Marriage

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ لا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْباطِلِ‌[2] فَقَالَ كَانَتْ قُرَيْشٌ تُقَامِرُ الرَّجُلَ بِأَهْلِهِ وَ مَالِهِ فَنَهَاهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَنْ ذَلِكَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘You must not consume your assets in invalid dealings among your selves. . . (2:184) He (the Imam) said, ‘Among Quraysh a man gambled even his wife and property. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, pr

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْإِمْلَاكُ يَكُونُ وَ الْعُرْسُ فَيُنْثَرُ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ فَقَالَ حَرَامٌ وَ لَكِنْ مَا أَعْطَوْكَ مِنْهُ فَخُذْهُ.[1]

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about what people scatter on certain people during an entertaining occasion or wedding ceremony. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is unlawful but what they give, you can take it.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ امْرَأَةٌ دَفَعَتْ إِلَى زَوْجِهَا مَالًا مِنْ مَالِهَا لِيَعْمَلَ بِهِ وَ قَالَتْ لَهُ حِينَ دَفَعَتْ إِلَيْهِ أَنْفِقْ مِنْهُ فَإِنْ حَدَثَ بِكَ حَدَثٌ فَمَا أَنْفَقْتَ مِنْهُ حَلَالًا طَيِّباً فَإِنْ حَدَثَ بِي حَدَثٌ فَمَا أَنْفَقْتَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ حَلَالٌ طَيِّبٌ فَقَالَ أَعِدْ عَلَيَّ يَا سَعِيدُ الْمَسْأَلَةَ فَلَمَّا ذَهَبْتُ أُعِيدُ الْمَسْأَلَةَ عَلَيْهِ اعْتَ

T pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a woman gave a certain amount of property to her husband from her own property so he can use in business and she said to him upon the delivery, “You can spend from it and if something happens to you, it is lawful for you and if something happens to me and whate

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَمَّا يَحِلُّ لِلْمَرْأَةِ أَنْ تَتَصَدَّقَ بِهِ مِنْ بَيْتِ زَوْجِهَا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِهِ قَالَ الْمَأْدُومُ.

‘It is al-Ma’dum (sauce, curry or gravy).”’

لَيْسَ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ وَ وَلَدِهِ وَ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ عَبْدِهِ وَ لَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ أَهْلِهِ رِبًا إِنَّمَا الرِّبَا فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ مَا لَا تَمْلِكُ قُلْتُ فَالْمُشْرِكُونَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُمْ رِبًا قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُمْ مَمَالِيكُ فَقَالَ إِنَّكَ لَسْتَ تَمْلِكُهُمْ إِنَّمَا تَمْلِكُهُمْ مَعَ غَيْرِكَ أَنْتَ وَ غَيْرُكَ فِيهِمْ سَوَاءٌ فَالَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَهُمْ لَيْسَ مِنْ ذَلِ

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘ Riba ’ does not apply in the case of a man and his sons, his slave and his wife. Riba ’ applies when you do not own certain goods.’ I then asked, ‘Does it apply between me and the pagans?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘Yes, it applies.’ I said, ‘They are slaves.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You do no

بُرَيْدٌ لِمُحَمَّدٍ سَلْ لِي أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ - عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَصْنَعَهُ إِنَّ لِلنَّاسِ فِي يَدِي وَدَائِعَ وَ أَمْوَالًا وَ أَنَا أَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهَا وَ قَدْ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَتَخَلَّى مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَ أَدْفَعَ إِلَى كُلِّ ذِي حَقٍّ حَقَّهُ قَالَ فَسَأَلَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَ خَبَّرَهُ بِالْقِصَّةِ وَ قَالَ مَا تَرَى لَهُ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَ يَبْدَأُ نَفْسَهُ بِالْ

12. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Abd Allah al-Hajjal from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Burayd al-Tjliy wanted to get married. Burayd said, to Muhammad, ‘Ask abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al- Salam, about what I am planning to do. I want to return p

دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ يَبِيعُ الدَّقِيقَ فَقَالَ إِيَّاكَ وَ الْغِشَّ فَإِنَّ مَنْ غَشَّ غُشَّ فِي مَالِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ غُشَّ فِي أَهْلِهِ.

