{"fatawa":{"id":8073,"title":"Who is the woman who is religiously committed?","slug":"who-is-the-woman-who-is-religiously-committed","order":"","question":"I am a young man who has started to think of getting married, but I have a few questions that I want to find out about before I look for a wife. \r\nWith regard to the wife, who is the woman who is religiously committed, whom the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) urged us to seek? I know that the more knowledgeable, devoted to worship, pious and involved in da\u2019wah she is, the better, but what about the one who is less than that, such as if she only does the obligatory duties \u2013 is she considered to be religiously committed in the sense meant by the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)? What about the one who wears hijab that does not cover the face, or niqaab that does not cover the eyes \u2013 is she regarded as religiously committed? \r\nIn other words: if the man\u2019s family chooses a girl who does the obligatory duties and wears hijab that shows the face, does he have the right to refuse to propose to her because she is not religiously committed?.","answer":"Praise be to Allaah.\r\nAdvice to marry the woman who is religiously committed \u2013 who is the one who is religiously committed? \r\n\r\n(a)\r\n\r\nThe Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) encouraged marrying women who are religiously committed, as he said: \u201cWomen may be married for four things: their wealth, their lineage, their beauty and their religious commitment. Choose the one who is religiously-committed, may your hands be rubbed with dust (i.e., may your prosper).\u201d Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5090; Muslim, 1466. \r\n\r\n\u2018Abd al-\u2018Azeem Abaadi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: \r\n\r\nWhat this means is that a man who is religiously committed and of noble character should make religion his focus in all things, especially with regard to long-term matters. So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined finding a wife who is religiously committed, which is the ultimate goal. \r\n\r\n\u201cmay your hands be rubbed with dust\u201d is urging him to strive hard and roll up his sleeves and seek that which is enjoined.  \r\n\r\n\u2018Awn al-Ma\u2019bood (6\/31). \r\n\r\n(b)\r\n\r\nWith regard to the attributes of religiously committed women, we may list many attributes which apply to women who are described as religiously committed. These include: \r\n\r\n1.     Sound belief  \r\n\r\nThis is the most important attribute. The woman who is from ahl al-sunnah wa\u2019l-jamaa\u2019ah will have achieved the highest and most precious characteristic of religiously-committed women, and the one who is a follower of bid\u2019ah (innovation) and misguidance will not be one of the religiously committed women whom the Muslim is encouraged to marry, because of the bad effect that she will have on the husband or children, or on both. \r\n\r\n2.     Obedience to her husband, and not going against him if he enjoins something that is right \r\n\r\nIt was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: It was said to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): Which of women is best? He said: \u201cThe one who makes (her husband) happy when he looks at her, obeys him when he tells her to do something, and does not disobey him with regard to herself or her wealth in a way that he dislikes.\u201d\r\n\r\nNarrated by al-Nasaa\u2019i (3131); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa\u2019i. \r\n\r\nSo the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) mentioned together three important characteristics to be found in the good, righteous wife. They are:\r\n\r\n(i)                When he looks at her, he is happy with her religious commitment, attitude, behaviour and appearance.\r\n\r\n(ii)              When he is away from her, she protects his honour and his wealth.\r\n\r\n(iii)            If he tells her to do something, she obeys him, so long as he does not tell her to commit sin. \r\n\r\n3.     