It is a tradition of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) “A woman is married for four reasons, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her piety. So you should marry the pious woman otherwise you will be losers (your hands will be covered in dust).” Narrated by Abu Huraira, in Sahih Al-Bukhari (Book 62:27, Marriage)
Out of the four reasons that a Muslim man marries a woman, wealth is of importance too. However, we should understand that when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) says wealth he does not only mean material wealth of property and finances. Rather the man should look at the wealth that the woman has in terms of faith, knowledge, piety and that of a home maker.
Marrying a woman who has only material wealth and not the other attributes mentioned above will most likely result in a failed marriage. A man may not have enough money, may not be able to make ends meet to all his desires after marriage but if the woman he has married has the wealth of kindness, righteousness and piety, even that poor man will feel like the king of the world!
Also, all men should understand that marriage in Islam is not only about marrying the right person. It is a two way street. Marriage is also about BEING the right person, about nourishing your relationship, about bringing in it the wealth of faith and worship to Allah and about reaching out to each other in times of worry or misery.
So a man’s REAL wealth is not the money he brings back home at the end of the day from work. A man’s real wealth is what he makes out of that money; a happy wife, a nurturing household, obedient children and a prosperous family. And since the woman is the home maker in a Muslim marriage, if SHE does not have that wealth of righteousness, the man will not get HIS share of the wealth mentioned above. It’s a circle of relationship building. May Allah make us successful in fulfilling ours!
