Question
- Is it obligatory to marry?
- If I don’t marry due to personal reasons, will I be sinful?
Answer
- Allah and His Messenger have commanded us to get married if we have the means to do so. Allah said: ‘And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband).’ Surah Al-Noor 24:32
And Allah said: ‘So marry women of your choice.’ Surah An-Nisa 4:3
The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Marriage is part of my Sunnah, and whoever does not follow my Sunnah has nothing to do with me. Get married, for I will boast of your great numbers before the nations. Whoever has the means, let him get married, and whoever does not, then he should fast for it will diminish his desire.’ Narrated by Ibn Majah in As-Sunan 1846; and it is Hasan.
Abdullah bin Abbas said: ‘Get married, for the best of this Ummah (i.e. the Messenger of Allah) had many wives (i.e. so marry one at least).’ Narrated by Al-Bukhari in As-Sahih 5069. - Intending to not get married without any excuse is a major sin and an imitation of the Christians.
Anas bin Malik said: A person said: ‘I will stay away from women and never get married.’ The Messenger of Allah heard this and said: ‘As for me, then I fast and I break my fast, and I pray and I sleep, and I marry women. So whoever is unwilling to act upon my Sunnah has nothing to do with me.’’ Narrated by Al-Bukhari in As-Sahih 5063.
And Anas bin Malik said: Allah’s Messenger used to command us to marry and sternly forbid celibacy and say: ‘Marry women who are beloved (due to their good characteristics), prolific in bearing children, for I shall outnumber the Prophets by you on the Day of Resurrection.’ Narrated by Ahmad in Al-Musnad 12613; and it is Sahih.
And the Prophet said: ‘Get married, for I shall outnumber the Prophets by you on the Day of Resurrection, and do not become like the Christian monks (i.e. by not getting married).’ Narrated by Al-Ru’yani in Al-Musnad 1188; and it is Sahih.