MARRIAGE

The celebration of the marriage contract is called nikāḥ ( نكاح‎ ). The festive rejoicings ʿurs ( عرس‎ ); Persian shādī . Marriage is enjoined upon every Muslim, and celibacy is frequently condemned by Muḥammad. It is related in the Traditions that Muḥammad said: “When the servant of God marries, he perfects half of his religion;” and that “on one occasion Muḥammad asked a man if he was married, and being answered in the negative, he said, ‘Art thou sound and healthy?’ Upon the man replying that he was, Muḥammad said, ‘Then thou art one of the brothers of the devil.’ ” ( Mishkāt , book xiii. ch. i.) Consequently in Islām, even the ascetic orders are rather married than single. It is related that one of the Companions, named ʿUs̤mān ibn Maz̤ʿūn, wished to lead a life of celibacy, but Muḥammad forbade him. The following are some of the sayings of Muḥammad on the subject of marriage (see Mishkātu ʾl-Masābīḥ , book xiii.):— “The best wedding is that upon which the least trouble and expense is bestowed.” “The worst of feasts are marriage feasts, to which the rich are invited and the poor left out, and he who abandons the acceptation of an invitation, then verily disobeys God and His Prophet.” “Matrimonial alliances (between two families or tribes) increase friendship more than anything else.” “Marry women who will love their husbands and be very prolific, for I wish you to be more numerous than any other people.” “When anyone demands your daughter in marriage, and you are pleased with his disposition and his faith, then give her to him; for if you do not so, then there will be strife and contention in the world.” “A woman may be married either for her money, her reputation, her beauty, or her religion; then look out for a religious woman, for if you do marry other than a religious woman, may your hands be rubbed with dirt.” “All young men who have arrived at the age of puberty should marry, for marriage prevents sins. He who cannot marry should fast.” “When a Muslim marries he perfects half his religion, and he should practise abstinence for the remaining half.” “Beware! make not large settlements upon women; because, if great settlements were a cause of greatne in the world and of righteousne before God, surely it would be most proper for the Prophet of God to make them.” “When any of you wishes to demand a woman in marriage, if he can arrange it, let him see her first.” “A woman ripe in years shall have her consent asked in marriage, and if she remain silent her silence is her consent, and if she refuse she shall not be married by force.” “A widow shall not be married until she be consulted, nor shall a virgin be married until her consent be asked.” The Companions said, “In what manner is the permi ion of a virgin?” He replied, “Her consent is by her silence.” “If a woman marries without the consent of her guardian, her marriage is null and void, is null and void, is null and void; then, if her marriage hath been consummated, the woman shall take her dower; if her guardians dispute about her marriage, then the king is her guardian.” The subject of Muslim marriages will now be treated in the present article under the headings—I. The Validity of Marriage; II. The Legal Disabilities to Marriage; III. The Religious Ceremony; IV. The Marriage Festivities.