Is Marriage Mandatory?

Is marriage required or is it sunnah? Is it sinful for someone who is not married even though he is able to get married?

Allah Ta'ala said:

وَأَنْكِحُوا الْأَيَامَى مِنْكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَائِكُمْ إِنْ يَكُونُوا فُقَرَاءَ يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

"And marry those who are alone among you, and those who are worthy (mate) of your servants who are men and servants of your godly women. If they are poor God will enable them with His grace. And Allah is the most extensive (His gift) is the Knower "(Surat an-Nur: 32).

In this verse there is an order to marry. But the scholars differed on whether marriage was compulsory or the sunnah became 3 opinions:

First opinion

Madhab Zahiri argued that the law of marriage is compulsory, and the person who is not married is sinful. They postulate with the verse above, which uses the command sentence وَأَنْكِحُوا (and marry off ..) and the command indicates mandatory law.

They also say that marriage is a way to protect oneself from the haram. And the rule says:

ما لا يتم الواجب إلا به فهو واجب

"Imperfect obligations except with something, then something is mandatory"

Second opinion

The Shafi'i school of thought argued that the law of marriage was immoral, and the person who was not married was innocent. Imam Asy Syafi'i said that marriage is a means of channeling lust and achieving lust (which is halal), so the law is just as good as eating and drinking.

Third opinion

The opinion of the ulama's scholars, namely the Maliki school of thought, Hanafi and Hambali, argued that the law of marriage was mustahab (sunnah) and not obligatory.

They postulate with the following points:

1. Suppose marriage is obligatory, so of course the story from the Prophet Shallallahu'alaihi Wasallam is revealed which states that because marriage is a necessity that is needed by everyone. Whereas we meet among the companions of the Prophet there are those who are not married. Likewise, we have met people since the time of the Prophet Shallallahu'alaihi Wasallam until our present day there are some who are not married at all. And he did not excuse any of his denials on this matter.

2. If marriage is mandatory, then a guardian may force his daughter to marry. Even though forcing girls to get married is prohibited by the Shari'a. Based on the words of the Prophet Shallallahu'alaihi Wasallam:
ولا تُنْكَح الثيب حتى تستأمر

"Do not marry a virgin until he wants (pleased)"
that means until the girl wants and wishes to get married

3. Al Jashash said:
ومما يدل على أنه على الندب اتفاق الجميع عل أنه لا يجبر العيد على وأمته وهو معطوف على الأيامى فدل على أنه مندوب في الجميع

"Among those who show the sunnah of marriage (not obligatory), namely the ulama agrees that a master must not force male slaves or slaves to marry women. Even though the slave in the above verse was athlete with al ayaama (a person who is alone). This shows that the law of marriage is a sunnah for all (mentioned in verse) "

So the one who is rajih is the opinion of the ulama, that marrying the law is a sunnah and not obligatory, wallahu a'lam.

But it needs to be underlined, the khilafiyah discussed above is if someone in a condition that is safe from slander and safe from the risk of falling into things that are forbidden by Allah related to lust to women. Whereas if someone is worried about falling into slander such as zina and others, there is no mistake between the scholars that marriage in this situation is mandatory. Because fortifying and guarding ourselves from illicit matters is obligatory, so that in this condition marriage is obligatory. Al Qurthubi said:

قال علماؤنا: يختلف الحكم في ذلك باختلاف حال المؤمن من خوف العنت الزنى, ومن عدم صبره, ومن قوته على الصبر, وزوال خشية العنت عنه وإذا خاف الهلاك في الدين أو الدنيا فالنكاح حتم ومن تاقت نفسه إلى النكاح فإن وجد الطول فالمستحب له أن يتزوج. وإن لم يجد الطول فعليه بالاستعفاف ما صمكن ولو بالصوم لأن كما جاء في الخبر الصحيح

"Our scholars say, the marriage law varies depending on the circumstances of each person in the level of difficulty in avoiding adultery and also the level of difficulty to be patient. And also depends on the strength of patience of each person and the ability to eliminate anxiety about it. If someone is worried about falling into destruction in his religion or in his world case, then marriage is obligatory at that time. And people who really want to get married and have something to make a dowry to get married are legal for him. If he does not have something that cannot be used as dowry, then he is obliged to isti'faf (keep his honor) as much as possible. For example, by fasting, because in fasting there is a shield as mentioned in the saheeh hadith. "

So hopefully useful.