Seeing that his mother was in a good mood, Ahmad sat near her
and said, "Mother, I have an idea which should bring you much joy." His mother answered eagerly, "My son, all that you give me makes me happy. What is on your mind?"
"You know," he told her, "I have finished my
studies and can afford to begin a family. I have decided to marry."
His mother's face brightened with a smile. "This is very good
news! I have long waited for such a day," she told him. "How often I
have wished you would marry one of your cousins. Praise be to Allah (SWT) that
you have made this decision before it is too late!" Ahmad exclaimed,
"Before it's too late? What do you mean?" "Your cousin Maryam is
now old enough to marry. Every day there is someone visiting her home, seeking
her hand," his mother told him.
Ahmad sat silently for a moment and said, "Then why should we
bother her suitors?"
"What do you mean, Ahmad?" asked his mother, dismayed.
"My cousin Maryam is not fit for me."
"Why not? No, my son, you are mistaken. I shall go and see
about your engagement tomorrow," his mother told him.
Ahmad frowned and said, "No, mother. Please do not do such a
thing. I will not agree to this." "When she becomes your fiancé, you
will feel love for her. Put aside your fears. Maryam is beautiful and she has a
respectable job" his mother told him.
Ahmad disagreed, "No. This matter only concerns me."
Ahmad's mother thought for a moment and said, "If you dislike
Maryam, then there's my brother's daughter. She is as beautiful as Maryam, and
she has inherited a large sum of money from my brother.
"Mother, please think about this matter from my point of
view. I need someone to share my life, not a business partner."
His mother became angry and sharply asked, "What's wrong with
my niece? Why isn't she good enough to be your wife?"
Ahmad replied, "She is not a practicing Muslim. I want a
Muslim wife."
Ahmad's mother laughed sarcastically and said, "You speak as
if you were an angel who could only marry another angel. Why don't you stop
saying such nonsense, my son? You are an educated young man; you should give up
your impossible ideals."
"I am neither an angel nor do I seek a saint for a wife. I am
a Muslim believer looking for a girl who also believes in Islam," replied
Ahmad.
Ahmad's mother told him, "I don't know any girl who shares
your ideals."
Ahmad said, "I know someone who measures up to my
expectations."
Startled by this admission, Ahmad's mother asked, "You know
someone? Who is she? Since when do you begin friendship with girls?"
Ahmad answered quickly, "I didn't mean that I know a girl
personally, but I know of her." "I see," she said. "You
have already chosen your wife. Who is this lucky girl?" "Mother,
please be more understanding. I hope you will take my side and persuade father
to agree with my choice."
This appeal to Ahmad's mother softened her, and she said, "I
swear that I think only of your welfare. I will help you. Tell me, what are
this girl's qualifications?"
Ahmad told her, "Nothing matters except the religious aspect.
She is Muslim and wears complete Hijab." "Oh, then she is
uneducated!" "No, she has a high school education and her religious
knowledge is extensive."
Then his mother asked, "What family is she from? Do I know
them?"
"She is from a good family known for their piety," Ahmad
told her. "Of what use is a well-known family if a girl has no Islamic
morals?" He silently beseeched Allah (SWT) to give him the patience to
overcome his mother's resistance. "A happy marriage doesn't depend on fame
or wealth. Happiness stems from spiritual nearness and mutual
understanding." Then, in a different tone of voice his mother asked,
"What does her father do for a living?" "He is a
grocer," Ahmad replied.
"A grocer?" she exclaimed. "Yes. He is a grocer and
a very righteous man. He is the head of a happy and virtuous family."
Ahmad's mother interrupted him, "You are the son of a wealthy
man; with your college degree you wish to marry a grocer's daughter? What a
shame! Yet you ask me to assist you! If I had chosen the daughter of a jeweller,
how would you feel?"
His mother replied, "There is a big difference between a jeweller
and a grocer."
"The only difference is with regard to the substance. The
former sells rings and the latter sells sugar. Both work in order to earn
money," Ahmad answered.
His mother lamented, "Imagine your father's reaction to this
news!"
Ahmad said firmly, "This is my desire, either you help me or
I will do it myself."
He spoke so seriously that his mother laughed mockingly, saying,
"Does the matter require a great effort? The least move you make, they
will give their daughter to you gladly."
Ahmad shook his head in doubt and said, "Wait and see!"
