What is the validity of the statement that marriage is half of the religion?
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What is the ruling on the deferred mahr? And regarding the claim that half of one's religion is through marriage, and one fears Allah in the other half, where does this statement come from?
Answer:
It is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in a hadith whose chain is subject to scrutiny. This came through routes that are not free from weakness according to the scholars. There is no doubt that marriage is important, but its being half is subject to scrutiny! It is simply important. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: [Al-Nur: 32].
And He says :[An-Nisa 4:3] The verse [An-Nisa: 3]. And the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded marriage—as you have heard—and encouraged the youth to do so, and said: Sunan Abi Dawud 2050Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) So the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged this and made it desirable, just as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) commanded it . But its being half of the religion is subject to scrutiny due to the weakness of the hadith.
However, the believer should strive for it. It is a branch of the religion, an obligation among the obligations, and a means of chastity, lowering the gaze, and a means of righteousness, the rectification of society, the increase of offspring, the increase of the ummah, and the increase of those who worship Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) . One should be earnest in this, but he should choose a righteous woman.
And if it is facilitated that he looks at the woman before marriage; that is better. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the suitor to look. He informed (peace and blessings be upon him)Sunan Abi Dawud 2082Hasan (Al-Albani).
And a man asked him, saying: "O Messenger of Allah, I have proposed to so-and-so." He said: He said: "No." He said: If it is facilitated to look at her, that is more preferable. And her family should allow it. He looks at her, and she looks at him. There is no harm.
But in a place where there is seclusion, he looks at her, and she looks at him, in the presence of her father, or her mother, or her brother. That is, not in seclusion in a place where there is seclusion. He does not remain alone with her, because seclusion is one of the causes of committing a great sin.
And likewise what Shaykh Saleh pointed out, which may happen with some people. I have not heard it from Muslims, but it exists abroad. It is that he travels with her, and has not contracted marriage with her, just to look at her, and for her to look at him. This is a great trial and a terrible evil. We seek refuge in Allah. It is merely looking; he looks at her, and she looks at him, that is all. As for remaining alone with her, traveling with her, and her traveling with him; this is a great evil. We ask Allah for safety.
Answer:
It is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in a hadith whose chain is subject to scrutiny
When a person marries, he has secured half of his religion; so let him fear Allah in the other half.
إذا تزوج الإنسان؛ فقد أحرز شطر دينه؛ فليتق الله في الشطر الآخرAnd marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty
وَأَنْكِحُوا الْأَيَامَى مِنْكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَائِكُمْ إِنْ يَكُونُوا فُقَرَاءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِAnd He says :
And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا فِي الْيَتَامَى فَانْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَى وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَMarry women who are loving and very prolific, for I shall outnumber the peoples by you.
تزوجوا الودود الولود؛ فإني مكاثر بكم الأمم يوم القيامةHowever, the believer should strive for it. It is a branch of the religion, an obligation among the obligations, and a means of chastity, lowering the gaze, and a means of righteousness, the rectification of society, the increase of offspring, the increase of the ummah, and the increase of those who worship Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) . One should be earnest in this, but he should choose a righteous woman.
And if it is facilitated that he looks at the woman before marriage; that is better. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the suitor to look. He informed (peace and blessings be upon him)
When one of you asked a woman in marriage, if he is able to look at what will induce him to marry her, he should do so.
إذا خطب أحدكم امرأة، فإن استطاع أن ينظر إلى ما يدعوه إلى نكاحها؛ فليفعلAnd a man asked him, saying: "O Messenger of Allah, I have proposed to so-and-so." He said:
Have you looked at her?
أنظرت إليها؟Go and look at her
اذهب فانظر إليهاBut in a place where there is seclusion, he looks at her, and she looks at him, in the presence of her father, or her mother, or her brother. That is, not in seclusion in a place where there is seclusion. He does not remain alone with her, because seclusion is one of the causes of committing a great sin.
And likewise what Shaykh Saleh pointed out, which may happen with some people. I have not heard it from Muslims, but it exists abroad. It is that he travels with her, and has not contracted marriage with her, just to look at her, and for her to look at him. This is a great trial and a terrible evil. We seek refuge in Allah. It is merely looking; he looks at her, and she looks at him, that is all. As for remaining alone with her, traveling with her, and her traveling with him; this is a great evil. We ask Allah for safety.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.