all praise is due to allah, the one who said in the clear verses of his book:

"and among his signs is this, that he created for you

mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in

tranquility with them, and he has put love and mercy

between your (hearts): verily in that are signs for those

who reflect". [al-room 30:21]

may the prayers and peace of allah be upon his prophet muhammad, the one who said

in an authenticated hadith: "marry the loving and fertile, for i will compete with the

other prophets with the number of my followers on the day of qiyama". [ahmad and at-

tabaarani with hasan isnaad. and declared saheeh from anas by ibn hibbaan. and it has witnesses

which will be mentioned in question 19]

after this opening: there are in islam, certain etiquettes upon anyone who marries and

wishes to consummate his marriage with his wife. most muslims today, even those who

exert themselves in islamic worship, have either neglected or become totally ignorant of

these islamic etiquettes. therefore, i decided to write this beneficial treatise clearly

explaining these issues on the occasion of marriage of someone dear to me. i hope that it

will be an aid to him and to other believing brothers in carrying out what the chief of the

messengers has ordained on the authority of the lord of the worlds. i have followed that

by pointing out certain issues important to every one who marries, and with which many

wives in particular have been tested.

i ask allah most high to bring about some benefit from this treatise, and to accept this

work solely for his glorious countenance. surely, he is the righteous, the merciful.

it should be known that there are many etiquettes in the area of marriage. all that i am

concerned with here in this quickly compiled work is that which is authenticated of the

sunnah of the prophet muhammad, that which is irreproachable from the standpoint of its

chain of narration and upon which no doubt can be cast in terms of its constructions and

meanings. in this way, whoever reads and follows this information will be on a clearly

established basis in religion, and will have full confidence in the source and validity of

his acitons. i hope for him that allaah will put the final seal of felicity on his life, in

reward for beginning his married life with the following of the sunnah, and to make for

him among his slaves whose statement he has described in the qur'an saying:

and those who pray, "our lord! grant unto us wives and

offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us

(the grace) to lead the righteous." [al-furqaan 25:74]

the final disposition of things is for those of pious practise, as the lord of the worlds

said:

as to the righteous, they shall be amidst (cool) shades

and springs (of water). and (they shall have) fruits, - all

they desire. "eat ye and drink ye to your heart's content:

for that ye worked (righteousness)." thus do we certainly

reward the doers of good. [al-mursalaat 77:41-44]