“Once, a man who sold flour came before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) said to him, ‘Beware of cheating; one who cheats in matters of properties, cheating takes place in his properties, if he does not have any property cheating takes place in his family (wife).”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ شِرَاءِ مَمْلُوكِي أَهْلِ الذِّمَّةِ إِذَا أَقَرُّوا لَهُمْ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَقَرُّوا لَهُمْ بِذَلِكَ فَاشْتَرِ وَ انْكِحْ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about buying slaves of tax payers if their government approves. He (the Imam) said, ‘If the authority over them approves you can buy and marry them.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَطِيبُ وَلَدُ الزِّنَا وَ لَا يَطِيبُ ثَمَنُهُ أَبَداً وَ الْمِمْرَازُ لَا يَطِيبُ إِلَى سَبْعَةِ آبَاءٍ وَ قِيلَ لَهُ وَ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ الْمِمْرَازُ فَقَالَ‌[2] الرَّجُلُ يَكْتَسِبُ مَالًا مِنْ غَيْرِ حِلِّهِ فَيَتَزَوَّجُ بِهِ‌[3] أَوْ يَتَسَرَّى بِهِ فَيُولَدُ لَهُ فَذَاكَ الْوَلَدُ هُوَ الْمِمْرَازُ.

‘One born out of fornication does not recover as well as his price. Al-Mumraz does not recover for seven generations. It was asked, ‘What is al- Mumraz?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘One earns through unlawful ways and with such funds gets married or enjoys it, and a child is born for him. That child is al-Mumraz.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ تَكُونُ لِيَ الْمَمْلُوكَةُ مِنَ الزِّنَا أَحُجُّ مِنْ ثَمَنِهَا وَ أَتَزَوَّجُ فَقَالَ لَا تَحُجَّ وَ لَا تَتَزَوَّجْ مِنْهُ‌[1].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I have a slave born out of wedlock; if I can perform al-Hajj with his price or spend it for my marriage/ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not perform al-Hajj with it and do not spend it for your marriage.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنَ السَّعَادَةِ الزَّوْجَةُ الْمُؤَاتِيَةُ[1] وَ الْأَوْلَادُ الْبَارُّونَ وَ الرَّجُلُ يُرْزَقُ مَعِيشَتَهُ بِبَلَدِهِ يَغْدُو إِلَى أَهْلِهِ وَ يَرُوحُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Three factors help a man enjoy good fortune: One is a cooperating wife, virtuous and kind children, and he finds his living where he lives and is present in his family every morning and evenings.’”

مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الْمَرْءِ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَتْجَرُهُ فِي بَلَدِهِ وَ يَكُونَ خُلَطَاؤُهُ صَالِحِينَ وَ يَكُونَ لَهُ وُلْدٌ يَسْتَعِينُ بِهِمْ وَ مِنْ شَقَاءِ الْمَرْءِ أَنْ تَكُونَ عِنْدَهُ امْرَأَةٌ مُعْجَبٌ بِهَا وَ هِيَ تَخُونُهُ.

“Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of a man’s good fortune to have his place of business where he lives, to have virtuous associates and children who support him. It is misfortune of a man to have a conceited wife who is treacherous toward him.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَتًى صَادَقَتْهُ جَارِيَةٌ فَدَفَعَتْ إِلَيْهِ أَرْبَعَةَ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لَهُ إِذَا فَسَدَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ رُدَّ عَلَيَّ هَذِهِ الْأَرْبَعَةَ آلَافٍ فَعَمِلَ بِهَا الْفَتَى وَ رَبِحَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْفَتَى تَزَوَّجَ وَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَتُوبَ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ قَالَ يَرُدُّ عَلَيْهَا الْأَرْبَعَةَ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ الرِّبْحُ لَهُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who becomes a friend of a young woman who gives him four thousand dirham and says, ‘If our friendship is destroyed you can return the dirhams to me.’ He works with it and makes profits. The young man marries and wants to repent, what

