Question:
Assalamualaikum ustaz. Is it true that marriage leads to wealth?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt. wbt.,
Alhamdulillah, praise and gratitude to Allah SWT for His countless blessings for us all. Praise and salutations to our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions, and all those who follow his footsteps until the Final day.
Marriage is a sunnah of Rasullullah PBUH that is encouraged according to the Quranic and prophetic evidences, this is the nature undergone by humans in building a perfect and happy life. Marriage is a form of worship that has certain purposes and wisdoms. The following we cite several wisdoms for the sanctioning of marriage:
First: Fulfilling an innate need
Indeed, Allah SWT created humans naturally in pairs. Thus, the shariah encourages people to marry with the intention to celebrate this innate characteristic of mankind. Moreover, there are several tsabit prohibitions regarding the act of refusing to get married. This is in accordance with a narration from Samurah bin Jundub RA, he said:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنِ التَّبَتُّلِ
“The Prophet PBUH forbade celibacy (cutting oneself from women and marriage).” [1]
Second: Preserving character from depravity and harm
Among the wisdoms for the sanctioning of marriage is so that the issue of the decline of morals could be contained. Considering that if a person doesn’t marry, there is a high possibility that he’ll be involved in prohibited relationships that contradicts the norms of the community such as adultery, sodomy and others. The implication of this is that it will in turn causes great harm to society. In explaining this reality, Rasullullah PBUH said:
إِذَا أَتَاكُمْ مَنْ تَرْضَوْنَ خُلُقَهُ وَدِينَهُ فَزَوِّجُوهُ إِلاَّ تَفْعَلُوا تَكُنْ فِتْنَةٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَفَسَادٌ عَرِيضٌ
“If there comes to you one with whose character and religious commitment you are pleased, then marry (your daughter or female relative under your care) to him, for if you do not do that there will be Fitnah in the land and widespread corruption.'” [2]
Third: Induce calmness and stability in a person’s heart
Undeniably, the function of marriage is to grant calmness and comfort to a person’s heart. This is stated by Allah SWT in His statement:
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُمْ مَوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
“And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought.” [3]
According to the above verse, it is clearly stated the wisdoms and purpose of marriage, it is so that couples could have sukun (tranquillity). Moreover, Allah SWT will grant the feeling of affection and mercy for halal couples, He also blesses them with rahmah (love) in marriage.
Imam al-Qurthubi stated in his commentary: that the meaning of the word al-mawaddah and al-rahmah is the feeling that connects them (husband and wife). Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma interpreted al-mawaddah as the feeling of love for a husband towards his wife. Whereas, al-rahmah means the feeling of empathy of a man preventing him from harming his wife. [4]
According to the above question, we should understand the basis that builds a marriage is to manifest several wisdoms that we have shared above.
According to our limited study, there isn’t any evidence that shows whoever wants to get rich should get married. Rich in terms of overflowing wealth, money and others. The reason is, that this matter is not included as the purpose and wisdom for the sanctioning of marriage.
However, there is evidence that implies it in a verse where Allah SWT states:
وَأَنْكِحُوا الْأَيَامَىٰ مِنْكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَائِكُمْ ۚ إِنْ يَكُونُوا فُقَرَاءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty, and Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.” [5]
Al-Baghawi in his commentary stated: enrich here means sufficiency. It is also said that the place where sustenance is gathered is at the sustenance of husband and wife. Saidina Umar said: “I found it peculiar for a person who seeks wealth not through marriage, when Allah SWT states if they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty.” [6]
Ibn Kathir included several opinions in his commentary [7]: Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma said: “Allah offers targhib (encouragement) for them for marriage. And he commanded men who are free or slaves to marry slave women. Allah SWT also promised al-Ghina (sufficiency) in this matter.”
While Ibn Mas’ud RA presented the above verse after he stated: “Find sufficiency through marriage.”
Saidina Abu Bakr al-Siddiq RA also uttered similar words by saying: “Obey Allah on the matters that He has commanded on you regarding marriage, certainly, He will fulfil what he has promised you regarding sufficiency.”
Likewise, Rasullullah PBUH strengthened this matter when he stated regarding three groups who are rightful to receive the help of Allah SWT. Among them are:
وَالناكحُ الذِي يريدُ العَفَافَ
“The one who gets married seeking to keep himself chaste,” [8]
From several angles, it is undeniable that marriage could lead to additions in one’s life. This considering several factors that we state like the following:
- Marriage means the addition of an individual. Previously, an unmarried person only has the income of one person. Consequently, after marriage, the household income will increase if the wife is also working and has her own income.
- Through marriage, the leader of the house which is the husband should realize that the truth is his responsibilities has increased. Thus, this will lead to determination and resolve in striving to increase his own income to fulfil responsibilities which are different from when he was single.
- Children are also among the factors that a father should work harder in increasing his income. And all of these are none other than positive by-products of a marriage.
According to several of the above-presented explanation and arguments, we are inclined to state that in our opinion solely marriage isn’t a guarantee of increased wealth. Consequently, marriage with a true intention for the sake of Allah in guarding one’s chastity, surely Allah SWT will help in terms of the couple who marries will be granted sufficiency in their lives.
This is named the concept of taqwa in marriage. Hence, for every married couple who has taqwa towards Allah in terms of them obeying the commandments of Allah SWT and leaving all His prohibitions, surely, Allah SWT promises them a way out from any hardship as well as blesses them with an unexpected solution for their problems as well as granted ease and sufficiency in their lives. So true is the statement of Allah SWT who said:
وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ
“And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.” [9]
Lastly, we supplicate to Allah SWT to grant us all understanding and taufiq in practising this religion. We end with the following supplication to Allah SWT:
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
“Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.”
Wallahu a’lam.
[1] Narrated by Al-Nasaie (3214)
[2] Narrated by Ibn Majah (1967)
[3] Surah al-Rum: 21
[4] See Tafsir al-Qurthubi, 17/14
[5] Surah al-Nur: 32
[6] See Tafsir al-Baghawi, 3/410
[7] See Tafsir al-Quran Al-Azhim, Ibn Kathir, 6/51-52
[8] Narrated by al-Nasaie (3218).
[9] Surah Al-Thalaq: 2-3