MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE

Social progress starts at home and takes root when a man and a woman unite in marriage. In the view of Islam, marriage is a serious and meaningful commitment—not to be taken lightly.

Before Marriage

It is narrated from Jabir ibn Abdullah that the Prophet of Islam said: “When one of you proposes to a woman, if he is able to look at her to see what might incline him toward marrying her, he should do so.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No. 2082)

Mughira ibn Shu‘bah reports: “I proposed to a woman. The Prophet of Islam said to me, ‘Did you look at her?’ I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Then look at her, for this is more likely to create harmony between you.’” (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith No. 17388)

After Marriage

Abdullah ibn Umar narrates that the Prophet of Islam said: “The most disliked permissible act in the sight of God is divorce.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 2018)

Mu‘adh ibn Jabal says that the Prophet of Islam once said to him: “O Mu‘adh, the most beloved thing that God has created on earth is freeing a slave, and the most disliked thing that God has created on earth is divorce.” (Sunan al-Daraqutni, Hadith No. 3984)

These narrations reveal the Islamic perspective on marriage and divorce. In Islam, it is encouraged that one thinks carefully before entering marriage. However, after marriage, the emphasis is on making the relationship work. Generally, it is not permissible to intentionally look at a non-related woman, but an exception is made in the case of a prospective spouse. On the other hand, divorce has been described as “the most disliked of the permissible acts.”

In essence, Islam permits approaching what is normally prohibited (such as looking) for the purpose of investigation before marriage, but after marriage, even taking steps toward what is legally allowed (such as divorce) is discouraged.