“ The most happy is who is to whom God has given a good wife ”.
Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib
The marital life is an interesting and necessary institution. If one fails to understand the core of the conjugal relation between man and woman, he will live a life of conjugal oblivion and disorientation.
Life is tough without enjoyment. One of the main objective of marriage is the preservation and continuation of the human race. Such an objective is encouraged by instinct and the process of nature for the creation of the human species.
Husband-wife relationship is not merely a utilitarian relationship. It is a spiritual relationship that sustains and generates love, kindness, mercy, compassion, mutual confidence, self-sacrifice, solace and succour. It is to attain psychological, emotional and spiritual companionship.
Men and women are each others garments; i.e, they are of mutual support, mutual comfort and mutual protection fitting into each other as a garment fits the body. A garment is also a show and a concealment. This emphasizes their sameness, their oneness, something much more than legal equality. The husband and wife are described as each other's raiment not as one as the garment and the other the body. A garment is something nearness to the human body;it is part of the external world which becomes part of our being. Such is the closeness of the relationship between the spouses.
Dress is something that covers the body and protects it. The spouses are the protectors and guardians of each other. The dress beautifies the wearer. One feels oneself incomplete without it. Husband and wife complement each other, one completes and perfects and beautifies the other.
Through marriage, a man can find his soul mate. It is important therefore, for a man to choose himself a life partner very well.
A wife an important role to play in helping her husband become successful in life. A wife that can diligently contribute her quota to the achievement of her husband's goal is needed for if he gets one, he will get the most out of life. Religiousness is the only condition that Islam indicates which will lead to a suitable match. A religious wife who has a good character and disposition helps her husbands in all walks of life. She brings up children well, treat her husbands kin well, obeys her husbands, fulfills his oath, pleases him when coming, and guards his property and reputation when leaving.
All in all, a good wife is an inspiration to the husband. If remembers her, he will not let indolence encircle him. He must think of ways to bring back home the bacon. He will endure hardships to see that he sustains his wife and children. For he knows that they will not eat sand and drink from their urination. and or live in the market stand. Therefore, an ideal wife or a good wife serves as the lever of motivation to her husband.
In his book The Bride's Boon, Mahmud M. Al-Istanbuli referred to Khadija The Ideal Woman. She was the most rational and descent woman in quraish tribe. She preferred to marry the prophet (pbuh) before his Messengership because she preferred the integrity and good manners he had. She preferred him to all the prominent leaders of the Quraish who wanted to marry her.
Khadija contributed to the success of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the spread of Islam. She was the first to believe in Allah and His Messenger and embrace Islam. This faithful and loving wife supported her husband and helped him endure the most severe kinds of torture and persecution. Then she relieved him when he was hurt or rejected. When they called him a liar, she alone remained true.
No wonder people used to say that, “behind every successful man is a wonderful woman”. A good wife is indeed the bedrock of success, happiness and tranquility of a man.
We have come to the end of the third post in the series, HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR LIFE. expect the next powerful post in this series.