Reading Soorat al-Baqarah and asking for forgiveness with the intention of getting married

Marriage is something that is already divinely decreed for a person, as with the rest of his provision. No person will die until all his decreed provision and life span have been completed, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Holy Spirit (Jibreel) has inspired to me that no soul will die until it has completed its appointed term and received its provision in full, so fear Allaah and do not be desperate in seeking provision, and no one of you should be temped to seek provision by means of committing sin if it is slow in coming to him, for that which is with Allaah can only be attained by obeying Him.” Narrated by Abu Na’eem in al-Hilyah from the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 2085.  

So you should not be anxious if marriage is delayed. But it is prescribed for young men and women to implement the means of attaining that provision (marriage), which includes du’aa’. So you should ask Allaah to provide you with a righteous husband. 

Seeking forgiveness is one of the means of provision being expanded. Allaah, may He be exalted, tells us that Nooh (peace be upon him) said to his people: 

“ ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft‑Forgiving;

11. ‘He will send rain to you in abundance,

12. ‘And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.’”

[Nooh 71:10-12]

Du’aa’ is a mighty weapon for the one who uses it well. Pray to Allaah with the attitude of certainty that He will respond, and strive for the causes of du’aa’ being accepted, such as ensuring that your food and drink are halaal and choosing times of special virtue. Beware of seeking to hasten a response. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The du’aa’ of any one of you will be answered so long as he does not seek to hasten it, and does not say, ‘I made du’aa’ but I had no answer.’” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5865) and Muslim (2735) from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him). 

You should understand that du’aa’ will be stored up for a person and will benefit him in all circumstances, as it says in the hadeeth narrated by al-Tirmidhi (3859) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no man who prays to Allaah and makes du’aa’ to Him, and does not receive a response. Either it will be hastened for him in this world, or it will be stored up for him in the Hereafter, so long as he does not pray for something sinful, or to cut the ties of kinship, or seek a speedy response.” They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, what does seeking a speedy response mean?” He said, “Saying, ‘I prayed to my Lord and He did not answer me.’” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, no. 2852. 

Reading Qur’aan is effective in dealing with worry and anxiety, and bringing happiness and peace of mind. The same is true of seeking forgiveness. 

Doing a lot of acts of worship in general is a means of attaining happiness, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)”

[al-Nahl 16:97]

“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).

3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things”

[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]

For the one who does a lot of these acts of worship, and regularly prays on time, recites dhikr, prayers for forgiveness and du’aa’, and reads Qur’aan, there is the hope of divine help and happiness, and that she will achieve what she wants and seeks. But it is not prescribed to worship Allaah by defining a specific number or time (for acts of worship) that is not narrated in sharee’ah. Rather that is bid’ah (innovation), which is one of the causes of one’s deeds being rejected and of the person being deprived of reward, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The one who does any action that is not part of this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected.” Narrated by Muslim (1718). 

There is no report in sharee’ah – as far as we know – which suggests that reading Soorat al-Baqarah in particular or praying for forgiveness a certain number of times is a means of getting married. Rather obedience to Allaah and following His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in general are the means of attaining happiness and of things being made easier in this world and in the Hereafter. 

We ask Allaah to make things easy for you and to bless you with a righteous husband. 

And Allaah knows best.