The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 256
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 256 welfare of orphans, welfare of widows and increase of progeny. However, the question which arises now is how these purposes may be attained. In other words, upon what basis should a wife be selected so that these purposes may be attained in the best possible manner? In this regard, the Holy Prophet sa states: َ تُنْكَح ُ الْمَرْاٴَة ُ لِاَرْبَع ٍ لِمَالِھَا وَلِحَسَبِھَا وَجَمَالِھَا وَلِدِیْنِھَا فَاظْفَر ْ بِذَات ِ الدِّیْن ِ تَرِبَت ْ یَدَاك Meaning, “In marriage, the selection of a wife is based on four considerations. Some people select their wives on the basis of her financial status, others give consideration to her family status, some take an interest in beauty and charm, while other people take a woman’s moral and religious state into consideration. But O Ye Muslims! You should always give precedence to the religious aspect. This is the pathway to your success, and this is the manner by which you may save yourself from worldly and religious destruction. ” 1 In this Ḥadīth , the principle for selecting a wife so that the purposes of marriage may be attained has been mentioned. That principle stipulates that the religious aspect should be given precedence. The word ‘Dīn’ does not only infer the individual religious or moral state of a woman, nor is the word ‘Dīn’ used in the Arabic language merely in terms of religion or belief. Rather, as it has been expounded in a renowned Arabic lexicon known as Aqrabul- Mawārid, that the word ‘Dīn’ is used in the Arabic language to express the following meanings: firstly, morals and customs; secondly, spiritual purity and cleanliness; thirdly, religion; fourthly, nation and community; fifthly, government and rule. Hence, the statement of the Holy Prophet sa that in selecting a wife the aspect of ‘Dīn’ should be given precedence implies that a wife should be such that she is excellent in her individual morals and customs, righteousness and purity as well as in religion and belief, so that healthy relations between husband and wife are maintained and so that a positive influence is etched upon their children as well. On the other hand, however, this also implies that in selecting a wife, the aspect of ‘Din’ in general, which relates to the needs of religion, the welfare of nation and community, and the interest of government and rule, should also be taken into consideration at its appropriate occasion. At this instance, if someone is skeptical that although these meanings may all be correct linguistically, how can it be accepted that 1 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābun-Nikāḥ, Bābul-Ikfā’i Fid-Dīn, Ḥadīth No. 5090