The Importance of Marriage, Its Ruling, and the Response to Those Who Prefer to Avoid It
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Question:
Which is better, marriage or remaining unmarried, considering that a number of the great scholars were unmarried, such as al-Tabari, the Shaykh of the Mufassirun, or Ibn Taymiyyah, the Imam of the people of the Sunnah, of 'Aqeedah, and the Mujahid in the path of Allah, and others? Then, the sons of the scholars of the Shi'ah follow their fathers in knowledge, as is evident, unlike the sons of the scholars of the Sunnah, and I mean in the last century. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
Answer:
What is in the matter of marriage is the Sunnah, and there is no debate that it is obligatory for the believers to care for marriage and not leave it. If some people leave it for reasons, it may be because they have no desire, it may be because they are occupied with something else, or it may be for reasons we do not know. As for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he encouraged marriage, and before that, in the Book of Allah, Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [Surat al-Nisa: 3] and He said: [Surat al-Nur: 32].
So marriage is a required matter that is necessary; it is obligatory in general. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 3080 and he said: Sunan al-Bayhaqi 10:869.
The point is that he (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged marriage, just as the Book of Allah encouraged it. So the statement that marriage is left, or that leaving it is prescribed, or such, is a deniable statement. Even if some people did that, if it is true that Ibn Jarir did not marry, or if it is true that the Shaykh al-Islam did not marry, they may have had excuses, but they are not an authority in this matter. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified this matter. Something that the Messenger clarified and Allah clarified, no one has the right to contradict it, whoever he may be. Rather, one must take the saying of Allah and His Messenger, even if many people leave it, for their leaving it is not a precedent; because they may be excused, and also they are not an authority in what contradicts the Shari'ah of Allah.
Question : Is the command for obligation, or is it a choice?
Answer: It is for obligation, according to the correct view. And some of the scholars of knowledge said: It is obligatory when there is fear of committing a major sin if the desire becomes intense. But the original ruling is for obligation absolutely, if one is able; because if one is able, he protects his private parts by it and stays away from the causes of evil.
Which is better, marriage or remaining unmarried, considering that a number of the great scholars were unmarried, such as al-Tabari, the Shaykh of the Mufassirun, or Ibn Taymiyyah, the Imam of the people of the Sunnah, of 'Aqeedah, and the Mujahid in the path of Allah, and others? Then, the sons of the scholars of the Shi'ah follow their fathers in knowledge, as is evident, unlike the sons of the scholars of the Sunnah, and I mean in the last century. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
Answer:
What is in the matter of marriage is the Sunnah, and there is no debate that it is obligatory for the believers to care for marriage and not leave it. If some people leave it for reasons, it may be because they have no desire, it may be because they are occupied with something else, or it may be for reasons we do not know. As for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he encouraged marriage, and before that, in the Book of Allah, Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said:
marry those that please you of [other] women
فَانْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِAnd marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves
وَأَنْكِحُوا الْأَيَامَى مِنْكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَائِكُمْSo marriage is a required matter that is necessary; it is obligatory in general. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Young man, those of you who can support a wife should marry, for it keeps you from looking at strange women and preserves you from immorality; but those who cannot should devote themselves to fasting, for it is a means of suppressing sexual desire.
يا معشر الشباب من استطاع منكم الباءة؛ فليتزوج، فإنه أغض للبصر، وأحصن للفرج، ومن لم يستطع؛ فعليه بالصوم، فإنه له وجاءMarry the fertile and loving women, for I will be boasting with you before the nations on the Day of Resurrection.
تزوجوا الولود الودود؛ فإني مكاثر بكم الأمم يوم القيامةThe point is that he (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged marriage, just as the Book of Allah encouraged it. So the statement that marriage is left, or that leaving it is prescribed, or such, is a deniable statement. Even if some people did that, if it is true that Ibn Jarir did not marry, or if it is true that the Shaykh al-Islam did not marry, they may have had excuses, but they are not an authority in this matter. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified this matter. Something that the Messenger clarified and Allah clarified, no one has the right to contradict it, whoever he may be. Rather, one must take the saying of Allah and His Messenger, even if many people leave it, for their leaving it is not a precedent; because they may be excused, and also they are not an authority in what contradicts the Shari'ah of Allah.
Question : Is the command for obligation, or is it a choice?
Answer: It is for obligation, according to the correct view. And some of the scholars of knowledge said: It is obligatory when there is fear of committing a major sin if the desire becomes intense. But the original ruling is for obligation absolutely, if one is able; because if one is able, he protects his private parts by it and stays away from the causes of evil.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.