"What an odd situation this is! Am I to present my son to a
grocer's daughter? What special beauty does this girl possess to make you blind
to every other consideration?"
"I have not yet seen her," Ahmad said.
"Then how do you know she's not ugly?" asked his mother.
"I know she is not. As far as good conduct is concerned,
physical beauty is of little importance."
"Oh Ahmad, my amazement never ceases."
The next morning, Ahmad told his father of his intentions. His
father became angry, but Ahmad remained determined to marry the woman of his
choice. Finally his father agreed and Ahmad asked his mother to visit the
girl's home to make the proposal and overcome any obstacles.
The following afternoon Ahmad's mother, accompanied by his oldest
sister, went to the girl's house. On the way there, Ahmad's sister asked her
mother what the girl's name was. Her mother replied, I forgot to ask him!
"When they knocked on the family's door, they were surprised to see a
beautiful young girl open it.
The girl was surprised to see the two unfamiliar women, but she
showed them into the living room and went to tell her mother that they had
visitors. Her mother welcomed the guests and waited for them to explain the
reason for their visit.
After exchanging greetings,
Ahmad's mother asked who the young girl was who had opened the door. "It
was my daughter, Zaynab," she replied. "Do you have any other
daughter?" asked Ahmad's mother. "No, she's my only daughter,"
replied her mother. Ahmad's mother and sister were delighted to learn that the
beautiful girl was Zaynab.
Just then, Zaynab entered
with coffee for their visitors. She sat next to Ahmad's sister and they soon
found much to discuss. Then she collected the empty coffee cups and left the
room.
Ahmad's mother began, "We have come with a blessed aim. We
would be happy to have your daughter Zaynab as a wife for my son Ahmad."
She praised her son for his intelligence, his good looks and his wealth, but
she neglected to mention his firm Islamic beliefs, which was very important to
Zaynab's mother.
Therefore, Ahmad's mother
was stunned when Zaynab's mother shook her head slowly and said, "I'm very
sorry. It is difficult for me to agree to this proposal; in fact, it's
impossible." With much surprise, Ahmad's mother asked, "What is
impossible?"
"My daughter is still young. I'm sure your son can find a
girl who suits him." Ahmad's mother protested, "But Zaynab suits him
well! Would you be kind enough to justify your refusal?"
"I only have one daughter and I should be sure of her future
married life."
"But Ahmad is well-off financially," said his mother.
"He is an engineer!"
Zaynab's mother replied, "Zaynab would not marry someone
because he is wealthy or has a college degree."
Ahmad's mother was at a loss for words. "Then what will
ensure your daughter's happiness and consent?"
"When a mother looks for a wife for her son, she should
mention her son's conduct." said the mother of Zaynab. "My daughter
is a committed Muslim. She wants a Muslim husband and remember, my daughter
wears Hijab, and your son may want a modern wife, who dresses like his mother
and sister."
Ahmad's mother laughed with relief and told her, "You are
correct. I haven't mentioned his conduct. I thought that other aspects of his
character were of more importance. My son is a faithful Muslim. He is, in fact,
looking for a wife who observes Hijab. Be sure that my appearance (un-Islamic
clothing) is not to Ahmad's taste."
Zaynab's mother also smiled and said, "You should have told
me earlier! Please give us your address so we can visit you and learn more
about your son."
"We hope you can come early next week," said Ahmad's
mother.
Ahmad was waiting anxiously for his mother's return. As soon as
she and her daughter returned home he asked, "Well, mother? How was your
visit?"
"It was very strange," she replied.
"What was strange?" he asked. "Has anything bad
happened?"
"Oh no, Ahmad. But I never expected such a thing," she
answered. "Then they have refused?" Ahmad's father said, "How
could a grocer's daughter refuse a wealthy young man?"
Ahmad's mother turned to her husband and said, "They did, in
fact, refuse..."
"What! They refused?" asked the father. "I spoke
about Ahmad's good qualities, but I didn't mention his Islamic morals. My
appearance also caused her to decline my proposal because her daughter is a
very faithful Muslim. When I realized their objections, I told them that you
are a true Muslim as well. I have come to respect them very much. They don't
care about status or wealth."
"Have you seen the girl?" asked Ahmad's father.
"Yes, she is lovely and polite. Ahmad is a lucky man to have
made such a choice."
The following week, Zaynab's family paid a visit to Ahmad's home
and plans were made for the upcoming wedding. They were soon married and there
was much rejoicing.
