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1.
Marriage is a solemn covenant, a strong commitment and a tenacious
bond
[2/235,
2/237, 4/21]
By
virtue of this solemn covenant a man and a woman make pledge
to accept the rights and obligations laid down by the Quran
in respect of their being husband and wife in order to lead
a life of companionship.
The
marriage has been termed as "Uqdatun" in 2:235 and
2:237, which means:
a
knot, a tie, a bond, an obligation
"Aqdun"
means:
a
contract, a compact, a covenant, an agreement, a treaty, an
engagement
In
4:21, marriage has been termed as "meethaqan ghaleezan",
which means:
a
strong, confirmed or ratified covenant, bond, agreement,
treaty, contract, compact, obligation, promise.
2.
Marriage is neither a clandestine relationship nor mere satisfaction
of lust but it is for leading a conjugal life with honour
[4/25,
5/5]
According to 5:5 […wala muttakhithee akhdanin…] and 4:25 [wala
muttakhithati akhdanin], it is not allowed to have:
-Amorous friends, companions or associates [male or female]
-Friends, companions or associates [male or female] affected
with sensual appetency
-Friends, companions or associates [male or female] to commit
fornication with them in secret
The
word “akhdanin” that appears in 4:25 and 5:5 is the plural of
“khidn”, with the root kh-d-n and has the following meanings:
-
Amorous friends, companions or associates [male or female]
-
Friends, companions or associates affected with sensual
appetency [male or female]
-
Friends, companions or associates to commit fornication with
them in secret [male or female]
3.
The right age of marriage is after reaching puberty (Adulthood) when one
has vitality, vigour, sensibility and sense of responsibility
[4/6,
6/152, 17/34, 22/5, 28/14, 40/67]
In
4:6, the word nikaah (i.e. marriage) has been tied with the
word balaghoo (i.e. the age of puberty, adulthood,
adolescence). In 6:152 and 17:34, the blooghat is tied with
ashadda, which means an age of full manly vigour and maturity.
The context of 4:6, 6:152 and 17:34 indicates that this not
only means physical maturity but also the mental maturity when
one has sensibility and sense of responsibility. The age of
blooghat-e-ashadda has also been clarified in 22:5, 28:14 and
40:67. All this suggests that the right age of marriage is
when one is mentally and physically mature and has vitality,
vigour, sensibility and sense of responsibility.
4.
A liking and consent between a man and a woman before marriage
is prerequisite
[4/3,
4/19]
In
4:3, men are commanded to marry women of their liking. In 4:19
men are forbidden to take women against their will. This makes
clear that a liking and consent between a man and a
woman is essential before marriage
5.
The primary consideration in selecting a spouse is the commonness
of ideologies rather than beauty and status
In 2:221, the marriage of the believing men with mushrik women
and of the believing women with mushrik men is
forbidden. This is an example of extreme difference of
ideologies. A
marriage between a man and a woman of alien ideologies will
make family life a veritable hell. On the other hand, a
marriage between a man and a woman of similar ideologies would
be paradisiacal. In the same verse, it has been stated that a
believing slave is better than a (free) mushrik, even though
the mushrik looks enchanting. A slave with a low status is
better if he has similar ideology as you have. Even though he
is not very good looking, the similarity of ideologies and
thoughts is more likely to result in a happy conjugal life
than beauty or status.
6.
The provision of sustenance of the wife is the responsibility
of the husband 4/34
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here.
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