format_quote Originally Posted by
Akeyi
First the hadith
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: (Women may be married for four things: wealth, beauty, lineage or religious commitment)
The hadith you have quoted is incomplete. Here the complete version :
“A woman may be married for four things: her wealth, her lineage, her beauty and her religious commitment. Seek the one who is religiously-committed, may your hands be rubbed with dust (i.e., may you prosper).”
(Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, from Abu Hurayrah)
This hadith is not a suggestion that a man should marry a woman who has all criteria above. But the meaning of this hadith is, there are four (common) reasons for a man to marry a woman. Because her wealth, or because her beauty, or because her lineage, or because her religious commitment. But, when you seek a wife, and you must choose one of few women who each has one of the criteria above, you should choose who is religiously-committed, because this is the best choice.