Prophetic Strategies of Marriage for Family System Stability: An Applied Study

Abstract

Islam is a universal way of life that guides an individual in all areas of life. The family system is vital in an Islamic society because it fulfills the physical, mental, spiritual, and natural needs of an individual and serves as the basis for social morality, stability, ensuring human survival, and the religious upbringing of children. The prophetic teachings have always geared towards fortifying the structure of the family for the purpose of ensuring cohesive societies. Islamic Family law considers family to be based on ‘Nikah’ which means ‘marriage’. Marriage in Islam is an act of worship and must be performed in a way to safeguard morality, society, and the family. As Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, marriage prevents social unrest and corruption. It establishes the base for a family unit that is morally and socially stable. In Islam, marriage acts as a source of moral and spiritual safeguard for an individual, and simultaneously preserves a civilization through procreation, maintaining harmony and peace within the society. It is the practical part of this study that makes it worthwhile as it examines real-world problems, all while providing theoretical discussions. The concepts discussed in this study are supported by prophetic teachings in authentic hadith collections and their classical commentators. Today culture is opposing and fragmenting this family system. The structure of families is eroding due to cultural changes, economic difficulties, and an increasing onslaught of technology. The harmony of families is affected by aging relatives, increasing rate of divorce, and deteriorating marriages. The emerging individualistic trends, moral decay, and avoidance of marriage have created a sociological problem. In this context, it is necessary to revisit the methods of ensuring family stability through a prophetic lens. In Islam, balancing modern challenges with Islamic principles of setting caring and protective boundaries for the family is essential to this study. The study aims towards attaining the peaceful family atmosphere while paving the way towards the positive overall development of the society.