Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said: "The best people of my nation (Ummat) are those who get married and have chosen their wives, and the worst people of my nation are those who have kept away from marriage and are passing their lives as bachelors."
Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) says,
"No structure has been built in Islam more beloved in the sight of Allah than the foundation of marriage."[1]
On another occasion Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said:
"The best people of my nation (Ummat) are those who get married and have chosen their wives, and the worst people of my nation are those who have kept away from marriage and are passing their lives as bachelors."[2]
Imam Ali (a.s.) exhorts,
"Marry, because marriage is the tradition of Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)." Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) also said, "Whosoever likes to follow my tradition, then he should know that marriage is from my tradition."[3]
A. Importance of sex in marriage.
In Islam, marriage is not restricted to a platonic relationship between husband and wife, nor is it solely for procreation. The Islamic term for marriage, "Nikah" literally means sexual intercourse. So why has Islam provided extensive rules and regulation regarding sex? This was because Islam has fully understood that sexual instincts cannot and must not be repressed. They can only be regulated for the well-being of human beings in this life and for their success in the hereafter.
B. Fulfillment of Sexual Urge.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and the Holy Imams (a.s.) also encouraged their followers to marry and to fulfill their sexual urges in lawful ways as can be seen. Imam Reza (a.s.) said,
"Three things are from the traditions of the messengers of God: using perfume, removing the [excessive] hair and visiting one's wife."[4]
C. Celibacy and Monasticism is Forbidden.
Islam is totally opposed to monasticism and celibacy. Uthman bin Maz'un was a close companion of Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). One day his wife came to Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and complained, "O Messenger of God! Uthman fasts during the day and stands for prayers during the night." In other words, she meant to say that her husband was avoiding sexual relations during the night as well as the day. Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was upset. He went to Uthman's house and found him praying. When Uthman finished his prayers and turned towards Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), he said,
"O Uthman! Allah did not send me for monasticism, rather He sent me with a simple and straight [Shariah]. I fast, pray and also have intimate relations with my wife. So whosoever likes my tradition, then he should follow it; and marriage is one of my traditions."[5]
D. Beneficial Effects of a Married Life.
Various studies prove that married people remain healthier, physically and mentally. Islam has always maintained that marriage is beneficial for us in many ways.
Islam also regards marriage as a way to acquire spiritual perfection. Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said,
"One who marries, has already guarded half of his religion, therefore he should fear Allah for the other half."[6]
How true! A person who fulfills his sexual urges lawfully would rarely be distracted in spiritual pursuits.
E. Marriage (Nikaah) enhances the value of prayers.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said,
"Two rak 'ats (cycles) prayed by a married person are better than seventy rak'ats prayed by a single person."[7]
F. Marriage (Nikah) increases Sustenance.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) remarked,
"Give spouses to your single ones, because Allah (SWT) makes their morality better (improves it) (under the shadow of marriage) and expands their sustenance and increases their generosity (human values)."[8]
Holy Quran says:
"Marry off those who are single among you…If they are poor, Allah will enrich them out of His grace…[9]
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[1] ما بُنِيَ في الإسلامِ بِناءٌ أحَبَّ إلی اللهِ عزّوجلّ، و أعَزَّ مِنَ التَّزویجِ.
(بحار الانوار . ج103 0ص222)
[2] لْقُطْبُ الرَّاوَنْدِیُّ فِی لُبِّ اللُّبَابِ، عَنِ النَّبِیِّ ص أَنَّهُ قَالَ: خَیْرُ أُمَّتِی أَوَّلُهَا الْمُتَزَوِّجُونَ وَ آخِرُهَا الْعُزَّابُ
مستدرک الوسائل، باب 2، ح 1، ص 155.
[3] زَوَّجُوا، فَاِنَّ التَّزْوِيجَ سُنَّهُ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صلي الله عليه و آله وسلم)، فَاِنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ: مَنْ كَانَ يُحِبُّ اَنْ يَتَّبِعَ سُنَّتِي، فَاِنَّ مِنْ سُنَّتِي اَلتَّزْويِجَ
وسایل الشیعه 4.
[4] «عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلَّادٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَلِیَّ بْنَ مُوسَی الرِّضَا ع یَقُولُ ثَلَاثٌ مِنْ سُنَنِ الْمُرْسَلِینَ الْعِطْرُ وَ أَخْذُ الشَّعْرِ وَ کَثْرَةُ الطَّرُوقَةِ» (الکافی5/320)
[5] وقال أبو عبد الله علیه السلام: جاءت امرأه عثمان بن مظعون إلی النبی صلی الله علیه و اله، فقالت: یا رسول الله، إن عثمان یصوم النهار ویقوم اللیل؟!
فخرج رسول الله صلی الله علیه و اله مغضباً یحمل نعلیه حتی جاء إلی عثمان فوجده یصلی، فانصرف عثمان حین رأی رسول الله صلی الله علیه و اله فقال له: یا عثمان، لم یرسلنی الله تعالی بالرهبانیه، ولکن بعثنی بالحنیفیه السهله السمحه، أصوم وأصلی وألمس أهلی، فمن أحب فطرتی فلیستن بسنتی، ومن سنتی النکاح
(الكافي، ج 5، ص 494)
[6] إِذَا تَزَوَّجَ الرَّجُلُ أَحْرَزَ نِصْفَ دِینِهِ فَلْیَتَّقِ اللَّهَ فِی النِّصْفِ الْآخَرِ
] مستدرک الوسائل ـــ المیرزا النوری ج 41 ص 154
[7] رَکعَتانِ یُصَلٌیهِما مُتَزَوِّجٌ أفضَلُ مِن سَبعینَ رَکعَةً یُصَلِّیها غیرُ مُتَزَوِّجٍ
مستدرک الوسائل، اب 2، ح 1، ص18
[8] زوجوا ایاماکم فان الله یحسن لهم فی اخلاقهم ویوسع لهم فی ارزاقهم ویزیدهم فی مرواتهم
بحار الانوار علامه مجلسی، ج 100، ص222.
[9] وَأَنكِحُوا الْأَيَامَىٰ مِنكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَائِكُمْ ۚ إِن يَكُونُوا فُقَرَ‌اءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّـهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
(Surah Nur 24:32)