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ هُوَ لَكَ حَلَالٌ حَتَّى تَعْلَمَ أَنَّهُ حَرَامٌ بِعَيْنِهِ فَتَدَعَهُ مِنْ قِبَلِ نَفْسِكَ وَ ذَلِكَ مِثْلُ الثَّوْبِ يَكُونُ قَدِ اشْتَرَيْتَهُ وَ هُوَ سَرِقَةٌ أَوِ الْمَمْلُوكِ عِنْدَكَ وَ لَعَلَّهُ‌ حُرٌّ قَدْ بَاعَ نَفْسَهُ أَوْ خُدِعَ فَبِيعَ أَوْ قُهِرَ أَوِ امْرَأَةٍ تَحْتَكَ وَ هِيَ أُخْتُكَ أَوْ رَضِيعَتُكَ وَ الْأَشْيَاءُ كُلُّهَا عَلَى هَذَا حَتَّى يَسْتَبِينَ لَكَ غَيْ

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘All things are lawful for you until you recognize it to be exactly an unlawful item which you must avoid from your own side. One such example is a cloth which you may have purchased and it is proved a stolen cloth; or a slave who is with you and perhaps he is free who has s

أَتَتِ الْمَوَالِي أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَقَالُوا نَشْكُو إِلَيْكَ هَؤُلَاءِ الْعَرَبَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ يُعْطِينَا مَعَهُمُ الْعَطَايَا بِالسَّوِيَّةِ وَ زَوَّجَ سَلْمَانَ وَ بِلَالًا وَ صُهَيْباً وَ أَبَوْا عَلَيْنَا هَؤُلَاءِ وَ قَالُوا لَا نَفْعَلُ فَذَهَبَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَكَلَّمَهُمْ فِيهِمْ فَصَاحَ الْأَعَارِيبُ أَبَيْنَا ذَلِكَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ أَبَيْنَا ذَلِكَ فَخَرَجَ

59. Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-‘Asemiy has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Nahdiy from Muhammad ibn Ali from Sharif ibn Sabiq from al-Fadl ibn abu Qurrah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once al-Mawaliy (non-Arab Muslims) came to ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), and said, ‘We complain before yo

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِنْ أَخْلَاقِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ حُبُّ النِّسَاءِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Love for women is of the moral manners of the prophets.’”

مَا أَظُنُّ رَجُلًا يَزْدَادُ فِي الْإِيمَانِ خَيْراً إِلَّا ازْدَادَ حُبّاً لِلنِّسَاءِ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I do not think a man can increase anything good in his belief except that he increases his love for women.’”

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُوسَى الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ‌ ثَلَاثٌ مِنْ سُنَنِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ الْعِطْرُ وَ أَخْذُ الشَّعْرِ وَ كَثْرَةُ الطَّرُوقَةِ[1].

‘Three things are of the traditions of the Messengers (of Allah): use of perfume, trimming hairs and ampleness of (relation in) marriage.’”

يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ فِي النِّسَاءِ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا كَانَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ فِي الطَّعَامِ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَأْكُلُ اللَّحْمَ وَ الْعَسَلَ.

“Sukayn al-Nakha‘iy worshipped and had given up women, perfume and food. He wrote to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked him (the Imam) about it. He (the Imam) wrote to him in answer, ‘About your words concerning women, take notice about the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy

مَا أَظُنُّ رَجُلًا يَزْدَادُ فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ خَيْراً إِلَّا ازْدَادَ حُبّاً لِلنِّسَاءِ[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I do not think anyone increases goodness in this issue (belief in the Divine Authority of ‘A’immah) without his increasing love for women.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا أُحِبُّ مِنْ دُنْيَاكُمْ إِلَّا النِّسَاءَ وَ الطِّيبَ.