Helping her husband in his faith and religious commitment, telling him to do acts of obedience and stopping him from doing haraam things. \r\n\r\nIt was narrated that Thawbaan said: When there was revealed about silver and gold what was revealed, they said: So what kind of wealth should we acquire? \u2018Umar said: I will find out about that for you. So he mounted his camel and caught up with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and I was right behind him. He said: O Messenger of Allaah, what kind of wealth should we acquire? He said: \u201cLet one of you acquire a thankful heart, a tongue that remembers Allaah and a believing wife who will help him with regard to the Hereafter.\u201d \r\n\r\nNarrated and classed as hasan by al-Tirmidhi (3094). In another version it says: \u201cwho will help him with his faith.\u201d Ibn Maajah (1856). Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.   \r\n\r\nAl-Mubaarakfoori (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: \r\n\r\n\u201cA believing wife who will help him with his faith\u201d means, with his religious commitment, by reminding him to pray, fast and do other acts of worship, and will keep him from committing zina and all other haraam deeds. \r\n\r\nTuhfat al-Ahwadhi (8\/390). \r\n\r\n4.     She should be a righteous woman, and among the attributes of the righteous woman is that she is obedient to her Lord and fulfils her husband\u2019s rights with regard to his wealth and herself, even when her husband is absent. \r\n\r\nAllaah says (interpretation of the meaning): \r\n\r\n\u201cTherefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allaah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband\u2019s absence what Allaah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity and their husband\u2019s property)\u201d\r\n[al-Nisa\u2019 4:34]. \r\n\r\nShaykh \u2018Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa\u2019di (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:  \r\n\r\n\u201cTherefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient\u201d means: obedient to Allaah, may He be exalted. \r\n\r\n\u201cguard in the husband\u2019s absence\u201d means: they are obedient to their husbands and even in their absence they guard themselves and their husband\u2019s wealth, seeking the help of Allaah in that, because no one can do that by himself or herself, for the self is inclined towards evil, but the one who puts his trust in Allaah, He will suffice him and help him in his religious and worldly affairs. \r\n\r\nTafseer al-Sa\u2019di (p. 177) \r\n\r\nIt was narrated that Sa\u2019d ibn Abi Waqqaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: \u201cThere are four things that are essential for happiness: a righteous wife, a spacious home, a good neighbour and a sound means of transportation. And there are four things that make one miserable: a bad neighbour, a bad wife, a small house and a bad means of transportation.\u201d \r\n\r\nNarrated by Ibn Hibbaan in al-Saheehah (1232); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (282) and Saheeh al-Targheeb (1914). \r\n\r\nShaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:  \r\n\r\nA righteous wife will be with her righteous husband for many years, and she is the one who is meant in the hadeeth in which the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: \u201cThis world is temporary conveniences and the best of its comforts is a believing wife, who when you look at her she pleases you and if you tell her to do something she obeys you, and if you are away from her she protects you with regard to  herself and your wealth.\u201d\r\n\r\n This is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined when the Muhaajiroon asked him which kind of wealth they should acquire, and he said: \u201cLet one of you acquire a tongue that remembers Allaah, a thankful heart, and a believing wife who will help him with regard to the Hereafter.\u201d Narrated by al-Tirmidhi from Saalim ibn Abi\u2019l-Ja\u2019d, from Thawbaan. \r\n\r\nShe may offer the love and compassion that Allaah speaks of in His Book, and the pain of separation may be harder for her than death in some cases, and harder than losing wealth or leaving one\u2019s homeland, especially if one of them is fond of the other or they have children together who will be harmed by separation.  \r\n\r\nMajmoo\u2019 al-Fataawa (35\/299). \r\n\r\n5.     Good etiquette and knowledge \r\n\r\nIt was narrated that Abu Moosa al-Ash\u2019ari said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: \u201cThere are three who will be given a double reward: a man from among the people of the Book who believed in his Prophet, then lived to see the Prophet (S) and followed him and believed in him\u2013 he will have a double reward; and a slave who fulfils his duty towards Allaah and towards his master \u2013 he will have a double reward; and a man who had a slave woman whom he fed and fed her well, and taught her and taught her well, then he set her free and married her \u2013 he will have a double reward.