Is Marriage Half the Diyn?

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said that marriage is half of the Diyn.  People quote this without understanding.  The love between a man and a woman is the closest most of us will get in this world to feeling that Love Allah (s.w.t.) has for us.  It is spiritual training.  Truly loving our spouse begins when we see from their eyes, when we have left our selves and become the other such that there is no separation in perception.  When that can be done, then we have love. 

Most people are not in love.  They are in love with the idea of love.  And that is why most relationships never last.  They want that feeling of love without the yearning, the separation and the pain.  In such a case, marriage is a form of narcotic where we get the high of bliss but reject the lows of conflict.  In conflict, people tend to shout and raise their voice.  Why?  Because Shaythan and the nafs have come between them and there is distance between their soul.  So, people try to bridge that metaphysical distance with volume.  Instead, they should come together. 

Marriage can be excellent training for the ego.  No matter how powerful a man is, and no matter how many thousands throw themselves at his feet, a true wife will always be there to tell him he is wrong.  And a true husband will listen and correct himself.  It works for the wife as well.