The Suitable Match

Islam has provided a set of guidelines that help in causing marriage to be stable, enjoyable and happy. Various attractions may motivate people in their choice, and perhaps blind them to consequences that could not be difficult to anticipate. A nice looking person may not prove to be the suitable companion in this life long journey of marriage. Similarly wealth may be luring but is certainly no guarantee of happiness.

A sound advice given by the prophet peace be upon him is:

"Don't marry women for their beauty for their beauty might turn out to be destructive to them. Or for their wealth for this might make them arrogant. But marry them for their steadfastness in religion."    (Ibn Hameed)

"A woman is married for (either ot) four reasons: her wealth, social class, beautiful looks and religion. Make sure you win the one with (the attribute ot) religion or else your hands would be dust covered out of poverty. " (Bukhari Muslim)

Yet it is a fact of life that people make their choices in accordance with their own mornl structure. As birds of one feather flock together, the system of priorities will be different in different people, the virtuous person will seek a virtuous partner, whereas the sensuous or the materialist will seek otherwise: