Laying the Groundwork for Community

Marriage is the union of two individuals with different backgrounds, cultures, and personalities. Despite these differences, they can coexist and have a successful marriage through the laws and systems that govern their relationship. This article provides concepts and tips for a successful marriage that can be implemented by both partners. These tips include respecting each other's rights, understanding that disagreements are natural, committing to reconciliation, steering clear of sensitive topics, and bringing new life to the marriage.

In his book "Shortcut for a Better Life", the writer Ziad Rayess mentions: One quality of cosmic laws is that humans don’t all think the same way, and there are differences in personalities, habits, and ways of thinking, as well as other differences between humans. Despite all of these differences in human relationships, we can coexist and alleviate these disparities through legal regulations and systems that govern these relationships, including the relationship between husband and wife.

The following are some concepts and tips for a successful marriage:

1. Both spouses must know and respect the other party’s rights, which they can learn from reputable sources. This will make a big difference in identifying facts outside the context of Middle Eastern cultural practices.
2. The spouses must know that disagreement is natural, but each must comprehend the necessity of coming together to find common solutions.
3. Whatever problems might come up in the daytime, the spouses should promise, in advance, not to end the day without solving the problem. This can be done through several agreed-upon steps, including neither spouse should sleep outside of their shared bedroom or bed.
4. Each spouse must prove their commitment to the other. They must take the initiative to reconcile, in any way possible, no matter how simple (perhaps just touching their hand, bringing them a glass of water, or anything else). The other party must be responsive to the initial action, no matter how simple it might be. They shouldn’t ignore this attempt of connection; on the contrary, their response should be even more positive.
5. The parties must understand that there is no self-esteem in marriage, and each party must be sure to bring happiness and joy to the other and not be vain in this relationship. Each person must know that shyness and self-esteem have no place here. The only barriers are those clearly delineated in sacred texts, and everything else is not only permissible but required.
6. Neither party should go to sleep before solving the problem, no matter the circumstances. The year is made up of 52 weeks, and ending the weekend and staying upset into another day means that both parties are continuously losing time. There is no point trying to one-up each other.
7. No matter how big the problem is today, it will be in the past tomorrow or later on, so don’t spend too much time on sadness, misery, and worries. These will affect you negatively before they affect the other person. Be sure to fill family time with happiness for you and your partner.
8. Each party must be careful to avoid situations that might be irritating or sensitive for their partner, even if they are insignificant.
9. Be sure to respect everyone who has a relationship with the other party, regardless of whether they deserve that respect or not. Sometimes people don’t like to hear the truth.
10. Both parties must avoid joking about sensitive topics.
11. Act first to show and express your love to the other person, even if it’s not fully present.
12. Make sure to bring new life to your marriage every now and then, even by redoing some of the marriage ceremonies without the publicity, travel, etc.
13. Both parties should generously give presents to each other every now and then, even if it’s with the husband’s money.
14. Both parties should make sure to hide any problem that comes up between them and solve it together without talking to anyone else about it. Telling household secrets can complicate issues and limit the chances to solve them. This makes for fewer happy moments.
15. After marriage, love transforms from romance into companionship, affection, and respect. There’s nothing wrong with renewing romance from time to time.

Conclusion:

Both partners must put forth effort and commitment in order to have a happy marriage. The tips provided in this article are meant to help couples navigate the challenges that arise in marriage and maintain a strong, healthy relationship. Couples can work through their differences and create a long-lasting connection of companionship, affection, and respect by respecting each other's rights, steering clear of sensitive topics, and committing to reconciliation. Remember, marriage is a journey, and with the right mindset and actions, it can be a fulfilling and rewarding one.