Marriage Mindset: A Holistic Approach to Family Life

The nucleus of a family is the institution of marriage between a man and a woman, and this is the first and foremost relationship that was ever created by God Almighty; and that is why it is also the most sacred and loved bond between any two people. After marriage comes parenthood when a couple has children, then from this comes siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. There is a narration which ʿAllāmah Majlisī quotes in his monumental work, Biḥār al-Anwār, in Volume 100, Page 222, where Prophet Muḥammad (ṣ) is reported to have said: “There is no foundation more beloved to God, the Exalted and Majestic, than that of marriage.” If people are able to understand the realities of marriage, and ensure that the bond of matrimony with their spouse is built upon a strong foundation, then they will be able to achieve many bounties, blessings, and special mercy from the beloved Creator. This holds true for all people, but most importantly, the followers of the Ahlul Bayt (ʿa) must es