--- title: "What Is Marriage in Islam? | Islam Is Mercy" description: "In Islam, marriage is a sacred bond of tranquillity, love and mercy, built on mutual consent, a gift to the bride, and everyday kindness." lang: en url: https://islamismercy.com/en/views/marriage-in-islam/ --- 1. [Home](https://islamismercy.com/en/) 2. [Islam's View On…](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/) 3. What Is Marriage in Islam? # What Is Marriage in Islam? Written by **Islam Is Mercy Editorial Team**· 3 min readAwaiting scholar review ## The short answer In Islam, marriage is a solemn covenant between a man and a woman, which the Qur'an describes as a source of tranquillity, affection and mercy. It requires the free consent of both, includes a gift (mahr) from the groom to the bride, and is meant to be lived with kindness — the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said the best people are those who are best to their families. ## On this page 1. A sign of God: tranquillity, affection and mercy 2. Consent is essential 3. The bridal gift (mahr) 4. Kindness is the measure 5. Honest answers to common questions 6. A closing thought Love songs and wedding vows across the world promise companionship, comfort and lifelong care. Islam shares those hopes — and goes further, treating a good marriage as an act of worship and one of the signs that point to God. ## A sign of God: tranquillity, affection and mercy The best-known verse about marriage in the [Qur’an](https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/quran/) is read at countless Muslim weddings: > وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةًۭ وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢١﴾ > And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought. [Qur'an, Ar-Room 30:21](https://quran.com/30?startingVerse=21&translations=20)Saheeh International Three words in this verse sum up the Islamic ideal. *Sakan* — tranquillity, a place of rest where you can be at home with another person. *Mawaddah* — affection and love. And *[rahmah](https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/rahmah/)* — mercy, the patient care that carries a couple through illness, hardship and old age, long after the first excitement has faded. The Qur’an also describes spouses as clothing for one another (2:187): each one covers, protects, warms and beautifies the other. Marriage in Islam is not a sacrament performed by a priest, and it is not merely a private arrangement. It is a contract before God, which the Qur’an describes as a weighty covenant (4:21), with rights and duties on both sides. ## Consent is essential A Muslim marriage is only valid when both the man and the woman agree to it. The Prophet ﷺ was explicit: > Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! How can we know her permission?" He said, "Her silence (indicates her permission) [Sahih al-Bukhari 5136](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/67#:~:text=not%20be%20given%20in%20marriage)Grade: Sahih (in Sahih al-Bukhari) Families often help to introduce a couple, and in many cultures parents play an important role. But helping is not forcing. In the Prophet’s own lifetime, a woman whose father had married her against her wishes came to him, and he cancelled the marriage ([Sahih](https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/sahih/) al-Bukhari 5138). A “marriage” imposed by force is a wrong, not a tradition to be respected. ## The bridal gift (mahr) When a couple marry, the groom gives the bride a gift called the *mahr*. It may be money, jewellery, property or something else of value that they agree on. It is hers alone — not a price paid to her family: > وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ صَدُقَٰتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةًۭ ۚ فَإِن طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَن شَىْءٍۢ مِّنْهُ نَفْسًۭا فَكُلُوهُ هَنِيٓـًۭٔا مَّرِيٓـًۭٔا ﴿٤﴾ > And give the women \[upon marriage\] their \[bridal\] gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease. [Qur'an, An-Nisaa 4:4](https://quran.com/4?startingVerse=4&translations=20)Saheeh International The *mahr* is a sign of the husband’s seriousness and of his duty to provide for his wife. Her own wealth, whether she earned or inherited it, remains entirely hers. ## Kindness is the measure The Prophet ﷺ placed kindness at home at the centre of a person’s goodness: > …The best of you is the best to his wives, and I am the best of you to my wives… [Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895](https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/49#:~:text=best%20of%20you%20is%20the)Grade: Sahih — Al-Albani He lived this himself. When his wife Aisha was asked what he did at home, her answer was simple: > Narrated Al-Aswad: That he asked \`Aisha "What did the Prophet (ﷺ) use to do in his house?" She replied, "He used to keep himself busy serving his family and when it was the time for prayer he would go for it [Sahih al-Bukhari 676](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/10#:~:text=use%20to%20do%20in%20his)Grade: Sahih (in Sahih al-Bukhari) Helping with the household, being gentle and patient — this is the model Muslims are asked to follow. The Qur’an also tells husbands to live with their wives in kindness, even when they feel some dislike, because God may place much good in what they do not yet see (Qur’an 4:19). ## Honest answers to common questions **Can a Muslim man have more than one wife?