الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا”
مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ
“وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
“All praise is to Allah. We praise him, we seek His help, His forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and of our actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide him. Whomsoever Allah leads astray, none can guide him.
I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is His servant and messenger.”
Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A new weekly series as part of the AlMaghrib Journal, based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!
“Indeed, We certainly sent messengers before you, and We granted them wives and children.”
[Qur’an 13:38]
The Qur’an reminds us that marriage is not just a custom, but it is the sunnah of the prophets, culminating with the final messenger, Muhammad ﷺ.
From the earliest people, marriage has been a framework for faith, family, and continuing the nation.
Rejecting it when the means to fulfil this sunnah are present clashes with both our fitrah (innate nature) and the guidance of Islam, and is the cause for much corruption in society.
We are not a nation of monks; choosing celibacy over what is halal and brings benefit to society is not a virtue.
Islam does not merely permit marriage; it celebrates it, encouraging believers to pursue it even when material circumstances look uncertain.
“Marry off the single among you … If they are poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty.”
[Qur’an 24:32]
Poverty is no excuse to postpone what Allah promises to support. It is why one of the du’as we are encouraged to make is:
“…Our Lord, grant us spouses and offspring who will be the coolness of our eyes.”
[Qur’an 25:74]
Do not delay marriage without reason!
The Prophet ﷺ advised the youth of the Ummah:
“Young people, whoever among you is able to marry, let him marry.”
[Sahih al Bukhari & Muslim]
But this hadith does not simply speak to the youth, rather, it should express a clear duty for the parents in our community.
Your role is not simply to find spouses for your children, but to prepare your children to be the best of spouses when they reach maturity. That means shaping them to be intellectually, financially, and emotionally responsible.
Delaying their marriage due to negligence, not necessity, is irresponsible, especially in our hyper-sexualised age.
“If one whose religion and character please you comes to you [seeking marriage], marry him. If you do not, there will be widespread trial and corruption.”
[Tirmidhi]
Young People: Trust Your Parents!
Youth may fear that parents are “out of touch,” but experience often proves parents see dangers their children miss. Fathers and mothers are imperfect, yet they possess decades of lessons earned the hard way and, most importantly, a vested, selfless love for their child’s happiness. Listening does not mean surrendering autonomy; it means widening perspective before making a lifelong commitment.
Parents: Do Not Pressure Your Children!
Using guilt, force, or emotional blackmail is not encouragement, it is injustice.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission.” [Sahih al Bukhari]
On the “Four Qualities” Hadith
Many know the famous narration: a woman is sought for four traits; her wealth, lineage, beauty, and Deen. “So attain the one with religion, may your hands be rubbed with dust.” The same logic applies when families vet a groom. Misunderstandings arise, however, when people read the hadith as a dismissal of every criterion except piety. The Prophet’s intent was priority, not exclusivity.
Other qualities matter. Education, financial stability, physical attraction, and social compatibility all merit inquiry.
But Deen is decisive. If faith and good character are absent, no amount of wealth or charm will compensate.
So explore practical compatibility first; if those align, the final, make-or-break inquiry is religious commitment.
A “yes” on Deen should seal the choice; a “no” should end it.
To those who are single and looking to get married, be wary of 4 fatal traps:
1: “He or She Will Change After We Marry.”
Parents sometimes hasten an engagement by assuring their son or daughter that a prospective spouse will magically transform once the nikāḥ is signed:
“She’ll start wearing hijab,” “He’ll begin praying,” or “That bad temper will calm down.”
Reality is harsher. It is true that people can grow, but only when they themselves are motivated to do so.
Laziness, chronic anger, stinginess, or neglecting their duties to Allah rarely disappear just because of marriage.
Marry the person who stands before you today, not the person you dream to see tomorrow.
2: Seeking a Spouse as a Therapist
Your spouse is not your counsellor, and you cannot expect marriage to be a magical remedy to your own personal baggage. Address personal flaws and work on yourself and, where needed, seek professional help.
The healthier you are before marriage, the stronger the union that follows.
3: Focusing Only on Appearance
Physical attraction is important for both men and women; Islam never denies this. Yet the Prophet ﷺ placed enduring weight on akhlaq (character).
Beauty, wealth, and career success can fade or fluctuate, but kindness, honesty, patience, and faith grow more precious with every passing year.
Invest in beautifying your heart as you do in beautifying your appearance.
4: “This Person Is the Only One for Me.”
When a person becomes infatuated with another, it opens the doors for Shaytan to whisper into their ear, making them believe that there is no other soul on the planet for them.
Before marriage, many suitable candidates exist; after marriage, your chosen spouse becomes the one.
Do not fall into this trap, because you are limiting yourself when Allah’s plans for you may be far greater than what you desire.
When you make this shift in your mindset, it frees you to notice warning signs you might otherwise ignore.
May Allah grant every seeker a spouse who enriches faith and character; mend struggling marriages with mercy and understanding; and protect our communities from trials that arise when marriage is neglected or delayed.
Recent Comments