Marriage is a sacred bond and a firmly binding promise based on mutual love, compassion and, in some cases, tolerance, worshippers will hear on Friday.
God said: “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.” (Ar-Room: 21)
Affection has been explained by interpreters as love, while mercy as feelings of sympathy and kindness.
To his wife, Sayida Khadija, the Prophet said: “She accepted Islam when people rejected me, she believed in me when people doubted me, and she comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand.”
A healthy marriage involves many noble values and beautiful meanings that should be nurtured into the minds and hearts of generations.
The sermon recalls the story of Prophet Mohammed’s daughter, Sayida Zaineb, whose husband, Abu Al Aas, rejected Islam when the Prophet received his message from God. His daughter embraced Islam and tried to convert her husband.
He did not and went as far as fighting the Muslims in the Battle of Badr. They won and captured Prophet Mohammed’s son-in-law. Sayida Zaineb tried to gather money for her husband’s ransom and offered the necklace given to her by her mother.
The couple met again after Abu Al Aas was captured in a trade caravan and, through the good deeds of the Prophet, Abu Al Aas converted.
The story promotes the value of faithfulness among married couples and teaches that the family is a school in which generations learn noble values and principles.
Sayida Zainab learnt from her mother how to dedicate herself to touching her husband’s heart with happiness, to show patience and compassion.
The story is also one of tolerance and civilised dealings between Muslims and non-Muslims, seen in the way the Prophet treated Abu Al Aas.
The Prophet honoured his son-in-law even though he was not a Muslim, telling his companions,“You know this man is from us”.
The sermon continues on to ask Allah to guide all married couples to all that which is good and grant them success in building their families and maintaining their well being.
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