Nikāh -meaning and some of it's benefits

﷽

Meaning of Nikāh and few of it's benefits 

نكاح, Linguistically it may take the meaning of the marriage contract itself or it may also mean the actual legal sexual intercourse.

Legally it means a contract between a man and a woman where each of them intends to enjoy the other, establish a good family and safe society at last. So the objective of nikāh is not solely enjoyment but also establishing a good family and safe society.

Marriage is not just a civic contract but in fact it's a religious transaction that has it's rulings in the Qur'ān and Sunnah.

An-Nisa' 4:3

 فَٱنكِحُوا۟ مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَٰثَ وَرُبَٰعَۖ 

then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four;

So marriage is legalized in Islām as it establishes specific natural needs between a man and woman in a regulated manner which secures the honour and provides a meaningful relationship that fulfills this purpose and transcends beyond it by establishment of a family and goodness in society.

The benefits of marriage are many and mutual for both. It's the only legal way to preserve the human race, only means of procreation or multiplication.

Ar-Rum 30:21

وَمِنْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةًۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ 

And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.

He has Created wives from among yourselves so that comfort can be found in them and the love, affection and mercy He has put between husband and wife are main ingredients of a marriage.

Marriage preserves chastity and helps to restrain the gaze. The Prophet ﷺ said,

"‏ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ ‏"‏

0 young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it restrains eyes (from casting evil glances) and preserves one from immorality; but he who cannot afford It should observe fast for it is a means of controlling the sexual desire.

Marriage is from the way of messengers and turning away from it is turning away from their way and our Prophet ﷺ is also one of them.

Ar-Ra'd 13:38

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا وَذُرِّيَّةًۚ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِـَٔايَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِۗ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ 

And indeed We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) and made for them wives and offspring. And it was not for a Messenger to bring a sign except by Allâh’s Leave. (For) every matter there is a Decree (from Allâh).

We all know the ḥadīth of three men who came to the house of his ﷺ wives to know how he ﷺ worshiped, one of them said he'll abstain from women and never marry , the prophet ﷺ when got told about them, he said "Are you the same people who said so-and-so? By Allah, I am more submissive to Allah and more afraid of Him than you; yet I fast and break my fast, I do sleep and I also marry women." So it's from his Sunnah and Sunan of the Messengers hence turning away from it is turning away from Sunnah.

النِّكَاحُ مِنْ سُنَّتِي فَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِسُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي 

Marriage is part of my sunnah, and whoever does not follow my sunnah has nothing to do with me.

Many learned scholars have said that marrying is better for someone who has sexual desires than optional worship due to it's benefits and praiseworthy outcomes. Marriage can be Obligatory for someone if he has strong sexual desires and fears falling into any unlawful action.