Marriage At An Early Age And It’s Benefits

MATRIMONY AT AN EARLY AGE AND ITS BENEFITS

SHAYKH FOWZAN

Taken from: ISLAAM’S SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEMS FACING TODAY’S YOUTH, Pgs. 44-48

From among the benefits of getting married at an early age is the obtaining of children, which make the youth delighted at their presence.

Allah says:

And those who say: “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqûn ” (pious – see V.2:2 and the footnote of V.3:164).” (Al-Furqan 25:74)

Wives and children are a deligh; Allah prmised that marriage brings about pleasure. This pleasure encourages and persuades the youth to take an interest in matrimony.

This is also similar to how Allah mentioned that childred are a share of this world’s beauty.

Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds (five compulsory prayers, deeds of Allâh’s obedience, good and nice talk, remembrance of Allâh with glorification, praises and thanks, etc.), that last, are better with your Lord for rewards and better in respect of hope. (Al-Kahf 18:46)

Therefore, this world is adorned by children. The human-being seeks out adornment the same ways he tries to obtain wealth. Similarly, he craves for children, because they are equal to wealth in their existence. This is in this world. Then in the hereafter, righteous children can benefit their fathers as the Prophet sallalahu ‘alayhe wasallam said:

“Whenever the son of Adam dies his action stop except three: Knowledge that benefits people, a recurring charity, and a righteous child that supplicates for his parent .”

(Hadeeth Saheeh, Collected by Muslim #1631)

The second benefit of matrimony at an early age is that it produces children increasing the Muslim Ummah and Islaamic society. The Prophet sallalahu ‘alayhe wasallam said

“Marry the loving and fertile, for verily I want to have the largest Ummah on the Day of Resurrection.”

 

[Hadeeth Saheeh, Collected by Abu Dawud in his Sunnan (#2050), An-Nisa’i in his Sunnan As-Sughara (#3227), Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak (#2/162), and Ibn Hibban in his Saheeh (#4057), Al-Baghawee in his Sharh-us-Sunnah (#9/17), Al-Bayhaqee in his Sunnan AL-Kubara (#7/81) on the authority of Ma’qal Ibn Yasaar. Graded Saheeh by Al-Albani in his checking of Abu Dawud.]

Great blessing result from marriage. From among them are the ones we previously mentioned. So if these virtues and blessings are explained to the adolscents, then the fallacious problems that hinder people from getting married will disappear.

As for the saying that, getting married at an early age diverts from gaining knowledge and from studying, this is not the case. Rather, the opposite of this is correct because tranquility, peace of mind, and pleasure never cease to be obtained through marriage. These things help the student to reach his goal because, he has peace of mind, and his thoughts are not cluttered due to discomfort and this helps him study.

Now on the other hand abstaining from marriage in reality blocks whatever knowledge he wants to attain, because it is not possible to acquire knowledge in a state of confusion and anxiety. However, if he gets married, his mind is at rest and his soul is at ease. He gets a house to take as a shelter and a wife who relaxes and helps him. These things help him to attain knowledge.

If Allah makes it easy and this marraige becomes a source of comfot to become a relationship, then this is from among the things which make it easy for the student to pursue knowledge. Matrimony does not block the path to knowledge as some believe. For that reason, having children is an enormous blessing in this life and in the next.

As for the statement that marriage at an early age burdens the adolsecent to supply provisions for his children, wife and other responsibilities, this also is not correct. Along with marriage comes blessings and well-being. Matrimony is obedience to Allah and His Messenger sallalahu ‘alayhe wasallam and there is good in every act of obedience. So if the youth gets married following the orders of the Prophet sallalahu ‘alayhe wasallam by seeking the blessings that have been promised with the correct intentions, then this marriage will be a reason for his blessings. The provisions are in the hands of Allah.

Allah, the Mighty and Majestic states:

وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِي الأَرْضِ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللّهِ رِزْقُهَا

And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allâh.

(Hud 11:6)

Consequently, if Allah makes it easy for you to get married, then He will make providing for your children easy.

نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ

We provide sustenance for you and for them. (Al-An’am 6:151)

Marriage does not burden the young man above his ability as some of the people think. Marriage brings benefits and blessings. Matrimony is a necessary Sunnah of Allah for the human-being. Matrimony is not a horrible nightmare. It is only a door from the doors of righteousness for the person with the correct intention.

As for the excuses about the obstacles placed in the path of marriage, then this is from their evil behavior. Marriage in itself does not require such things as a plump dowry, parties which amount to more than required or other expenses with no authority from Allah. Rather, what is required is a wedding with ease.

Hence, it is a duty to clarify to the people that these extravagances placed in the path to a wedding bring about evil consequences for their sons and daughters. These extravagances are not from their well-being. Therefore, it is a must to remedy these problems, so that matrimony can return to its ease and convenience.

We ask Allah the Glorious and Most High to grant us the safety of success, guidance and to rectify the condition of all of us. We ask Allah to rectify the Muslim youth and to return the Muslims to their rank and honor the same way Allah gave the Muslim honor before. We ask Allah to return this honor and to rectify the Muslims state.

Allah says the Most High:

وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَكِنَّالْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 

But honour, power and glory belong to Allâh, His Messenger (Muhammad Sallalahu ‘Alayhe Wasallam), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not. (Al-Munafiqun 63:8)

We ask Allah to give the Muslims insight in their religion and to protect them from the evil of their enemies. Peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, his family and all his companions. Praise be to Allah.