Marriage Is Sunnah?
In Islam, marriage is not merely a social contract; it is also a recommended and important Sunnah. Prophet Muhammad encouraged marriage and described it as his Sunnah. In a well-known hadith, he said, “Marriage is my Sunnah, and whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me.” This means that marriage is a desirable and recommended act in Islam because it fulfills natural human needs in a lawful way, keeps society morally pure, and establishes the family system. That is why the Quran also encourages marriage. For example, it states that those among you who are unmarried should be married (An-Nur 24:32). As for the way marriage is conducted, Islam has set a few essential principles. The man and woman must consent to the marriage, the marriage should be announced or conducted in the presence of witnesses, and a dowry (mahr) should be specified. When these basic conditions are fulfilled, the marriage is considered valid. Beyond these fundamental requirements, different cultures and societies may follow their own customs and social practices, such as the style of the ceremony, clothing, or other traditions, as long as these customs do not involve anything that is prohibited in Islam. In summary, marriage in Islam is a Sunnah and a recommended act, and its basic structure is simple. Islam establishes the essential principles of the marriage contract while allowing flexibility for different cultural practices, provided they do not contradict Islamic teachings.