Page 44 - Devoted to Allah

DEVOTED TO ALLAH

Since a believer’s understanding of love is based on
faith, he will also establish his marriage on the same
grounds. At this stage, too, there emerges an all-important
difference between believers and disbelievers: disbeliev-
ers often base their marriage on mutual material benefits.
This is especially true of women, who try to find a “pros-
perous man” in the expectation of a high standard of liv-
ing. For such a purpose, a young girl may easily agree to
be the life-long spouse of someone for whom she has no
affection. This is, in fact, similar to a commercial agree-
ment from which both parties derive benefits. The only
difference is that this agreement is purported to be a life-
long one. But this state of affairs is never permanent and
consequently the marriages are short-lived.
The examples of such marriages are legion. There are
many young people who marry partners who are rich or
old or who are known for their immorality, solely because
they are wealthy or famous.
Marriages of disbelievers are not always based on ma-
terial benefits. There are also many young people who
seek “good looks” or attractiveness in the person they
want to marry. Such girls marry men who have nothing
but physical charm, who they assume to be a “knight on a
white horse.”
Yet the rationale behind this viewpoint neglects one
crucial fact: all these physical traits are eventually doomed
to perish. All human beings will eventually grow old.
Furthermore, Allah can take back someone’s fortune,
good looks or health in a moment. Similarly, it takes but a
few seconds to have an accident and become paralyzed,

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