+++++++
Once there was a very handsome, pious, well educated young man,
whose parents emphasized for him to get married. They had seen so many marriage
proposals, and he had turned them all down. The parents thought it was becoming
a little ridiculous or suspected that he may have someone else in mind.
However every time the parents left the girls house, the young man
would always say "she's not the one!" The young man only wanted a
girl who was religious and practicing (which was hard to find). However one
evening his mother arranged for him, to meet a girl, who was religious and
practicing.
On that evening, the young man and girl were left to talk and ask
each other question (as one would expect). The young man, being a gentleman
that, he was allowed, young lady to ask first.
Young girl asked the young man so many questions. She asked about
his life, his education, his friends, his family, his habits, his hobbies, his
lifestyle, his enjoyment, his time pass, his experiences, his shoe size and his
likes and dislikes. Basically everything!
And the young man replied to all of her questions, without tiring
and politely with a smile. Young girl took up nearly all of the time, over an
hour and felt bad and asked the young man do you have any questions?
Young man said, yes, only have 3 questions...
Young girl thought, wow, only 3 questions okay, go ahead and
shoot.
Young man's first question was, (1) Who do you love the most in
the world, someone who's love nothing would ever overcome? She said, this is an
easy question! Answer to your question is my mother.
Young man smiled and asked second question, (2) You said that you
read a lot of Qur'an, could you tell me which Surahs you know the meaning of?
Hearing this she went red and embarrassed and said I do not know the meaning of
any yet, but I am hoping to soon Inshallah I have just been a bit busy.
The third question the young man asked, was (3) I have been
approached for my hand in marriage, by girls that are lot more prettier than
you, why should I marry you? Hearing this, the young girl was outraged, she
stormed off to her parents with fury and said I do not want to marry this man
he is insulting my beauty and intelligence.
And the young man and his parents were once again, left without an
agreement of marriage. This time, the young man's parents were really angry and
said what did you do to anger that young girl, the family was so nice and
pleasant, and they were religious like you wanted. What did you ask the girl?
Tell us!
Young man said, firstly I asked her, who do you love the most? She
said, her mother. The parents said so, what is wrong with that?
Young man said, "no one, is Muslim, until he loves Allah
(SWT) and his Messenger (saw) more than anyone else in the world." If a
woman loves Allah (SWT) and Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) more than anyone, she
will love me and respect me and stay faithful to me, because of that love and
fear for Allah (SWT). And we can share this love, because this love is greater
than lust for beauty.
Young man said, then I asked, you read a lot of Holy Qur'an, can
you tell me the meaning of any Surah? And she said no. because I haven't had
time yet. So I remembered the saying of Imam Shafi'i, "All humans are dead
except those who have knowledge ... And all those who have knowledge are asleep,
except those who do good deeds ... And those who do good are deceived, except
those who are sincere ... And those who are sincere are always in a state of
worry (for others)."
She has lived 20 years on this earth and not found any time, to
seek knowledge, why would I marry a woman, who does not know her rights and
responsibilities and what will she teach my children, except how to be
negligent, because the woman is the Madrasah (school) and the best of teachers.
And a woman, who has no time for Allah (SWT), will not have time for her
husband.
The third question I asked her was, that a lot of girls, more
prettier than her, had approached me for marriage, why should I choose her?
That is why she stormed off, getting angry.
Young man's parents said that is a horrible thing to say, why
would you do such a thing; we are going back there to apologize. Young man said
I said this on purpose, to test whether she could control her anger.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said "Do not get angry, do not
get angry, do not get angry" repeatedly when asked how to become pious,
because anger is from Satan.
If a woman cannot control her anger with a stranger she just met,
do you think she will be able to control it with her husband?
So, the moral of this story is, a marriage is based on: Knowledge
not looks, Practice not preaching, Forgiveness not anger, Spiritual love not
lust and compromise!
One should look for a person who (1) Has love for Allah (SWT) and
his Messenger (saw) (2) Has knowledge of the deen (religion), and can act upon
it (3) can control her anger and another important and crucial factor that she
be (4) willing to compromise.
And it goes both ways, so women seeking a man, should look for the
same things.
May Allah (SWT) make every marriage a success and let us create
Love for Allah and his Messenger (saw) so that Allah (SWT) can bless us, and
create love in our lives.
There is no better structure founded in Islam other than marriage.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
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