Nikāḥ
Definition
Nikah is the Islamic marriage contract — a binding legal agreement between a man and woman (with the woman's wali, guardian, and the presence of witnesses) that establishes the rights and obligations of husband and wife under Islamic law. Al-Ghazali presents nikah as one of the most consequential contracts a human being can enter, with implications that extend far beyond the legal into the spiritual. He argues that the way a Muslim enters marriage — their intentions, their priorities, their understanding of their obligations — determines whether the institution becomes a path to Allah or an obstacle to Him.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Nikāḥ.
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"When the verse was revealed, "And those who hoard gold and silver," 'Umar said, "Perish the dinar and dirham," and asked, "So what should we save? This was recorded by al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, and mentioned in al-Nikah without the phrase "Perish the dinar and dirham. The addition was narrated by al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat, and it is from the hadith of Thawban."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 34: Poverty and Asceticism
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"The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Let one of you have a remembering tongue or a thankful heart. The hadith about Umar “Let one of you have a remembering tongue and a thankful heart” has been mentioned in "An-Nikah. He instructed acquiring a thankful heart instead of wealth, and Ibn Mas'ud said, “Gratitude is half of faith.”"
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 32: Patience and Gratitude
Appears in
1 book in the library
Hear the term in context.
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