Their mutual relations should be far above mere sexual...

Their mutual relations should be far above mere sexual enjoyment and should reach the stage of cordial friendship accompanied by mutual benevolence and fellow‑feeling. (Ayatullah Ali Mishkini's " Marriage in Islam " published by ISP). On the basis of this verse the object of marriage should be the same as that of the creation of mates, that is husbands and wives.

From the Islamic point of view marriage is not merely an instrument for legalizing sexual relations, but .it is an agreement which unites the very existence of the husband and wife and gives a new colour and a new rhythm to their life. It brings them out of real solitariness, turns them into a couple instead of single individuals and makes them complementary to each other. With regard to the second object the Qur'an says: "He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth.

He has given you partners from among yourselves, and ( similarly made ) the cattle ( also ) males and females. That is bow He multiplies you. Nothing can be compared to Him. He is the All‑bearing, the All‑seeing". (Surah al‑Shura, 42:11). The Islamic traditions regarding the choosing of wife stress one point viz. the proposed wife should be capable of producing children and should not be sterile.

According to a well‑known hadith of his, the holy Prophet said: "Marry each other and produce new off‑spring so that your number may increase". Selection of a spouse one of the most critical questions connected with marriage and formation of a family is that of choosing the spouse. In this connection attention should be paid to the following points: • Freedom in the selection of wife or husband. • Equality between husband and wife, viz.

each of them should be generally suitable to marry the other. • The criteria which should be kept in view to deter­ mine such suitability. • Persons between whom marriage is forbidden. • Seeking the hand of the spouse in marriage. Freedom in choosing husband or wife: Freedom in choosing husband/wife is a principle to which Islam has paid much attention, for satisfactory conjugal life depends on intellectual, spiritual and moral compati­bility between the two spouses.

This compatibility can exist only if both the parties are free in their choice and choose each other of their own free will after careful study and without any coercion. Otherwise their conjugal life cannot be expected to be smooth and satisfactory.