Adab Al-Nikah

Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali (450-505 /1058-1111) is justly described as “Hujjatullslam”. He was born in the Iranian town of Tits, studied Islamic law and theology at the Seljuq College in Nishapur, and became a distinguished professor at the famous Nizamiyya University in Baghdad. Despite his glittering success, he was inwardly dissatisfied, so he abandoned his career for the life of hardship, abstinence and devotion to worship. During ten years of wandering, he experienced a spiritual transformation, in which the Truth came to him at last, as something received rather than acquired. Blessed with an inner certainty, he then applied his outstanding faculties and vast learning to the task of revitalizing the whole Islamic tradition. Through his direct personal contacts, and through his many writings, he showed how every element in that tradir’on could and should be turned to its true purpose.

In the words of Imam Ghazal, ‘Marriage comes to religion’s aid, striking devils with dismay”. How appropriate that one should study its occasions, preserve its sacred traditions and its etiquette, explain its aims and purposes, and detail the paragraphs and chapters of the subject. This is Book XII of 71.tyi Man al-Din (Revival of the Religious Sciences), translated by the eloquent Muhtar Holland. Topics in this book include: benefits of marriage, challenges of marriage, selecting a spouse, rules of married lift, relations between husband and wife, having children, preferred actions at childbirth, obligations of spouses to each other, and avoiding divorce. The subject of Marriage, discussed is surely of particular interest and importance to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.