A MUSLIM MUST SELECT A RIGHTEOUS AND SUITABLE WIFE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN VARIOUS NARRATIONS OF THE PROPHET OF ALLAAH, SALLALLAAHU ‘ALAYHI WA SALLAM:
The Dominant Quality of the Right Wife
“A woman may be married for four things: her wealth, her lineage, her beauty or her religion. Choose the one who is religious, may your hands be rubbed with dust [i.e., may you prosper]!” (REPORTED BY AL-BUKHAARI AND MUSLIM).
The Greatest Joy in this World
“This world is all temporary conveniences, and the greatest joy in this life is a righteous wife.” (REPORTED BY MUSLIM, 1468).
The Believing Wife
“Let every one of you have a thankful heart, a remembering tongue [remembering Allaah] and a believing wife who will help him with regard to the Hereafter.” (REPORTED BY AHMAD, 5/282, AND AT-TIRMITHI AND IBN MAAJAH FROM THAWBAAN. SAHEEH AL-JAAMI’, 5231).
The Best Treasure
According to another report the Prophet of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “A righteous wife to help you with your worldly and religious affairs is the best treasure anyone could have.” (REPORTED BY AL-BAYHAQI. SAHEEH AL-JAAMI’, 4285).
The Element of Happiness
Just as a righteous wife is one of the four elements of happiness, so a bad wife is one of the four elements of misery, as the Prophet of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam says in the authentic Hadeeth: “One of [the elements of] happiness is a righteous wife, who when you see her you feel pleased, and when you are away, you feel that you can trust her with regard to herself and your property. And one of [the elements of] misery is a bad wife who when you see her, you feel upset, she keeps attacking you verbally, and when you are away, you do not feel that you can trust her with regard to herself and your property.” (Musnad, 1:168)
All of the above must be achieved through asking the right questions, verifying facts, gathering information and checking sources, so that the household will have a happy and peaceful environment.