‘I do not love anything from your world except women and perfume.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ جُعِلَ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاةِ[3] وَ لَذَّتِي فِي النِّسَاءِ.

‘The delight for my eyes is placed in Salat (prayer) and my pleasure in women.’”

سَأَلَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيُّ الْأَشْيَاءِ أَلَذُّ قَالَ فَقُلْنَا غَيْرَ شَيْ‌ءٍ فَقَالَ هُوَ ع أَلَذُّ الْأَشْيَاءِ مُبَاضَعَةُ النِّسَاءِ[4].

“We once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ’What is the most enjoyable thing? 5 We said other things. He (the Imam) said, ’The most enjoyable of things is sexual intercourse with women.”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ جُعِلَ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَ لَذَّتِي فِي الدُّنْيَا النِّسَاءُ وَ رَيْحَانَتَيَّ الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘The delight of my eyes is placed in Salat (prayer), my enjoyment of the world in women and my comfort and relief with al-Hassan and al-Husayn (a.s.).”’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا تَلَذَّذَ النَّاسُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ بِلَذَّةٍ أَكْثَرَ لَهُمْ مِنْ لَذَّةِ النِّسَاءِ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَواتِ مِنَ النِّساءِ وَ الْبَنِينَ‌ إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ[5] ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ مَا يَتَلَذَّذُونَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ أَشْهَى عِنْدَهُمْ مِنَ النِّكَاحِ لَا طَعَامٍ وَ لَا شَرَابٍ.

‘The most enjoyable thing people experience in this world and in the hereafter is enjoyment with women and it is in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘The love and enjoyment for women and children is made attractive for people.’ (3:13) He (the Imam) then said, ‘People of paradise will not enjoy from any

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ ضَعِيفَاتِ الدِّينِ وَ نَاقِصَاتِ الْعُقُولِ أَسْلَبَ لِذِي لُبٍّ مِنْكُنَّ.

"I never saw anyone more snatching from an intelligent person, than these weak in religion, deficient of reason; you women are."

أَتَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَخَرَجَ إِلَيَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عُقْبَةُ شَغَلَتْنَا عَنْكَ هَؤُلَاءِ النِّسَاءُ.

‘O ‘Uqbah, the women held us back from meeting you.”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَوْ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ النِّسَاءُ أَرْبَعٌ جَامِعٌ مُجْمِعٌ وَ رَبِيعٌ مُرْبِعٌ وَ كَرْبٌ مُقْمِعٌ وَ غُلٌّ قَمِلٌ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, or ‘Amir al- Mu’minin has said, ‘Women are of four kinds: a universal goodness, a fountain of breeding, an oppressive over-burdening or feed for parasites.”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ جَلَسْنَا إِلَيْهِ فِي مَسْجِدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَتَذَاكَرْنَا أَمْرَ النِّسَاءِ فَأَكْثَرْنَا الْخَوْضَ وَ هُوَ سَاكِتٌ لَا يَدْخُلُ فِي حَدِيثِنَا بِحَرْفٍ فَلَمَّا سَكَتْنَا قَالَ أَمَّا الْحَرَائِرُ فَلَا تَذْكُرُوهُنَّ وَ لَكِنْ‌ خَيْرُ الْجَوَارِي مَا كَانَ لَكَ فِيهَا هَوًى وَ كَانَ لَهَا عَقْلٌ وَ أَدَبٌ فَلَسْتَ تَحْتَاجُ إِلَى أَنْ تَأْمُرَ وَ لَا تَنْهَى

“I once I heard abu al-Hassan, Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) - while we were sitting in the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause - discussing issues about women and we delved in it a great deal but he (the Imam) was quiet and did not en

