A Pious and Pleasing Wife

Hazrat Abu Umaamah (Radhiyallahu anhu) narrates that Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) says: “After Taqwa of Allah a Mu-min has not gained anything better than a pious wife; if he instructs her, she obeys him; if he looks at her, she pleases him; if he takes an oath over her, she fulfils it; and if he is away from her, she is faithful to him in herself and his wealth.” (Ibn Maajah)

Taqwa is to fulfil the Ahkaam (Commandments) of Allah Ta’ala and to abstain from His prohibitions. Thus, the meaning of the statement of Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is that after fulfilling the Commandments of Allah Ta’ala and abstaining from His prohibitions a pious and devout servant of Allah Ta’ala choses a pious and pleasing wife for the good of his Deen and dunya.

‘Fulfilling what the husband instructs’ is related to things which do not entail sin and transgression. In other words, she fulfils those things of her husband which are not against the Shariat, and which do not court the displeasure of Allah. This clause is attached because the Shairah’s law is that one should not carry out any order of creation (makhlooq), that is any person, which produces the disobedience of Khaaliq (Allah Ta’ala).

When he looks at her, she pleases him by virtue of her looks, her purity, her ways and her conduct.

Fulfilling the oath of the husband means that she places the wish and will of her husband over and above her wish and will. For example, if her husband emphasises doing something which is against her desire, she forsakes her desire and does what the husband wants. And when he wants her not to do anything she forgets about her desire and abstains from what her husband wants her not to do.

‘Faithful to the husband in herself’ is that she protects herself from immorality, and ‘faithful in his wealth’ is that she does not waste her husband’s wealth, and she does not abuse it in any way.

(Mazaahir-e-Haq)