The Holy Prophet (S.

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) has said: “ One who does not marry on account of poverty and indigence has entertained a bad idea about the Almighty, because He says: “ If those who marry have been needy and poor Allah will make them independent by His blessing: He (Allah) also said: “ Marry to acquire your sustenance; because blessing has been placed among women. Islam also considers it a great service to make efforts for the matrimony of two persons and to arrange for the preliminaries thereof.

Choice of The Spouse Islam considers marriage to be a sacred and religious matter and, therefore, considers purity of faith to be a prerequisite for a spouse. The Holy prophet (S.A.W) has said: “ One who selects a woman for her beauty only does not find in her what he desires. And Allah leaves him to himself (i.e. ignores) a person who marries a woman for her wealth.” It is, therefore, necessary that you should select a faithful and religious-minded spouse.

Imam Ali (A.S) said: “ Avoid matrimonial alliance with foolish and ignorant women, because association with them is a calamity and the child to whom they give birth would be good for nothing and worthless”. Notwithstanding what has been mentioned above, Islam has left the selection of a spouse to the will of a husband and considers the interference and imposition by the parents to be inopportune.

The Problem of Marriage It should be admitted that the greatest difficulty which has cropped up these days for young men and makes them desist from marrying is the dowry, the burdensome ceremonies, and the undue expectations of many women. No doubt Islam considers the dowry of a woman legal right and it is payable by the man, how so ever enormous it may be.

It is for this reason that the Holy Qur’an says: ** ** **“** If you wish to divorce a woman in order to wed another, do not take from her the dowry you have given her even if it be a talent of gold”. (Holy Qur’an 4:24) However, from an ethical point of view, Islam rejects the woman with a heavy dowry and excessive expectation and prefers a woman whose dowry is light and whose expenses are moderate, and considers her more fit for multiplication of offspring.

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said: “ Inauspiciousness lies in the three things: a woman, an animal for riding, and a spouse. The inauspiciousness and unluckiness of a woman consists of this that her dowry should be heavy and she may not be fertile”.