Purpose of Marriage

Your wives are a tilth for you; so approach your tilth when and how you like and send ahead some good for yourselves; and fear Allah and know that you shall meet Him; and give good tidings to those who obey. (2:224)

He it is Who has created you from a single soul and made therefrom its mate, that he may find comfort in her. And when he knows her, she bears a light burden and goes about with it. And when she grows heavy, they both pray to Allah, their Lord, saying, if Thou give us a good child, we will surely be of the thankful. (7:190)

And one of His signs is this, that He has created wives for you from among yourselves that you may find peace of mind in them, and He has put love and tenderness between you. In that, surely, are signs for a people who reflect. (30:22)

One of the purposes of marriage is that righteous servants of God may be born who may remember Him. The second purpose is that husband and wife may safeguard themselves through each other against improper looks and misconduct. The third purpose is that mutual love develops between them safeguarding them against distress of loneliness. All this is set out in the Holy Quran. (Chasma-i-Marifat)

Selection of a partner

A woman is married for four things: her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So, you should marry a religious woman, otherwise you will be a loser. (Bukhari)

Surely, the whole world is a provision, and there is no greater provision of the world than a pious woman. (Bukhari)

Truthfulness in exchanging information

O ye who believe! Fear Allah and say the straightforward word. He will set right your actions for you and forgive you your sins. And whoso obeys Allah and His Messenger shall, surely, attain a supreme triumph. (33:71-72)

Essentials of Marriage

And give the women their dowries willingly. But if they, of their own pleasure, remit to you a part thereof, then enjoy it as something pleasant and wholesome. (4:5)

It is narrated by Ibn Abbas RA that a virgin girl came to the Holy Prophet SAW and said that her father had married her with someone but she did not like him. The Holy Prophet SAW gave her the option to maintain that marriage or reject it. (Abu Dawud)

If any woman marries without the consent of her guardian, her marriage is void, her marriage is void, her marriage is void. (Tirmizi)

Responsibilities of husband and wife

They (wives) are a garment for you, and you (husbands) are a garment for them. (2:188)

Men are guardians over women because Allāh has made some of them excel others, and because they (men) spend on them of their wealth. So virtuous women are those who are obedient, and guard the secrets of their husbands with Allāh’s protection. And as for those, on whose part you fear disobedience, admonish them and leave them alone in their beds and chastise them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Surely, Allāh is High, Great. (4:35)

Among the believers, most perfect in faith are those who have the best disposition, and the best among you are those who are kindest to their wives. (Tirmizi)

The husband is the guardian and benefactor of the wife and is responsible for her comfort. He is her master and benefactor. He has been bestowed a stronger faculty than the wife. Since the beginning of the world, man has ruled over woman, and the standard of faculties granted to women is not as high as that granted to men. The Holy Qur’ān prescribes that if a husband, out of his beneficence, bestows upon the wife a mountain of gold, he cannot take it back from her in case of divorce. This shows how much a woman is honored in Islām. (Chashma-i-Marifat)

Additional Resources

US Jalsa Speech -- Marital Harmony (video)
The Islamic Marriage System
Islamic Teachings on Ideal Family Life (pdf)
MKA Process (Power Point)