money. As from Abu Jahm he is a man who habitually beats woman. But Usamah (is good).' She gestured with her hand, saying: 'Usamah, Usamah!?' The Messenger of Allah said to her: 'Obedience to Allah and obedience to His Messenger is better for you.' She said: 'So I married him and I was pleased with him.' ”

Chapter 11: Seeking the consent of virgins and previously-married women

It was narrated from Ibn Abbas that

the Messenger of Allah said: “A widow has more right (to decide) concerning herself than her guardian, and a virgin should be consulted”. It was said: “O Messenger of Allah, a virgin may be too shy to speak.” He said: “Her consent is her silence.”

It was narrated from Adi bin Adi Al-Kindi that

his father said: “The Messenger of Allah said: 'A previously-married woman can speak for herself, and the consent of a virgin is her silence.' ”

Chapter 12: One who arranges his daughter’s marriage when she is unwilling

Abdur Rahman bin Yazid Al-Ansari and Mujamma bin Yazid Al-Ansari said

that a man among them who was called Khidam arranged a marriage for his daughter, and she did not like the marriage arranged by her father. She went to the Messenger of Allah and told him about that, and he annulled the marriage arranged by her father. Then she married Abu Lubabah bin Abdul-Mundhir.

It was narrated from Ibn Buraidah that

his father said: “A girl came to the Prophet and said: 'My father married me to his brother's son so that he might raise his status thereby.' The Prophet gave her the choice, and she said: 'I approve of what my father did, but I wanted women to know that their fathers have no right to do that.' ”

Chapter 13: Marriage of minor girls arranged by their fathers

It was narrated that

Aishah said: “The Messenger of Allah married me when I was six years old. Then we came to Al-Madinah and settled among Banu Harith bin Khazraj. I became ill and my hair fell out, then it grew back and became abundant. My mother Umm Ruman came to me while I was on an Urjuhah with some of my friends, and called for me. I went to her, and I did not know what she wanted. She took me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house, and I was panting. When I got my breath back, she took some water and wiped my face and head, and led me into the house. There were some woman of the Ansar inside the house, and they said: 'With blessings and good fortune (from Allah).' (My mother) handed me over to them and they tidied me up. And suddenly I saw the Messenger of Allah in the morning. And she handed me over to him and I was at that time, nine years old.”

Chapter 15: No marriage except with a guardian

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that

the Messenger of Allah said: “No woman should arrange the marriage of another woman, and no woman should arrange her own marriage. The adulteress is the one who arranges her own marriage.”

Chapter 16: Prohibition of Shighar

It was narrated that

Abu Hurairah said: “The Messenger of Allah forbade Shighar.”

Chapter 17: Dowries of women

It was narrated that

Abu Salamah said: “I asked Aishah: 'How much was the dowry of the wives of the Prophet?' She said: 'The dowry he gave to his wives was twelve Uqiyyah and a Nash (of silver). Do you know what a Nash is? It is one half of an Uqiyyah. And that is equal to to five hundred Dirham.' ”

Chapter 20: Announcing marriages

It was narrated from 'Aishah

that the Prophet said: “Announce this marriage, and beat the sieve for it.”

Chapter 22: Effeminate men

It was narrated from Umm Salamah

that the Prophet Mohammad entered upon her, and he heard an effeminate man say to 'Abdullah bin Abu Umayyah: “If Allah enables you to conquer Ta'if tommorrow, I will show you a woman who comes in on four (rolls of fat) and goes out on eight.” The Messenger of Allah said: “Throw them out of your houses.”

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah

that the Messenger of Allah cursed women who imitate men and men who imitate women.

Chapter 23: Offering congratulations on the occasion of marriage

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah

that the Prophet used to say, when offering congratulations of the occasion of marriage: “Barak Allahu lakum, wa barak 'alaikum, wa jama'a bainakuma fi khair (May Allah bless you and bestow blessings upon you, and bring you together in harmony).”

Chapter 24: The Walimah (wedding feast)

It was narrated from Sufyan (Ibn 'Uyainah) from `Ali bin Zaid bin Ju`dan from Anas bin Malik who said

“I attended a wedding feast for the Prophet in which there was no meat and no bread.”Ibn Majah said: It was not narrated except by Ibn `Uyainah.

It was narrated that Sahl bin Sa'd As-Sa'idi said

“Abu Usaid As-Sa'idi invited the Messenger of Allah to his wedding, and the bride herself served them. She said: 'Do you know what I gave the Messenger of Allah to drink? I had soaked some dates the night before, then in the morning I strained them and gave him that water to drink.' ”