2. The Choice of Marriage

One of the Quranic teachings concerning marriage between a man and a woman is expressed in the following verse:

“Do not marry women who associate partners with God until they believe. A believing bondwoman is better than a woman who associates partners with God, however pleasing she may appear to you. Nor give believing women in marriage to men who associate partners with God, till they have believed; a believing bondman is certainly better than a man who associates partners with God, even though he may please you. Such people call you to Hell-fire; but God calls you to Paradise and to forgiveness. He makes His messages clear to people, so that they might bear them in mind.” (Quran, 2:221)

From this Quranic teaching, it becomes clear that marriage in Islam is not, as is often assumed, merely a means of entertainment or leisure; rather, it is a serious responsibility. When a man and a woman enter into marriage, they commit themselves to mutual support and to sharing the responsibilities of life. If they do this, they will become healthy members of the caravan of humanity.

When the true purpose of marriage is kept in view, outward charm and physical beauty become secondary, while inner moral and spiritual qualities acquire greater importance. Experience shows that nature generally maintains this balance: those with greater external beauty may possess fewer inner virtues, whereas those with stronger moral qualities may be less outwardly attractive. In such cases, wisdom requires that temporary physical beauty be given less weight, and enduring moral and spiritual qualities should be regarded as more valuable.