Marrying at an early age and its benefits by Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan

Marrying at an early age and its benefits by Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan

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

Allaah, سبحانه و تعالى, says:

وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

“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 Muttaqun.”
[Qur’aan 25:74]

Wives and children are a delight. Allaah promised that marriage brings about pleasure. This pleasure encourages and persuades the youth to take an interest in matrimony. This is also similar to how Allaah mentioned that children are a share of this world’s beauty:

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا

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

[Qur’aan 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, ﷺ, said:

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

[Saheeh Muslim, 1631]

The second benefit of matrimony at an early age is that it produces children increasing the Muslim Ummah and Islamic society. The Prophet, ﷺ, said:

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

[Sunan Abee Daawuud, 2050, An-Nisaa’ee, 3227, Al-Haakim in Al-Mustadrak, 2/162, Ibn Hibban in his Saheeh, 4057, Al-Baghawee in his Sharh-us-Sunnah, 9/17, Al-Bayhaqee in Sunnan al-Kubara, 7/81. On the authority of Ma’qal Ibn Yasaar, رضي الله عنه. Graded ‘صحيح’ by Shaykh al-Albaanee, رحمه الله, in his checking of Abuu Daawuud]

Great blessings 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 Allaah makes it easy and this marriage becomes a source of comfort 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 adolescent 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 Allaah and His Messenger, ﷺ, and there is good in every act of obedience. So if the youth gets married following the orders of the Prophet, ﷺ, 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 Allaah.

Allaah, عز و جل, states:

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ
And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allaah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (in the uterous, grave, etc.). all is in a Clear Book (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuth – the Book of Decrees with Allaah).

[Qur’aan 11:6]

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

We provide sustenance for you and for them.

[Qur’aan 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 Allaah 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 Allaah. 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 Allaah, سبحانه و تعالى, to grant us the safety of success, guidance and to rectify the condition of all of us. We ask Allaah to rectify the Muslim youth and to return the Muslims to their rank and honour the same way Allaah gave the Muslim honour before. We ask Allaah to return this honour and to rectify the Muslims state.

Allaah, سبحانه و تعالى, says:

But honour, power and glory belong to Allaah, His Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.

[Qur’aan 63:8]

We ask Allaah 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.

الحمدلله

[Islaam’s solution for problems facing today’s youth. By Ibn al-Qayyim, Shaykh Muhammad al-‘Uthaymeen & Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan. Pg. 44-48]