The Holy Prophet [s] said: "Yes, the reward of a woman during her pregnancy until childbirth, and unto when she weans the child, is like that of a stationed (soldier guarding the Muslims' borders against the attack of pagan enemies) for the sake of Allah. So, if she dies during that, she will have the rank of a martyr."

Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, vol. 3, p. 561

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said: "No milk is greater in prosperity than the mother's milk for the baby to suck from."

Wasa'il-ush Shi'ah vol. 21, p. 452

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "When a woman conceives with child she will be as a warrior who fasts during the day and keeps vigil at nights praying, and strives with his soul and wealth on the way of Allah. Then, when she delivers, there will be for her such a great reward with Allah that she does not know how magnificent it is. Thereafter, when she suckles (the child), she will have as much reward as freeing a child from Ismail's descendants for every suck. And, when she brings suckling the child to an end, an angel beside her tells her to begin the action again for she has surely been forgiven."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 104, p. 106

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "There is no milk for a baby better than the milk of its mother."

Mustadrak-ul-Wasa'il, section 48

Marriage, a Great Worship

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "A two rak'at prayer that a married person establishes is worthier than when a bachelor keeps up prayers at nights and fasts during the days.

Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, vol. 3, p. 384

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "The sleep of a married person is better with Allah than an unmarried one who fasts during the day and keeps vigil at night, establishing prayers."

Bihar ul Anwar, vol. 103, p. 221

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "(Mostly) the doers of good of my Ummah are the married ones, while the vicious of them are unmarried."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 103, p. 221

Imam Sadiq [a] said: "Once a man came to my father. He [a] asked him whether he had a wife and he answered he had not. Then, my father said that he would not like to possess the world and what it includes but sleep one night without having a wife. Then he [a] added that the two rak'at prayer established by a married man is worthier than that an unmarried man keeps vigil at night praying and fasts during the day. After that, he [a] gave him seven golden coins (Dinar) and told him to marry with that."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 103, p. 217

Encouragement for Marriage

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "The person who marries gains half of his Faith, then he must fear of Allah for the next remaining half."

Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 328

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "Most of the people of Hell will be the unmarried (irrespective of male or female)."

Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, vol. 3, p. 384

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "The most depraved of your dead are the unmarried."

Al-Tahthib, vol. 7, p. 239

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "He who wishes to be cleaned and purified when he meets Allah should marry and have a spouse."

Man La Yahduruhul Faqih, vol. 3, p. 385

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "Marry, otherwise you will be (counted) among the Christian monks or the brothers of satan."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 103, p. 221

Marriage Is the Key to Divine Mercy and a Good Temper

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "The doors of Heaven to mercy will be opened in four situations: when it rains, when a child looks kindly at his parent's face, when the door of the Ka'bah is opened, and when marriage (occurs)."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 103, p. 221

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "Join your children in marriage (boys or girls) because, thereby, Allah renders their tempers good, adds to their sustenance, and increases their sense of honour."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 103, p. 222

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "Get married and give your daughters in marriage, because it is from the good fortune of any Muslim man that he gives his (matured) daughter (or sister) in marriage."

Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 328

The Holy Prophet [s] said: "There is nothing to Allah, Almighty and Glorious, more beloved than the house which is developed in Islam by marriage; and there is nothing to Allah, Almighty and Glorious, more abhorent than the house which is ruined in Islam by separation, viz, divorce."

Al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 328