Seeking Self-Sufficiency through Marriage: A Path to Spiritual and Material Growth

Marriage as an Act of Worship: How it Can Bring Worldly Benefits and Spiritual Rewards

SEEK SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH MARRIAGE WITH THE RIGHT INTENTION

ALLĀH says: “And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, ALLĀH will enrich them from HIS bounty, and ALLĀH is all-Encompassing and Knowing.”  {An-Nūr: Verse 32}

Ibn Mas’ūd (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) said: We were with the Prophet (ﷺ), young men who had nothing of wealth. The Messenger of ALLĀH (ﷺ) said to us: “O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding one’s chastity. And whoever cannot afford it should fast, for it will be a shield for him.” {Al-Bukhārī #5066 and Muslim #1400}7

Abu Hurayrah (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of ALLĀH (ﷺ) said: “There are three whom ALLĀH is bound to help: the mujāhid who strives (in jihad) for the sake of ALLĀH, the mukātib (a slave who has made a contract of manumission with his master) who wants to pay off his manumission, and a man who gets married, seeking to remain chaste.”. {At-Tirmidhi #1655}

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said: “ALLĀH (may HE be glorified) enjoined marriage of single and righteous people among slave men and women, and HE said – and HE the truth – that this is one of the means of attaining bounty for those who are poor, so that husbands and women’s guardians may be reassured that poverty should not be an impediment to marriage; rather marriage is one of the means of attaining provision and independence of means.” {Fatāwa Islamiyyah || 3/213}

Ibn Mas’ud (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) said: “Seek independence of means through marriage.” {Tafsi‌r Ibn Kathīr}

These encourage believers who have the capability (sexual and monetary capability) to trust in ALLAH’S plan and pursue marriage not merely for personal desires but as an act of worship that brings both worldly benefit and spiritual reward. When marriage is undertaken to please ALLĀH and seek purity, it becomes a source of divine assistance and a means of attaining both material provision and spiritual elevation.