** Islam permits a man to marry up to four wives, but only if he can treat them with complete fairness; the same verse says that if he fears he cannot, he must marry only one (Qur’an 4:3). In practice, the great majority of Muslim marriages are between one man and one woman. A wife may also ask for a condition in her marriage contract, and how this works in detail is a matter on which scholars differ — see [where Muslims differ](https://islamismercy.com/en/core/where-muslims-differ/). **Is divorce allowed?** Yes. Islam encourages couples to work through difficulties, with a member of each family helping to reconcile them (Qur’an 4:35), but it does not trap anyone in a marriage that has failed. A wife can also seek to end her marriage: in one well-known case, a woman told the Prophet ﷺ that she could not stay with her husband, and he arranged their separation after she returned his gift (Sahih al-Bukhari 5273). **Who may a Muslim marry?** Muslims usually marry other Muslims, and there are specific rules about marrying people of other faiths. These rules are best explained by a qualified scholar for each person’s situation. ## A closing thought At its best, an Islamic marriage is a friendship lived in God’s presence: two people who keep each other’s secrets, forgive each other’s mistakes, and help each other towards Paradise. If you would like to read more, see [women in Islam](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/women-in-islam/) or [good character in Islam](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/good-character-in-islam/). ![What Is Marriage in Islam?](https://islamismercy.com/_astro/marriage-in-islam-info.BXvAB638_Z1zod6D.jpg) ## Key takeaways - The Qur'an calls marriage a sign of God, built on tranquillity, affection and mercy. - Both the man and the woman must freely consent. - The groom gives the bride a gift (mahr) that belongs to her alone. - Kindness at home is a measure of a person's goodness. ## Share this article [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=What%20Is%20Marriage%20in%20Islam%3F%20https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fviews%2Fmarriage-in-islam%2F)[Telegram](https://t.me/share/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fviews%2Fmarriage-in-islam%2F&text=What%20Is%20Marriage%20in%20Islam%3F)[X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=What%20Is%20Marriage%20in%20Islam%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fviews%2Fmarriage-in-islam%2F)[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fviews%2Fmarriage-in-islam%2F) ## Sources - [Qur'an, Ar-Room 30:21](https://quran.com/30?startingVerse=21&translations=20) - [Qur'an, An-Nisaa 4:4](https://quran.com/4?startingVerse=4&translations=20) - [Sahih al-Bukhari 5136](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/67#:~:text=not%20be%20given%20in%20marriage) - [Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895](https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/49#:~:text=best%20of%20you%20is%20the) - [Sahih al-Bukhari 676](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/10#:~:text=use%20to%20do%20in%20his) ## Talk to a Muslim Have a question that isn't answered here? Ask a real person — no pressure, no judgement. [Ask your question](https://islamismercy.com/en/talk/) ## Keep reading [Islam's View On… ### What Does Islam Teach About Women? In Islam, women and men are equal in worth before God. Women have rights to property, learning and consent in marriage, and mothers are deeply honoured. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/women-in-islam/)[Islam's View On… ### Why Is Good Character So Important in Islam? Honesty, kindness, patience and humility are at the heart of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ taught that the best people are those with the best character. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/good-character-in-islam/)[Start Here ### What Is the Purpose of Life in Islam? Why are we here? Islam teaches that we were created to know and worship God, and that life is a meaningful test in which every good deed counts. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/start/purpose-of-life/)