In every system there are certain laws of mandatory nature which the adherents have to follow, failing which they would fall from the grace of that system. Islamic family system too prescribes certain laws to ensure the society runs on healthy footings. One of them is inevitability of Nikah (marriage solemnised in the name of God). It is essential for every youth who is able-bodied and has resources enough to lead a matrimonial life.
On different occasions, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ enjoined youth to get married, thus shutting the door on abstention from married life. In a famous hadith, Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse, etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power.” (Bukhari)
Islam teaches that Nikah is half of the Deen (Islamic faith). It means that a person attains first half of the Deen as and when he declares his faith in Islam and starts practising Islam in life; and he completes the Deen only when he marries in the name of God. This is why Allah’s Messenger ﷺ has laid emphasis on solemnising Nikah so much so that he said Nikah is his Sunnah and one who refuses it is not from among his followers. And it does not behove a believer to do anything that diminishes his faith and makes him slip from the bound of Islamic faith. Hence this warning of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ.
The Qur’ān declares the cordial relationship between a man and his wife as one of His Signs. God says: “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.” (The Qur’ān – 30:21)
The first thing this ayah stresses is that it is God Who has created mates or spouses and it is one of His Signs. The purpose of creating a spouse for every person is that “you may find tranquillity in them”. Think of this tranquillity, this peace of mind at the time when you return home after having been busy with the din and bustle of life. Another important message of this ayah is that He placed between you (a man and his wife) affection (mawaddah) and mercy (rahmah). This underlines the need for cordial relationship among husband and wife based on affection and mercy, sharing each other’s joys and sorrows, appreciating each other’s good deeds, achievements, etc. and forgiving each other’s shortcomings. The ayah also says that in all these salient features of a matrimonial life there are signs for a people who understand and think. This is the only way we can make our family life happy and prosperous.