Paul’s idea of marriage.

Paul’s idea of marriage

In the Bible we find that Paul does not really favor marriage, he even went as far as to say do not marry:

1 Corinthians 7:1

"Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry

Also

1 Corinthians 7:8-9:

⁷For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. ⁸I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I

Paul would love it if all men were single like him, he also told women to remain unmarried. What makes this all the more interesting is that these commands by Paul actually fit the description of the false prophet:

"Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth." 1 Timothy 4:1-3

However so this article is not about whether Paul was a false prophet or not (which he was). The main point of this article is to see what Paul though of marriage, and the reasons to why he would allow it. As we shall shortly see, Paul saw marriage as a means to simply have sex, that’s all, to fulfill your sexual desires, he did not view marriage as something to fall in love with a spouse and have a loving family. To him to get married was just to go and have sex:

1 Corinthians 7: 1-2:

¹Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ²Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Another translation reads:

"Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: ‘It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.’ But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, EACH MAN SHOULD HAVE HIS OWN WIFE AND EACH WOMAN HER OWN HUSBAND

So note, Paul simply tells you to marry to have sex, to fulfill your sexual desires so you don’t commit fornication.

"To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, THEY SHOULD MARRY. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion." 1 Corinthians 7:8-9

So it is better to get married rather be filled with sexual passion, so you should go get married to fulfill this sexual passion.

So as anyone can see, Paul tells you to get married so you can simply have sex, that’s all.

From www.answering-christianity.com/muta_forbidden_with_shias.htm:

1- Careless divorce will bring sin upon you:

Muta marriage was a temporary marriage that destined for divorce, which Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is said to have allowed for Muslim men who fought in battles in distant lands. They were allowed to marry women there temporarily. Allah Almighty has thoroughly prohibited all forms of temporary marriages, and has stressed the holiness of permanent marriage in the Glorious Quran.

Was it legalized prostitution? Was it a form of pimping women and men for just sex? Absolutely not, because even with the Muta marriage, there was still the requirement of at least two witnesses testifying that the couple have married (announcing the marriage publically protects everyone. Ex: Married women are not approached by other men as single women, and pregnant women are known to be pregnant wives, not pregnant harlots), the dowry payment upon the husband, and Muslim women still had to go through the Idda period after the divorce. So it was a legitimate full marriage but with the exception that it was destined for planned divorce (i.e., termination). Allah Almighty ultimately forbade intentional non-permanent marriages.

Here is what Allah Almighty Said regarding divorce in the Noble Quran. It almost always brings sin upon the regular married folks. However, if a man is engaged with a woman, and they had a marriage contract already done, with dowry payment, witnesses and announcing to all people in their community that they got married, but they have not yet consummated the marriage through sexual intercourse, then there is no sin upon them if they divorce, as long as they have not consummated the marriage:

‏2:236 لاجناح عليكم ان طلقتم النساء مالم تمسوهن او تفرضوا لهن فريضة ومتعوهن على الموسع قدره وعلى المقتر قدره متاعا بالمعروف حقا على المحسنين

"You bear no sin if you divorce your wives AS LONG AS YOU HAVE NOT (ma-lam مالم) had (a sexual) contact (with them), and before settling (the amount of) the nuptial premium (for them). Yet, you should make provisions for them (even then); the affluent in keeping with his means, and the poor according to what he can afford. A fair provision is an obligation upon the pious. (The Noble Quran, 2:236)"

Ma-lam مالم in Arabic means "as long as you have not," which makes it a condition and a Law. The meaning of the word مالم as "as long as you have not" is very well-known in Arabic and the translation is also proven by ample English translations of this Noble Verse. So irresponsible divorce after the consummation of marriage (after sex) will bring sin upon the irresponsible and guilty one(s). The Noble Verse is crystal-clear about this.

2- The solemn holiness of marriage (ميثاقا غليظا):

Also, the covenant of marriage in the Glorious Quran Is a Mighty and Solemn Covenant ميثاقا غليظا (mee-thaa-qan gha-leetha). This exact phrase is mentioned three times (4:21, 4:154, 33:7) in the Glorious Quran for the following Covenants:

1- For the solemn covenant of marriage between the husband and wife.
2- For the solemn covenant between GOD Almighty and the Prophets.
3- For the solemn covenant between GOD Almighty and the Jews on the holiness of the Sabbath.

Again, please see Noble Verses 4:21, 4:154, 33:7. Divorce is allowed, but it is a detested lawful thing to Allah Almighty. Abusing it or misusing it will bring sin upon you.

3- One wife is the most preferred to Allah Almighty:

Furthermore, Allah Almighty made it crystal clear that He best prefers for Muslim men to only marry one wife, each. Messing around with marrying multiple women is a slippery slope that could bring sin upon you:

Noble Verse 4:3 "If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice."

Marry one woman to prevent you from doing injustice. This is further supported also in the following Noble Verse:

Noble Verse 4:129 "Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women, even if it is your ardent desire: But turn not away (from a woman) altogether, so as to leave her (as it were) hanging (in the air). If ye come to a friendly understanding, and practise self-restraint, God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful."

Polygamy is allowed by Allah Almighty, but like divorce, it too is a detested lawful thing to Allah Almighty. And most certainly, abusing it or misusing it will bring sin upon you.