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WWW.ISLAMTODAY.COM - English Fatwa Department
Fatwa Number: 38153
Question:
Assalamu Alaikum, In this hadith in Sahih Muslim, I do not understand the last portion of it: "May your hands cleave to dust."
This is the complete Hadith:
Muslim :: Book 8 : Hadith 3458
Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported: I married a woman during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (may peace be. upon him). I met the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him), whereupon he said: Jabir, have you married? I said: Yes. He said: A virgin or one previously marrried? I said: With due previously married, whereupon he said: Why did you not marry a virgin with whom you could sport? I said: Allah's Messenger, I have sisters; I was afraid that she might intervene between me and them, whereupon he said: Well and good, if it is so. A woman is married for four reasons, for her religion, her property, her status, her beauty, so you should choose one with religion. May your hands cleave to dust.
What is meant by "May your hands cleave to dust."? Jazakallah Khair for answering. Walaikum Assalam.
Answer:
Dear questioner:
Al-Salām `Alaykum wa Rahmah Allah wa Barakātuh.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A woman is married for four things: her wealth, her lineage, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) your hands will be smote with dust.” [
Sahīh al-Bukhārī (5090) and
Sahīh Muslim (1466)]
Wealth, lineage, and beauty are mentioned as common reasons for marriage with a woman. This is simply a confirmation of the desires that men have, not a recommendation.
Islam requests its followers to have higher outlook and regard what is most useful to them, which is to give highest priority to religion.
That is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) said at the end of the hadīth: “So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) your hands will be smote with dust.”
The phrase means that if a man marries a woman who is not religious, he will lose out on account of it.
And Allah knows best.
Fatwā Department Research Committee of IslamToday chaired by Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhāb al-Turayrī