Islamic Teaching on Matrimonial Affairs — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 3
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Islamic Teaching on Matrimonial Affairs.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: II – Brief Note on Islamic Equality
Pages: Book pp. 47–48 (PDF pp. 65–66)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Relations Between a Master and Servant] | Next: [Equality of Rights Between Man and Woman] »
Historical Account
Matrimonial affairs are also a part of social relations, but alas, as per their own thoughts, materialists have produced various classes in this area as well and consider it insulting to marry into a lower class. Therefore, regarding this, our Master, the Holy Prophetsa stated:
َتُنْكَحُ الْمَرْاٴَةُ لِاَرْبَعٍ لِمَالِھَا وَلِحَسَ بِھَا وَجَمَالِھَا وَلِدِیْنِھَا فَاظْفَرْ بِذَاتِ الدِّیْنِ تَرِبَتْ یَدَاك
“A woman is married on the basis of four things. A wife is chosen either on account of her wealth, and/or she is chosen on account of her genealogy (i.e., nation or family), and/or she is chosen on account of her beauty and charm, and/or she is chosen on the basis of her moral and religious state; But O Believing Man! You should always chose your wife on the basis of her religious and moral state, and give precedence to the aspect of personal qualities and personal goodness. If not thy hands will ever remain in dust.”
[Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābun-Nikāḥ, Bābul-Akfā’i Fid-Dīn, Ḥadīth No. 5090]
This blessed teaching is not only one which can make the homes of Muslims a model of Paradise, but is also a significant means by which the foundation for religious and worldly success can be set for their future generations. Furthermore, there was the personal model of the Holy Prophetsa in this matter. The Holy Prophetsa married his paternal cousin, Ḥaḍrat Zainab bint Jaḥash, to his freed slave, Zaid bin Ḥārithahra. In this matter, he did not care in the slightest for the ancient custom and practice of the Arabs. Similarly, the Holy Prophetsa himself married into every well-known tribe of the Arabs, i.e., he married in the Quraish, outside the Quraish, as well as in the Banī Isrā’īl. For these were the three main tribes settled in Arabia at the time. However, it is a shame that today many Muslims are not prepared to marry out of their own class. For example, a Sayyid is adamant that his daughter only marry into the home of another Sayyid. A Rājpūt is persistent that his daughter only become the wife of another Rājpūt. A Kakaiza’ī is obstinate that his daughter only be wed to a Kakaiza’ī, and in this manner the golden teaching of the Holy Prophetsa and his blessed example have been dismissed.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3)
Section: II – Brief Note on Islamic Equality | Navigation: « Previous: [Relations Between a Master and Servant] | Next: [Equality of Rights Between Man and Woman] »