Bismillah,
Berpasang-pasangan? Oh, don't get me wrong :) Undoubtedly, if you/we/I come across this phrase, sure enough you/we/I will think about marriage. Let's widen up our horizon, open up the interpretation in a broader point of view.
Dan Allah menciptakan kamu dari tanah, kemudian dari (setitis) air benih, kemudian Ia menjadikan kamu berpasangan (lelaki dan perempuan). Dan tiada mengandung seseorang perempuan (juga seekor betina), dan tidak pula satu-satunya melahirkan (anak yang dikandungnya) melainkan dengan keadaan yang diketahui Allah. Dan tidak diberikan seseorang berumur panjang, juga tidak dijadikan seseorang pendek umurnya, melainkan ada kadarnya di dalam Kitab Ilahi. Sesungguhnya yang demikian itu mudah sahaja kepada Allah. [35:11]
That's what I thought too and that's why people regard this as the most popular example, in any poems, and verses of love. What about this:
Dan Dia lah yang menjadikan bumi terbentang luas, dan menjadikan padanya gunung-ganang (terdiri kukuh) serta sungai-sungai (yang mengalir). Dan dari tiap-tiap jenis buah-buahan, Ia jadikan padanya pasangan: dua-dua. Ia juga melindungi siang dengan malam silih berganti. Sesungguhnya semuanya itu mengandungi tanda-tanda kekuasaan Allah bagi kaum yang (mahu) berfikir.[13:3]
Aha! "From all the fruits He made therein two mates" See, if you/we/I believe that there is someone out there is destined to be your imam/makmum/husband/wife, Allah also made it fair and square to other creatures of His creation. A murabbi reminded me that though Allah created everyone with their own mates, that is not limited to mates in term of human relationship. Allah has amazing plans for everyone, every single souls He created! =) Similarly,
After being sick for a while,
Allah grants us with better health
After studying so hard for the whole semester,
Allah grants us with the joy of success
After hiking up 10,000 ft up high
Allah grants us with the joy of satisfaction, yeay! we made it!
After long feel-like-unending-conflicts,
Allah grants us serene life, make us stronger to face more obstacle in the future.
The time will eventually come when all our hardship to mardhatillah paid off, but don't think about it yet, ikhlas kan diri, all for Him!
It's a fair trade right? =)
Allahu'alam.