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ صَاحِبَتِي هَلَكَتْ وَ كَانَتْ لِي مُوَافِقَةً وَ قَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَتَزَوَّجَ فَقَالَ لِيَ انْظُرْ أَيْنَ تَضَعُ نَفْسَكَ وَ مَنْ تُشْرِكُهُ فِي مَالِكَ وَ تُطْلِعُهُ عَلَى دِينِكَ وَ سِرِّكَ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ لَا بُدَّ فَاعِلًا فَبِكْراً تُنْسَبُ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَ إِلَى حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُنَّ كَمَا قَالَ‌ أَلَا إِنَّ النِّسَاءَ خُلِقْنَ شَتَّى‌ فَمِنْهُنَّ الْغَن

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘My wife who lived in complete harmony with me has died and I want to marry.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Think where you want to place yourself and whom you are making your partner in your assets, inform of your religion and secrets. If you must marry find a virgin who is spoken of with

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ النِّسَاءُ أَرْبَعٌ جَامِعٌ مُجْمِعٌ وَ رَبِيعٌ مُرْبِعٌ وَ خَرْقَاءُ مُقْمِعٌ وَ غُلٌّ قَمِلٌ‌[1].

“The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, ’Women are of four kinds: Goodness in all respects, a child bearing fountain, a dimwitted destructive one and feed for parasites.”’

سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ كُنَّا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ: إِنَّ خَيْرَ نِسَائِكُمُ الْوَلُودُ الْوَدُودُ الْعَفِيفَةُ الْعَزِيزَةُ فِي أَهْلِهَا الذَّلِيلَةُ مَعَ بَعْلِهَا الْمُتَبَرِّجَةُ مَعَ زَوْجِهَا الْحَصَانُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ الَّتِي تَسْمَعُ قَوْلَهُ وَ تُطِيعُ أَمْرَهُ وَ إِذَا خَلَا بِهَا بَذَلَتْ لَهُ مَا يُرِيدُ مِنْهَا وَ لَمْ تَبَذَّلْ كَتَبَذُّلِ الرَّجُلِ.

“The best of your women are the child bearing, loving and chaste who are dear at home, humble with her husband, showing her beauty to her husband, fortressed from strangers, who listens to his words and obeys his orders and in private offers to him what he wants and she does not display vulgar manners as man does.’””

خَيْرُ نِسَائِكُمُ الَّتِي إِذَا خَلَتْ مَعَ زَوْجِهَا خَلَعَتْ لَهُ دِرْعَ الْحَيَاءِ وَ إِذَا لَبِسَتْ لَبِسَتْ مَعَهُ دِرْعَ الْحَيَاءِ.

‘The best of your women are those who in privacy removes the shield of shyness before her husband and when dressed up dresses with him the shield of shyness.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُ نِسَائِكُمُ الْعَفِيفَةُ الْغَلِمَةُ[3].

‘The best of your women is the chaste and full of carnal appetite.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَفْضَلُ نِسَاءِ أُمَّتِي أَصْبَحُهُنَّ وَجْهاً وَ أَقَلُّهُنَّ مَهْراً.

‘The best of the women of my followers are those who have a beautiful face and the least amount of Mahr (dowry).’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ خَيْرُ نِسَائِكُمُ الْخَمْسُ‌[1] قِيلَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ مَا الْخَمْسُ قَالَ الْهَيِّنَةُ اللَّيِّنَةُ الْمُؤَاتِيَةُ الَّتِي إِذَا غَضِبَ زَوْجُهَا لَمْ تَكْتَحِلْ بِغُمْضٍ حَتَّى يَرْضَى وَ إِذَا غَابَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا حَفِظَتْهُ فِي غَيْبَتِهِ فَتِلْكَ عَامِلٌ مِنْ عُمَّالِ اللَّهِ وَ عَامِلُ اللَّهِ لَا يَخِيبُ.[2]

‘The best of your women are five.’ It was asked, ‘O ’Amir al-Mu’minin what kind of five are they?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘Simple, nice and suitable, when her husband becomes angry, does not neglect him until he is pleased, and when he is absent she protects him in his absence and that is a worker from Allah and the wo

