The Excellence of Marriage in Islam

This noble hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) highlights the immense spiritual significance of marriage in the Islamic tradition. The completion of "half the religion" signifies that marriage establishes the foundation for fulfilling numerous religious obligations and protects one from major sins.

Scholarly Interpretation

Classical scholars explain that marriage completes half of one's religious practice because it safeguards chastity, which constitutes half of faith. Through marriage, one protects their private parts from unlawful relations and preserves their lineage - both being fundamental religious objectives.

Ibn al-Arabi comments that marriage encompasses half of religious obligations because it involves both rights of God (Huquq Allah) and rights of creation (Huquq al-'Ibad), including spousal rights, family responsibilities, and social obligations.

The Remaining Half

The second part of the hadith, "so let him fear God regarding the remaining half," serves as a profound reminder that marriage is not the ultimate goal but rather a means to perfect one's faith. The remaining half includes fulfilling obligations toward God, such as prayer, fasting, zakah, and other acts of worship, along with maintaining good character and avoiding prohibited matters.

Practical Implications

This teaching encourages Muslims to view marriage as a spiritual institution that facilitates religious completeness rather than merely a social contract. It emphasizes that while marriage provides protection from major sins, one must remain vigilant in fulfilling all other religious duties and maintaining piety in all aspects of life.