*QURANIC REQUIREMENTS FOR MARRIAGE

A number of requirements are mentioned in the Quran for marriage, they are:

*1- The couple must both be at the age of marriage.*

*2- Believers may not marry disbelievers or mushrikeen.*

*3- The couple must make a genuine commitment to one another.*

*4- The marriage must be declared.*

*5- The marriage must be contracted.*

*6- The marriage must be intended as a permanent bond.*

*7- The man must pay a dowry to his bride.*

FIRST: 1️⃣

*The age of marriage*

*You shall test the* *orphans when they reach the age of marriage. Then if you sense in them sound judgement, you shall hand over to them their money. Do not consume it wastefully or quickly before they have grown up. Those who are rich shall not charge any wage, and whoever is poor can charge equitably. When you hand over to them their money, have witnesses in their presence. God suffices as Reckoner.*

4:6

*This Quranic verse clearly speaks of an age of marriage and links it to being “sound judgement”.*

*The key Arabic word “balaghu”, which means reaching puberty, is quite significant. Reaching puberty alone is not sufficient to be at an age of marriage. We must also incorporate the added significance of the words “then if you sense in them sound judgement”.*

*Naturally, not all minors will reach puberty and attain a certain degree of maturity at the same age, hence why Allah did not set a fixed age but left it to the parents and guardians.*

SECOND: 2️⃣

*Believers may not marry disbelievers or mushrikeen.*

*Do not marry the mushrikaat (women who commit shirk) until they believe. A believing slave woman is better than a mushrikah even if you like her. And do not marry the mushrikeen (men who commit shirk) until they believe. A believing slave man is better than a mushrik even if you like him.*

2:221

*It goes without saying that the believers are not to marry atheists and disbelievers.*

THIRD: 3️⃣

 *Genuine commitment between the couple*

*How could you take it back when you have been so close to one another, and after they had taken from you a strict covenant?*

 

4:21

*The words “strict covenant” indicate that when a couple marry they should make a genuine commitment to one another.*

*The words “strict covenant” indicate that when a couple marry they should make a genuine commitment to one another.*

FOURTH: 4️⃣

*Marriage to be declared*

*There is no blame upon you if you announce your engagement to the women, or you keep it to yourself. Allah knows that you will think about them, but do not meet them secretly, unless it is for saying righteous words. Do not execute the marriage contract until the interm is fulfilled. And know that Allah knows your innermost thoughts, so beware of Him, and know that Allah is Forgiver, Forbearing.*

 2:235

*The words in 2:235 allow the engagement to be announced or kept secret, but that the marriage should not be kept secret “do not meet them secretly” but should be declared.*

FIFTH: 5️⃣

*Marriage should be contracted*

*There is no blame upon you if you announce your engagement to the women, or you keep it to yourself. Allah knows that you will think about them, but do not meet them secretly, unless it is for saying righteous words. Do not execute the marriage contract until the interm is fulfilled. And know that Allah knows your innermost thoughts, so beware of Him, and know that Allah is Forgiver, Forbearing.*

 2:235

*The words “contract the marriage” confirm that a marriage contract must be drawn rather than for couples agreeing to marry by mere verbal arrangements.*

SIXTH: 6️⃣

*Permanent bond*

*For a marriage to be lawful in the sight of Allah it must have the intention of being a permanent bond between man and woman. Any temporary kind of marriage is not lawful in the sight of Allah. Allah placed a number of conditions which must be met before a divorce can be contracted. These conditions rule out the option of having temporary marriages, and confirms that Allah regards marriage as a long lasting relationship and not a temporary arrangement. These conditions are:*

*1- The couple must wait 4 months (cooling period) before committing to divorce* (2:226).

*2- The couple must seek a council from the 2 families and genuinely attempt to reconcile* (4:35).

*3- The wife should not be evicted from the marriage home unless she commits gross immorality* (65:1).

*4- The man must pay the divorced wife a divorce compensation* (2:241).

*5- If there are children, the man must pay children’s alimony* (2:233).

*6- In addition to children’s alimony, if the man divorces a wife who is nursing his child, he must pay for her food and clothes for two years.* (2:233).

SEVENTH: 7️⃣

*Payment of the dowry*

*And also married women, except what your right hand possesses. This is Allah’s decree that is binding over you. Beyond those, all others are permitted for you, so long as you employ your money for marriage purposes and not for illicit sex. Those among them who are pleasing to you, you shall pay them their decreed dowries. There is no blame upon you for what you mutually agree to after the obligation. Allah is Knowledgeable, Wise.*

 4:24

*There is no fixed amount for the dowry in the Quran.