Sunnah Method Of Marriage
Introduction
All praise is due to Allâh ta'ala alone who created man and women, and, by the institution of marriage, creates a loving and merciful bond between two complete strangers. Salât and salaam upon our beloved master, Rasulullâh ﷺ, who taught us and guided us in marital matters and who serves as a wonderful role-model for us until the Day of Judgement, as well as the sahâbah, tâbi’în, and those who follow their path. Âmîn.
How regretful and pitiable is our condition today that we have cast aside the path of the greatest benefactor to mankind, Rasulullâh ﷺ, and we have aped and adopted the ways of others. Allâh ta'ala declares in the Qurân Karîm, “Most definitely, there is for you in (the life of) Rasulullâh ﷺ a beautiful example, for those who have hope in (meeting) Allâh (ta'ala), the Last Day, and who remember Allâh (ta'ala) in great abundance.” If our salâh is in conformance to the salâh of Nabî ﷺ, then it will be correct, otherwise not. Similar is the ruling in our dealings (muâmalât) and manner of living (muâsharât). It is for this reason that Allâh ta'ala did not send an angel as a messenger, but sent a human being, so that he could be a practical example for us. A person whose aim and object is the pleasure of Allâh ta'ala and who desires success in the Hereafter will take Rasulullâh ﷺ as his role-model and guide. In times of happiness and sorrow, he will not waver from the teachings and path of Nabî ﷺ.
In another verse, Allâh ta'ala declares, “Say (O Nabi ﷺ), if you love Allâh (ta'ala), then follow me, Allâh (ta'ala) will love you and forgive for you your sins. Allâh (ta'ala) is most Forgiving, most Merciful.” The sunnah path is the only way to attain Divine pleasure. Once a person has attained this, Allâh ta'ala will keep such a person happy in this world, in the grave and the hereafter, even though outwardly he may possess little possessions and material means.
In a hadith, Rasulullâh ﷺ is reported to have mentioned, “Whoever holds firmly onto my sunnah at the time of the corruption of my ummah, then for him will be the reward of one hundred martyrs.” (Targhib) Hadrat Anas, radiyallahu anhu, narrates that Rasulullâh ﷺ said, “Whoever loves my sunnah, then verily he loves me; and whoever loves me will be with me in Jannah.” (Tirmidhi) Imâm Mâlik (rahimahullah) said, “Verily the sunnah is like the ark of Nuh, alayhis salam. Whoever boards it, will be saved; and whoever stays back will be drowned.”
It has been the habit of my honourable ustadh and sheikh, Hadrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Saheb (dâmat barakâtuhu) as well as my honourable ustadh, Hadrat Moulana Fadhlur Rahmân Azmi (dâmat barakâtuhu) to verbally and practically encourage simple marriages. In fact, the catalyst for writing this book was a desire of Hadrat Moulana Fadhlur Rahmân Azmi (dâmat barakâtuhu) to prepare a booklet on this topic. Therefore, this servant has compiled this booklet on the sunnah method of marriage, since many incorrect ideologies have entered into our marriages. Today millions are wasted in marriage ceremonies, whereas this money could be fruitfully used in so many other noble endeavours. Sins are committed wholesale at such functions, and all vestiges of shame and modesty are thrown aside. Evil is committed in the name of Islam. We lay our complaint to none else but Allâh ta'ala.
May Allâh ta'ala accept this booklet, forgive our shortcomings and make it a means of reviving this sunnah of Nabî ﷺ and the ambiyâ, alayhimus salam, in the whole world till the Day of Qiyâmah.
Moosa Kajee
5 Zul-Hijjah 1431, 12 Nov. 2010, Azaadville