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Marriages play one of the essential roles in an individual’s life. Globally, people have learned about the importance of marriages for centuries now. They still stand firm that marriage is one of the most critical relationships for building a good and stable life. Marriage is a legal contract between two people who are willing to accept the other person and their families as their own. It is also believed as a union of two families rather than two individuals.
Early marriages are initially recommended for Muslims; it is healthy and helps for chastity. Delay of weddings is beneficial for the Shaytan. When a girl reaches maturity (physically and psychologically), it is recommended to marry them off as soon as possible.
One of the main aims of encouraging early marriage is to preserve the innocence of our youths. Allah(SWT) has created human beings with sexual desires. As such, when a boy or girl reaches puberty and develops sexual organs, the best, the very best the parent can do is to prepare them for a life of responsibility, marital life.
The urge for sex can be powerful, especially in adolescence, and in most cases, it (the impulse) must be satisfied, either in a halal way or in a haram way. The desire for such satisfaction has made young boys and girls engage in unthinkable actions.
Islam has a provision for everything. Islam is for all seasons and all reasons. There is nothing about our lives that Allah (SWT) has not addressed in the Quran, with good explanations from the actions and sayings of the Prophet (PBUH). Allah (SWT) says:
“And marry such of you as are solitary and the pious of your slaves and maidservants. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them with His bounty. Allah is of ample means, Aware.” [An-Nur: 32]
The father of a girl must not delay the marriage of his daughter if a proposal is received from a compatible man of equal status who is of sound religion and character. From the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),
“Three matters should not be delayed: prayer when its time comes, burial when the funeral has arrived, and the marriage of a single woman when a well-suited man has proposed.”
Why should you delay marriages then?
The Prophet (PBUH) addressed the youths encouraging them to get married as soon as they are capable of shouldering the responsibility of marriage, saying:
“O youth! Whoever you can marry, let him marry because it helps him keep his eyes away from lustful looks and preserve his innocence. And whoever is not able to marry, let him observe fasting, as it is a shield for him (i.e., protection from lapsing in fornication).”
Early marriage doesn’t mean that the spouses could be not mature and responsible, the Qur’an hints saying:
“If you find them of sound judgment.” (An-Nisa’: 6)
That means puberty or marriageable age is not enough to be qualified for marriage. Suppose a son can run a household life and maintain mentally, psychologically, and financially and everything for his wife. In that case, early marriage is the only way to keep our children away from haram.
Among the benefits of early marriages is that Married couples perform better at school or university and are more emotionally stable than singles. Also, living together with one’s wife will cost one much less than if each one of them lived separately. The benefits of early marriage are extreme, and it is highly encouraged in Islam if both of spouses are mature and responsible, and if the husband can support the family on the financial side.
Most people confuse early marriage with the marriage of a girl who is not capable (what some refer to as underage marriage). I believe there is a difference between the two.
Allah(SWT) knows best.
