An ideological tie may be so powerful and effective that it...

An ideological tie may be so powerful and effective that it may overshadow all other ties. We will further elucidate this point later. Out of all the social ties which we have mentioned Islam gives basic importance to two, namely the ideological and dogmatic tie and the family tie. We propose to discuss first the family tie. Marriage Nature has so arranged that man and woman are attracted towards each other.

This natural attraction binds them together and leads them to live a common life and form a family. This natural tendency or the instinct of sex, like any other instinct, should be guided to the right direction so that it may be utilized in the service of humanity. Though common life of husband and wife originates from sex instinct, yet gradually it develops into a sort of deep spiritual and sentimental and social and economic relation­ship. That is what we call conjugal union or matrimony.

In the wake of keen desire to establish conjugal relations between themselves, man and woman enter into a contract known as marriage or matrimonial contract. This contract has great importance in human life, for it unites the existence of two persons in many ways. It lays the foundation of the life of a human infant, and deeply influences his body, life, thought and future actions.

That is why a marriage contract is regarded as sacred by various nations and enough attention has been paid in different legal systems to the questions connected with it. Importance of marriage from Islamic point of view Islam has also attached great importance to the question of marriage in its social system. In the holy Qur'an and the sayings of the holy Prophet and the Imams we find that marriage has been greatly encouraged.

The holy Prophet has been reported to have said: "No institution of Islam is liked by Allah more than that of marriage". Basic object of marriage The basic object of marriage in Islam consists of: (a) Securing comfortable atmosphere for husband and wife (b) Producing a new generation and bringing up healthy, faithful and virtuous children.

With regard to the first object the Qur'an says: "One of His signs is that He created for you spouses of your own species, so that you might find comfort with them, and He put mutual love and affection in your hearts. Surely in this there are lessons for the thinking people. " (Surah al‑Rum, 30:21). A Muslim husband and wife who follow the Qur'an should always be a source of comfort to each other.