The Strongest Bond in the World

Last updated on September 19th, 2026 at 11:52 am

هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَاَنْتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ 

Surah Baqarah, Aayat 187

“They (Your wives) are garments for you, and you are garments for them.”

It is the Rahmat of Allah Ta’ala that He creates such a strong bond between husband and wife. There isn’t a bond in the world stronger than the bond between husband and wife.

Without this intense bond it would have been difficult to fulfil the mutual rights of the marital union, although not beyond a person’s power because all those rights are within the control and volition of a human.

A person is obligated to apply his intention and volition. Actions emanate in this way. It is very necessary to apply this [volition and control which Allah Ta’ala has given one]. However, people crave for love and enthusiasm for an action so that they are able to fulfil rights automatically, particularly in Deeni matters. They want the actions to emanate from them robotically. They want to have such feeling and enthusiasm that their Salaah and Saum are discharged automatically. This is not within one’s control. It is not volitional.

What is waajib upon a person is that he applies his intention and volition, and he should not pursue things which are not in his control. This is a very important mas-alah. I consider this mas-alah to be Half of Sulook (Tasawwuf – the Path to Allah Ta’ala].

So, in the Aayat, هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَاَنْتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ the husband and wife have been likened to garments, and this alludes to Allah Ta’ala saying that He has facilitated the fulfilment of the mutual rights which He fixed between the two by creating a strong bond between the two. The bond is so strong as if the two have become united. They contain each other. It can be expressed with the words ‘they are two bodies, one soul’.

(Raf’ul Iltibaas)