Ok...I know the thing about not being able to do as much ibadah after marriage as when you were single sounds like an excuse. Also, perhaps quite a few people probably saw an
increase in their ibadah after marriage. But, there are more than a few women (and men!) who've seen the amount of ibadah they do go down. Telling them, "Marriage is just an excuse" will probably tick them off beyond all reason, or sadden them to the depths of depression, because they know how much they want to be reading more Qur'aan, doing more dhikr, reading more Islamic literature. And they also know that the house must be dust-free, the food has to be salted just so, and the kids have to be bathed and in their PJs by the time hubby gets home. And they also know that once hubby gets home, he needs a bit of attention himself (he's a human being, not a machine, after all!). And perhaps they are juggling a few more tasks in the air: keeping the mother-in-law happy, babysitting the sister-in-law's kids, and conducting a part-time home business to augment the household income. Maybe these are all things that you and I don't think are necessary. But for that woman, in that situation, at that time...they
are necessary. And that woman (or man!) knows that as soon as it's possible, she will be returning as much of her attention to Allah as she can, at least as much attention as she paid in her single days.
For her (or him!), these are not excuses. They are reasons.
And herein, I described some of the good things about being single: not being obligated to do more than
you would like. Doing what
you want. Putting
yourself first. Of course, marriage has its own rewards: putting another being first is an incredible thing for which there is much personal and deeni reward. But, this thread is about the joys of singlehood...not the joys of marriage
