Delayed Marriages in Muslim Society: A Serious Social Crisis and Our Responsibilities
(Editorial)
Written by: Qari Mahboob-ul-Hasan Muzaffarnagari
Islam has declared marriage a sacred and blessed bond of human life. This is the institution through which the protection of chastity and modesty, the survival of the human race, the stability of the family system, and the construction of a righteous society are made possible. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) declared marriage as his Sunnah and said: "Marriage is my Sunnah." Similarly, in the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty commanded the believers:
«"And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty."
(Surah An-Nur: 32)»
This verse clarifies the fact that it is the responsibility of society to make marriage easy, rather than making it increasingly difficult through various customs, traditions, and social burdens.
It is with regret that we must say that among the serious problems facing Muslim society today, the extraordinary delay in the marriages of young girls has become an extremely concerning issue. In various Islamic countries, including India, there are millions of such girls whose ages have reached thirty, thirty-five, or even forty years, yet they are deprived of the blessing of marriage. This problem is not just for one family or a few individuals, but a social, moral, and religious crisis linked to the future of the entire nation.
Where is the problem?
Generally, the blame for this delay is placed on economic conditions, but if the reality is examined impartially, it will be known that the real problem is not just poverty, but our thinking, our priorities, and our self-made customs.
The curse of dowry has turned marriage into a business. Although dowry is neither obligatory nor a condition in Islam, nor is its demand permissible, society has made it a standard of honor and dignity. Poor parents keep delaying their daughters' marriages simply because they cannot provide goods worth hundreds of thousands of rupees.
Similarly, extravagance in weddings, unnecessary show-off, expensive marriage halls, redundant ceremonies, costly clothing, gold jewelry, and countless rituals have taken marriage out of being a simple act of worship and turned it into a difficult social project.
Another major issue is the sense of caste, family pride, and social superiority. Sometimes, religious, well-mannered, and educated matches are rejected simply because they belong to another community or economic class. However, Islam has declared piety as the only standard of excellence.
Guidance from Hanafi Jurisprudence
According to Hanafi jurisprudence, it is the responsibility of the guardian (Wali) not to delay unnecessarily when a suitable, religious, and well-mannered match is found for a mature girl. If marriage is obstructed merely on the basis of worldly interests, false ego, or customs, it is a Shariah-condemned act.
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
«"When someone comes to you with a proposal whose religion and character you are satisfied with, then marry them. If you do not do so, there will be great fitna (trial) and corruption on earth."
(Jami' at-Tirmidhi)»
This Hadith applies perfectly to today's conditions. When marriage is made difficult, trials such as immorality, mental anxiety, non-Shariah relationships, and moral decline will arise in society.
Disadvantages of Delay
The effects of unnecessary delay in marriage are not limited to one individual; rather, the entire society pays the price.
Thousands of girls become victims of a sense of deprivation, mental stress, and social isolation. Parents remain constantly worried as ages increase. Many young men also remain troubled due to not finding a suitable match. As a result, some individuals are inclined toward wrong paths, while the family system continues to weaken.
Today, this fact is hidden from no one that the marriage rate in Muslim society is decreasing and the rate of delay is constantly increasing, which could give birth to even more serious social problems in the future.
Our Responsibilities
To emerge from this crisis, relying solely on the government or any single institution is not enough; rather, every individual, every family, and every religious and social organization must play its role.
Parents should not cause unnecessary delay in their daughters' marriages and should give top priority to religiosity, character, and conduct.
Young people should also make their desires realistic and give importance to the selection of a righteous life partner instead of wealth, beauty, and outward standards.
Scholars (Ulama) should run a movement to make marriage easy in their sermons, lessons, and statements, and constantly raise their voices against dowry and useless rituals.
Mosques, Madrasas, national organizations, and social institutions should start collective marriage campaigns and establish relief funds for the marriage of poor girls.
The wealthy should dedicate a portion of their wealth to the marriage of girls from orphaned, widowed, and poor families. This is both a Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity) and a great social service.
A Collective Pledge
Today, there is a need for all of us to pledge together that we will neither take nor give dowry; we will neither adopt useless rituals nor impose them on others; we will neither prioritize caste over religion nor make marriage a victim of unnecessary delay.
If Muslim society takes steps in this direction with sincerity, surely thousands of homes will be settled, parents' worries will end, the chastity of the youth will be protected, and a pure, strong, and prosperous society will come into existence.
May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to act upon the correct teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, to make marriage easy, and to protect our future generations from all kinds of moral and social trials.
And our final prayer is that all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.