Question

A person complained to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that he is suffering from poverty. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) advised him to get married.

Is this authentic?

Answer

Hafiz Khatib Al Baghdadi (rahimahullah) has recorded this incident in his Tarikh with a very weak chain.

(Tarikh Baghdad, vol. 2, pg. 233/234. Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 2, pg. 148 – 3116-)

However, there are numerous verses of The Holy Quran and Hadiths which prove that nikah does increase sustenance, among them are the following:

1) Allah Ta’ala Mentions:

“Get the unmarried ones among you married, as well as the righteous slave men and slave women. If they are poor, Allah will make them independent by his grace”

(Surah Nur, verse: 32)

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) under the commentary of this verse would say:

“Allah Ta’ala commanded and encouraged them to get married, and he promised them wealth”

Similar statements have also been reported from Sayyiduna Abu Bakr As Siddiq and Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhuma)

(Refer: Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Ad Durrul Manthur, Surah Nur, verse 32)

2) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“There are three types of people whom it is a right upon Allah to help and assist, The Mujahid in the path of Allah, The Mukatab [a slave paying for his freedom] who intends to pay and the one who makes nikah intending chastity”

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1655, Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 2518 – Declared sound (hasan) by Imam Tirmidhi and authentic (sahih) by Imam Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 4030)

3) Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that (Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Seek for sustenance in nikah”

(Daylami with a weak chain. Refer: Al Maqasidul Hasanah, pg. 82, Hadith: 162)

4) Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “I have not seen anything more [strange] than a man who does not seek surplus through nikah when Allah has said, “If they are poor, Allah will make them independent by his grace.”

(Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq: 10393)

5) Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Marry women, for verily they will bring wealth”  [through the blessing of nikah]

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 16161, mursalan- مرسلا- , with a reliable chain)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar

***