Do Not Forget God Amid Marriage Celebrations

Darse Quran by Maulana Rizwan Pasha Quadri at Masjide Shujath, Tolichowki, Hyderabad
Published in Muslim Murasu, December 2011

Surah Nisa, fourth Surah, contains 176 verses. It descended over a time span of two years from Hijri 3 to Hijri 5 in Medinah.
Surah Fatiha subject is God’s praise, His glory, man’s humility and prayer for guidance. Surah Baqarah deals with character and crookedness of Jews, incidents from lives of Prophets Moosa, Ibrahim and Uzair (alai), change in Kibla, rewards for patience and precepts for fasting and Jakath. Surah Ala Imran deals with false beliefs in Christianity, commands for Haj, preaching goodness and stopping bad deeds and lessons from Badr and Uhud battles.
ImraAthun- woman, Nisa – women. A full Surah has been sent down in the name of women. Commands and lessons about marriage and kind-heartedness towards orphans are the main contents in this Surah.
Good families form backbone for a society. A person will be naturally good and useful if he hails from a peaceful family. Frictions, disagreements, fights and disaffection in the house will make a person restless and ruin his life. House should be set in order as a first step towards changing the society. Family environment is the basis for a peaceful nation. The focus of this Surah is to better family environment.
Upholding rights of women, taking care of orphans and being just during property division form foundations of a peaceful family.
Most of the problems arise during property division. Women are not given their share. Strong candidates try to gulp the whole property for themselves. Siblings who grew up sleeping on one pillow become totally estranged. Family gets disintegrated. Surah Nisa lays down rules for property division.
Honor of the family gets importance, a family where character is taught. Women were put in fire along with their deceased husbands till 400 years ago. Their heads were tonsured. When a new bride comes into a house and incidentally someone dies, the bride had to take all the blame. This irrational practice is present even in some Muslim houses.
Women were considered as cursed and a burden. Share in property was denied. We have to turn back to the commands given by God. Men have responsibilities towards women, as do women towards men. Both will be held accountable for their responsibilities. Good among you are those who are good to your wives. Father, husband, brother and son should fulfill their duties to provide a secure environment to women.
Prophet had lost his father. He knew the plight of orphans. He is a mercy to all the worlds, so he was completely aware of turmoils of orphans. He was in Halima’s house for first four years and he stayed for the subsequent two years with his mother Amina. Then he lost Amina. If Amina had passed away in Meccah, prophet would have had his grandfather and uncles to console him. But the region Hawwa is a deserted place even now. Amina died in this place. The terrible situation that our Prophet would have gone through is unimaginable. When Prophet passed over this same place during Hajjul Vida, he wept severely. According to accounts given by his companions, Prophet had never wept so badly in any other occasion.
Prophet had lost both mother and father. Prophet knew their pains and he was always empathetic to orphans. Islam has laid stress to be kind to orphans.
This Surah has commands for Ozhu and Tayammam. This Surah emphasizes following Prophet completely without any reservations.
First two verses are recited during marriages. “O mankind! Fear your Lord”. Why should we fear. He created all of you from a single life. We should not differentiate human beings based on birth.
People of Iran used to think that they are good looking. Arabs used to think they can speak, others are dumb. All are equal. All are created by the same God. He protects everyone. Whatever advancements you make, you cannot become God. You are human beings. Another reason for equality is that we are created from the same mother and father. Islam does not accept family pride. There is no difference between driver’s son and owner’s son. All are people of Adam.
Fear God, in whose name you appeal to one another. You ask for help saying, ‘for God’s sake’. Fear that Lord.
‘Fear God’ has come twice in this same verse. Marriage is a joyous occasion. Prophet has chosen this verse to be recited in marriage. Man forgets God when he is engulfed in happiness or drowned in sorrow. A new bride is coming home. It is a joyous occasion. But do not forget God and get out of control. Moomin should always maintain dignity.