Many of us men grew up with a limited picture that being an adult meant independence — being able to live where we wanted, come and go as we pleased, make some money, and see the friends we wanted to see.

Those aspects are certainly part of an adult life, but a key ingredient is missing. I'm not referring to community, accountability, or being involved in good religious institute. All those things are good, but in and by themselves they just can't function to produce all the blessings that Allah has designed for us. I want to talk very candidly about why a godly wife/husband, for most of us men/women, will bring blessings that nothing else can.

Perhaps what I've said sounds selfish: finding a spouse to "produce blessings" for me. But we all naturally pursue what we think is in our best interest. That's how Allah has wired us. Sin arises when we seek happiness outside of Halal, or when we do not prize Him as being greater than any spouse could ever be. That kind of attitude can lead to us pursuing good things (like a girlfriend or wife) in ungodly ways (like among women outside our community or through sexual experimentation).

Marriage enhances one’s closeness to Allah. Living with a spouse forces one to deal with issues that were more easily overlooked when one is single, issues that would generally be unspoken of as the emotional synergy that one looks from their partners is far more encompassing. Also according to Sociologist Damon Richardson, Marriage makes one more fully recognize the principles of pre-planning and sharing all aspects with another, makes one a much more responsible human being. It calls one to be a provider and protector, to be wiser with money, because one is not just looking out for oneself but, but for a partner and their children. That demands a degree of maturity that can’t be mustered any other way.

"There are a lot of benefits for a girl who marries young," author Rachel White said in her book “Marriage for the Young”. "For example, she gets a head start on having babies. While I do not agree with 11 or 13-year-olds getting married (they do this in some parts of the world), I think it is perfectly acceptable for a girl to marry in her middle or late teens. Why not marry at 17?” Others who advocate young marriages see it as a way to promote safe sex. Rather than have a couple be sexually active and not married, marriage should be allowed and encouraged so that if pregnancy does occur, there is a family.

Some people who discourage early marriage such as Dr. Edward Sullivan of LSE, would say that couples would change and grow apart from one another, but perhaps the point is to change and grow together. By postponing marriage, one can establish their individuality, but they may give up the ability to mesh lives and goals with someone else.

Also, from among the benefits of getting married at an early age is the obtaining of children which make the youth delighted at their presence.

Allah says:

And those who say: “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqûn ” Wives and children are a delight; and Allah promised that marriage brings about pleasure. This pleasure encourages and persuades the youth to take an interest in matrimony. This is also similar to how Allah mentioned that children are a share of this world’s beauty.

Another benefit of matrimony at an early age is that it produces children increasing the Muslim Ummah and Islaamic society. The above are just some of the blessings resulting from marriage, if from among the many, a few virtues and blessings are explained to the adolescents, then the fallacious problems that hinder people from getting married will disappear.

As for the saying by Martha Young that, “getting married at an early age diverts from gaining knowledge and from studying”, I personally believe this is not the case. Rather, the opposite of this is correct because tranquility, peace of mind, and pleasure never cease to be obtained through marriage. These things help the student to reach his goal because, he has peace of mind, and his thoughts are not cluttered due to discomfort and this helps him study better. Abstaining from marriage in reality blocks whatever knowledge he wants to attain, because it is not possible to acquire knowledge in a state of confusion and anxiety.