Allah has very specifically said about the relationship of marriage between a Muslim husband and the Muslim wife that, “They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them…” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 187]” For both the husband and the wife the term clothing means that they are to love and protect each other and to give each other the warmth that comes from clothing. But for the husband in particular it also means that his Muslim wife is his greatest treasure. Why is this so?
This is because in Islam, high importance is given to the wife as a source of honour for the Muslim man. The wife of a believing man is his greatest treasure because as Allah prescribed, she is to live with her husband in love, give him comfort, bear his children and provide him peace, something she is not allowed to do for any other man other than her husband. And so she becomes the most precious and valuable part of a Muslim man’s life.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that “The biggest treasure a man has after Islam is his wife and nothing else.” The wife takes it upon herself to support the man and his family emotionally, bear the husband offspring who take his name and has the ability to make his house a loving home. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) also said “And they have upon you similar rights to those you have upon them in good dealings.” A man who understands this tradition has understood what an important role his wife plays in his life.
A treasure is something that is to be taken care of, not shown to the world so that they can steal it, polished when it gets rusty, and adored and become a source of your pride when you take it out. A man’s wife is the same. She is to be taken care of by fulfilling all her rights and needs, complimented at her efforts, faith and beauty, and adored and to be proud of in and outside the family. Treat your wife as a treasure and Allah will treat you both as precious stones entering Jannah on the day of Resurrection.