\u201d\r\n\r\nNarrated by al-Bukhaari (97) and Muslim (154). \r\n\r\nAl-Mubaarakfoori (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:\r\n\r\n\u201cand taught her\u201d means he taught her good manners. \r\n\r\n\u201cand taught her well\u201d means teaching in a kind manner.  \r\n\r\nTuhfat al-Ahwadhi (4\/218). \r\n\r\n6.     Doing acts of worship and obedience, and refraining from haraam things. \r\n\r\nThis is part of what being religiously committed means, that is mentioned in the saheeh hadeeth that we quoted at the beginning of our answer. \r\n\r\nAl-Khateeb al-Sharbeeni al-Shaafa\u2019i (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: \r\n\r\nWhat is meant by religious commitment is acts of obedience and worship, and righteous deeds, and refraining from haraam things. \r\n\r\nMughni al-Muhtaaj (3\/127). \r\n\r\nThe one who combines obedience to her Lord, doing the obligatory duties that are enjoined upon her, and avoiding the haraam things that she is forbidden to do, with obedience to her husband, has glad tidings from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that she will be highly honoured when she enters Paradise. \r\n\r\nAccording to the hadeeth: \u201cIf a woman prays her five (daily prayers), fasts her month (Ramadaan), guards her chastity and obeys her husband, it will be said to her: Enter Paradise by whichever of the gates of Paradise you wish.\u201d Narrated by Ahmad (1664) and others; classed as hasan by al-Albaani because of another report in Saheeh al-Targheeb, as stated by al-Arna\u2019oot in Takhreej al-Musnad. \r\n\r\n7.     She is a devout worshipper and one who fasts \r\n\r\nAllaah says (interpretation of the meaning): \r\n\r\n\u201cIt may be if he divorced you (all) that his Lord will give him instead of you, wives better than you __ Muslims (who submit to Allaah), believers, obedient (to Allaah), turning to Allaah in repentance, worshipping Allaah sincerely, given to fasting or emigrants (for Allaah\u2019s sake), previously married and virgins\u201d\r\n[al-Tahreem 66:5] \r\n\r\nal-Baghawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: \u201cwill give him instead of you, wives better than you Muslims\u201d means who submit to Allaah and obey Him. \r\n\r\n\u201cbelievers\u201d who believe in the Oneness of Allaah (Tawheed). \r\n\r\n\u201cobedient (to Allaah)\u201d means obedient, or it was said: who offer supplication (du\u2019aa\u2019), or who pray. \r\n\r\n\u201cgiven to fasting or emigrants\u201d those who fast often, or Zayd ibn Aslam said: women who migrated (for the sake of Allaah), or it was said, who go with him wherever he goes.  \r\n\r\nTafseer al-Baghawi (8\/168). \r\n\r\nThus it is known that \u201creligious commitment\u201d (deen) is a comprehensive word that includes different kinds of worship, obedience, characteristics and attitudes. It is essential to note that that which we have said of these qualities and deeds is not the same with all women, rather there are different degrees thereof, and that is well known. The more modest, knowledgeable and devoted to worship a woman is, the more desirable she is as a wife. \r\n\r\nWhatever the case, the woman who is religiously committed is the one who will help a man to protect his own religious commitment, and help him with regard to his Hereafter; she will make him happy when he looks at her and she will protect him when he is absent, and she will raise his children well. \r\n\r\nSee the answer to question no. 83777 for information on proposing to a girl who is religiously committed but not beautiful; you will find useful information there that is complementary to this answer. \r\n\r\nAnd Allaah knows best.\r\n\r\nIslam Q&A","status":1,"created_at":"2014-10-30T20:51:56.000000Z","updated_at":"2014-10-30T20:51:56.000000Z","language_id":1,"fatawacate_id":34,"parent_id":8072,"author_id":"","books":[],"articles":[],"videos":[],"audios":[],"author_name":"","category_name":"Fiqh of the family - general","category_slug":"","get_date":"2014-10-30"},"translations":[],"fatawa_books":[],"fatawa_articles":[],"fatawa_videos":[],"fatawa_audios":[],"url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/eng\/api\/fatawas\/8073"}