Is marriage among the matters decreed upon a person by compulsion?
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The questioner : Is marriage among the matters decreed upon a person by compulsion?
The Shaykh : This is an old question, but new in its expression. It is like asking whether happiness and misery are decreed for the servant or not. The answer, both religiously and rationally, is that everything is by divine decree. Everything is by divine decree. Marriage is either a lawful marriage or an innovated marriage. If it is a lawful marriage, it is good; if it is an innovated marriage, it is evil. So, are good and evil decreed upon a person? The answer is: Yes, everything is by divine decree, as stated in the authentic hadith:Muwatta Malik 46:4 But if everything is by divine decree, even happiness and misery, then what is the point of working? The Companions asked the Messenger this question when he informed them that everything is written down, everything is recorded. They said to him, "Then what is the point of working?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) answered them, and this is the decisive ruling, the final answer after which there is no other answer, but for those who understand it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Work, " Then he recited the words of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: [Al-Layl 92:5-9] So, everyone is facilitated for what he was created for.
Regarding the previous question: Whoever wants good strives for it and marries a lawful marriage. Whoever wants evil strives for it as well and marries an unlawful marriage. Everyone is facilitated for what he was created for. Therefore, let no one of you say, "If happiness is written for me, then why do I exhaust myself by praying and fasting? I am happy anyway." Or, "If I am written as miserable, may Allah forbid it, why should I not enjoy all the comforts of life and not exhaust myself with prayer, worship, and fasting, etc.?" The answer is: If you are sincere with yourself, say also: Everything, like happiness and misery, is written. Previously, we mentioned that sustenance is the same. So why do you strive for sustenance? Sustenance is also recorded, like happiness and misery. Everything is written. So why do you strive for sustenance? Because you know that if you do not strive, it will not come to you. Here, you are a believer in causes, meaning you believe in the means. But there, you are a Jabri regarding happiness because you do not work; because if it is written that you are happy, you are happy, and if it is written that you are miserable, you are miserable, and if it is written that you are poor, you are poor. So why do you strive? Striving is necessary. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Isra 17:18-19] Therefore, one must strive for good and must avoid evil. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, by His wisdom, decreed to give every person what they strive for, as He said: [Al-'Ankabut 29:69]
The Shaykh : This is an old question, but new in its expression. It is like asking whether happiness and misery are decreed for the servant or not. The answer, both religiously and rationally, is that everything is by divine decree. Everything is by divine decree. Marriage is either a lawful marriage or an innovated marriage. If it is a lawful marriage, it is good; if it is an innovated marriage, it is evil. So, are good and evil decreed upon a person? The answer is: Yes, everything is by divine decree, as stated in the authentic hadith:
Everything is by decree - even incapacity and ability
كل شيء بقدر، حتى العجز والكيسWork, for everyone is facilitated for what he was created for. So whoever is among the people of Paradise will do the deeds of the people of Paradise, and whoever is among the people of the Fire will do the deeds of the people of the Fire
اعملوا فكل ميسر لما خلق له، فمن كان من أهل الجنة فسيعمل بعمل أهل الجنة، ومن كان من أهل النار فسيعمل بعمل أهل النار(5) As for he who gives and fears Allah (6) And believes in the best [reward], (7) We will ease him toward ease. (8) But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need (9) And denies the best [reward],
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى * وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى * فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَى * وَأَمَّا مَنْ بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَى * وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَى * فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَىRegarding the previous question: Whoever wants good strives for it and marries a lawful marriage. Whoever wants evil strives for it as well and marries an unlawful marriage. Everyone is facilitated for what he was created for. Therefore, let no one of you say, "If happiness is written for me, then why do I exhaust myself by praying and fasting? I am happy anyway." Or, "If I am written as miserable, may Allah forbid it, why should I not enjoy all the comforts of life and not exhaust myself with prayer, worship, and fasting, etc.?" The answer is: If you are sincere with yourself, say also: Everything, like happiness and misery, is written. Previously, we mentioned that sustenance is the same. So why do you strive for sustenance? Sustenance is also recorded, like happiness and misery. Everything is written. So why do you strive for sustenance? Because you know that if you do not strive, it will not come to you. Here, you are a believer in causes, meaning you believe in the means. But there, you are a Jabri regarding happiness because you do not work; because if it is written that you are happy, you are happy, and if it is written that you are miserable, you are miserable, and if it is written that you are poor, you are poor. So why do you strive? Striving is necessary. Allah the Exalted said:
(18) Whoever should desire the immediate - We hasten for him from it what We will to whom We intend. Then We have made for him Hell, which he will [enter to] burn, censured and banished. (19) But whoever desires the Hereafter and exerts the effort due to it while he is a believer - it is those whose effort is ever appreciated [by Allah].
مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُ فِيهَا مَا نَشَاءُ لِمَنْ نُرِيدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلاهَا مَذْمُوماً مَدْحُوراً * وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْآخِرَةَ وَسَعَى لَهَا سَعْيَهَا وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَئِكَ كَانَ سَعْيُهُمْ مَشْكُوراًAnd those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways
وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.