Choosing religion above all else: the advice of Shaykh al-Fawzān

Shaykh Sālih al-Fawzān (may Allah preserve him) said:

How many beautiful women were unable to get along with their husbands: their beauty deceived them. And how many wealthy women were unable to get along with their husbands: their wealth made them arrogant towards him and drove them to treat him unjustly.

What does not constitute the foundation of the family

One should therefore not set one's sights on those things that do not constitute the foundation of the family: neither wealth, nor beauty, nor even nobility of lineage or social standing.

Even if she holds no particular status, if she is pious, then religion is entirely good.

The hadith of the Prophet ﷺ

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"A woman is married for four things: for her wealth, for her beauty, for her lineage and for her religion. Choose the one with religion, and you will prosper." — Sahih Al-Bukhari & Muslim

What is at stake in making the right choice

What matters is therefore not simply that a man gets married, but whom he marries: that is what counts. He must choose the woman who is pious in her religion.

If, in addition to her religion, she possesses good lineage, beauty and wealth, then it is good added to good.

On the other hand, focusing on wealth, beauty or lineage without any concern for religion is a loss and a waste for the future.

That is how matters stand at the time of marriage.