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ خَيْرُ نِسَائِكُمُ الطَّيِّبَةُ الرِّيحِ الطَّيِّبَةُ الطَّبِيخِ الَّتِي إِذَا أَنْفَقَتْ أَنْفَقَتْ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَ إِذَا أَمْسَكَتْ أَمْسَكَتْ بِمَعْرُوفٍ فَتِلْكَ عَامِلٌ مِنْ عُمَّالِ اللَّهِ وَ عَامِلُ اللَّهِ لَا يَخِيبُ وَ لَا يَنْدَمُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The best of your women are those who smell nice, cook nice and when spending she spends what is proper and withholds what is proper. That is a worker from Allah and a worker from Allah does not fail or become regretful.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُ نِسَائِكُمُ الطَّيِّبَةُ الطَّعَامِ الطَّيِّبَةُ الرِّيحِ الَّتِي إِنْ أَنْفَقَتْ أَنْفَقَتْ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَ إِنْ أَمْسَكَتْ أَمْسَكَتْ بِمَعْرُوفٍ فَتِلْكَ عَامِلٌ مِنْ عُمَّالِ اللَّهِ وَ عَامِلُ اللَّهِ لَا يَخِيبُ.

‘The best of your women are those who cook nice, smell nice, when spending she spends what is proper and withholds what is proper. That is a worker from Allah and a worker from Allah does not fail.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِشِرَارِ نِسَائِكُمْ الذَّلِيلَةُ فِي أَهْلِهَا الْعَزِيزَةُ مَعَ بَعْلِهَا الْعَقِيمُ الْحَقُودُ الَّتِي لَا تَوَرَّعُ مِنْ قَبِيحٍ الْمُتَبَرِّجَةُ إِذَا غَابَ عَنْهَا بَعْلُهَا الْحَصَانُ مَعَهُ إِذَا حَضَرَ[3] لَا تَسْمَعُ قَوْلَهُ وَ لَا تُطِيعُ أَمْرَهُ وَ إِذَا خَلَا بِهَا بَعْلُهَا تَمَنَّعَتْ مِنْهُ كَمَا تَمَنَّعُ الصَّعْبَةُ عَنْ رُكُوبِهَا ل

‘If you like I can tell you who are of the worst kind of your women. She is the one who is undignified in her family, flattered by her husband, barren, spiteful, who does not abstain from indecency, roams around to show off in the absence of her husband and very reserved when her husband is present. She does not listen

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ شِرَارُ نِسَائِكُمُ الْمُعْقَرَةُ الدَّنِسَةُ اللَّجُوجَةُ الْعَاصِيَةُ الذَّلِيلَةُ فِي قَوْمِهَا الْعَزِيزَةُ فِي نَفْسِهَا الْحَصَانُ عَلَى زَوْجِهَا الْهَلُوكُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ‌[1].

‘The wicked ones of your women is one who is barren, filthy, quarrelsome, disobedient, undignified among her people and honored to herself, reserved in the presence of her husband but shows others to be of great carnal appetite.’”

كَانَ مِنْ دُعَاءِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنِ امْرَأَةٍ تُشَيِّبُنِي قَبْلَ مَشِيبِي.

‘I seek refuge with You, O Lord, against a woman who makes me become old before my becoming old.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُ نِسَاءٍ رَكِبْنَ الرِّحَالَ نِسَاءُ قُرَيْشٍ أَحْنَاهُ عَلَى وَلَدٍ وَ خَيْرُهُنَّ لِزَوْجٍ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘The best of women who ever rode a camel on their wedding to the house of their husband are the women of Quraysh who are most compassionate to their chil

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُ نِسَائِكُمْ نِسَاءُ قُرَيْشٍ أَلْطَفُهُنَّ بِأَزْوَاجِهِنَّ وَ أَرْحَمُهُنَّ بِأَوْلَادِهِنَّ الْمُجُونُ لِزَوْجِهَا[3] الْحَصَانُ لِغَيْرِهِ قُلْنَا وَ مَا الْمُجُونُ قَالَ الَّتِي لَا تَمَنَّعُ.

“‘Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘The best of your women are the women of Quraysh who are very kind to their husbands, most compassionate to their children, al-Majun with her husband

خَطَبَ النَّبِيُّ ص- أُمَّ هَانِئٍ بِنْتَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي مُصَابَةٌ فِي حَجْرِي أَيْتَامٌ وَ لَا يَصْلُحُ لَكَ إِلَّا امْرَأَةٌ فَارِغَةٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَا رَكِبَ الْإِبِلَ مِثْلُ نِسَاءِ قُرَيْشٍ أَحْنَاهُ عَلَى وَلَدٍ وَ لَا أَرْعَى عَلَى زَوْجٍ فِي ذَاتِ يَدَيْهِ.

“One of the two Imam, (abu Ja 5 far or abu ‘Abd Allah) (a.s.), has said, ‘When the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, proposed for marriage to ‘Umm Haniy daughter of abu Talib, she said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am a grieved widow and I have orph

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ مَا اسْتَفَادَ امْرُؤٌ مُسْلِمٌ فَائِدَةً بَعْدَ الْإِسْلَامِ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ زَوْجَةٍ مُسْلِمَةٍ تَسُرُّهُ إِذَا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا وَ تُطِيعُهُ إِذَا أَمَرَهَا وَ تَحْفَظُهُ إِذَا غَابَ عَنْهَا فِي نَفْسِهَا وَ مَالِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘There is not anything more beneficial to a man after his accepting Islam than a Muslim woman who pleases him when he looks at her, gives when he asks and prot

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ إِذَا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَجْمَعَ لِلْمُسْلِمِ خَيْرَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ جَعَلْتُ لَهُ قَلْباً خَاشِعاً وَ لِسَاناً ذَاكِراً وَ جَسَداً عَلَى الْبَلَاءِ صَابِراً وَ زَوْجَةً مُؤْمِنَةً تَسُرُّهُ إِذَا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا وَ تَحْفَظُهُ إِذَا غَابَ عَنْهَا فِي نَفْسِهَا وَ مَالِهِ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah from Burayd ibn Mu‘awiyah al-‘Ijliy who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far, Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your

مَا أَفَادَ عَبْدٌ فَائِدَةً خَيْراً مِنْ زَوْجَةٍ صَالِحَةٍ إِذَا رَآهَا سَرَّتْهُ وَ إِذَا غَابَ عَنْهَا حَفِظَتْهُ فِي نَفْسِهَا وَ مَالِهِ.

"Nothing benefits a servant more than the benefit of a righteous wife, who gets joyed when he sees her and in his absence she keeps herself protected and his wealth."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الْمَرْءِ الزَّوْجَةُ الصَّالِحَةُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Having a virtuous wife is a good fortune that a man enjoys.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ مِنَ الْقِسْمِ الْمُصْلِحِ لِلْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ الْمَرْأَةُ إِذَا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا سَرَّتْهُ وَ إِذَا غَابَ عَنْهَا حَفِظَتْهُ وَ إِذَا أَمَرَهَا أَطَاعَتْهُ.

‘Of the shares forming the well-being of a Muslim one is a wife who makes him delightful when he looks at her and in his absence protects his interests and obeys his orders.’”

ثَلَاثَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ فِيهَا رَاحَةٌ دَارٌ وَاسِعَةٌ تُوَارِي عَوْرَتَهُ وَ سُوءَ حَالِهِ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ امْرَأَةٌ صَالِحَةٌ تُعِينُهُ عَلَى أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ ابْنَةٌ يُخْرِجُهَا إِمَّا بِمَوْتٍ أَوْ بِتَزْوِيجٍ.

‘Three issues provide comfort for a believing person: a spacious house which provides privacy and in bad condition keeps him out of the sight of people, a virtuous wife who helps him in his worldly affairs and those of the life hereafter and a daughter whom he escorts out of the house on her death or on her wedding.’”