A Woman, as a Lovely Flower at Home

In the Holy Qur’an, we read that wives are to be sources of tranquility for men and that Allah places affection and mercy between married couples - husband and wife.

“Among His signs is [the fact] that He has created spouses for you from among yourselves so that you may console yourselves with them. He    has planted affection and mercy between you; in that are signs for people who think things over.”  The Holy Qur’an 30: 21

 As inferred from these Divine words, Allah – the Gracious God - has ordained marriage as the maker of an environment where the spouses find peace and consolation in each other and where the foundations of their fruitful life are to be laid; the life of true happiness embracing piety, chastity and mutual love, sympathy and thus elevation of the soul and perfection of virtues, and raising upright, pious children. So, a woman, if properly trained and guided can successfully fulfill her Divinely-ordained role; the embodiment of elegance, love and Divine mercy and the life-giving fountain of tranquility and humane emotions. And if, God-forbid, a woman has for any reason, been deprived of the needed teachings and/or gets exposed to immorality, for instance, through watching misleading films and reading materials which unfortunately are widespread today, due to the efforts of the enemies of God, she is most likely to lose her positive power in her marital life and instead turn into a source of emotional suffering for her husband and children. This rule of course equally applies to men; they need to avoid all immoral ways in order to be good husbands for their wives. So, immorality in all its manifestations can be regarded as the cause of the ruin of that blessed tree of love and affection planted by Allah between spouses for their happiness in both worlds. Also in the Holy Qur’an (2: 187) Allah has addressed men thus: “They are libas (garments) for you while you are libas (garments) for them.” In Arabic, the word ‘Libas’ means covering, clothing, dress and according to Qur’anic commentaries, the verse of the Holy Qur’an implies that spouses should protect each other against moral deviations (sexual misconducts) through being sexually and also emotionally satisfying to each other and that they should beautify each other through pleasantness and proper guidance just as a beautiful dress makes one look nice. In this regard, numerous teachings have also been presented by the Infallible (AS), including the following: “A woman should carefully cover her sexual charms (including her body, her hair, her makeup, ornaments, perfume and also soft pleasant tongue) from non- mahram men and in the presence of her husband make herself as attractive and lovely as possible (wearing her best, wearing perfumes and ornaments and also talking and acting coquettishly towards her husband)”.

Indeed, a woman’s being loving and coquettish to her husband (and also her acting in a dignified manner towards the other men) can be regarded as a key to her success in her marital life. Certainly no man desires a nagging, arrogant and unloving wife and no normal man can love a wife who, God-forbid, seems to be interested in attracting the other men. No doubt, if every woman observes the Divine teachings regarding her duties as a wife, the rate of divorce will fall amazingly.

Of course, as per Divine teachings, husbands should mutually be loving, considerate and loyal to their wives and should also try to make their appearance nice and neat for their wives. The best of men of all times, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has set the best example for men in this regard too. Here let's read certain Ahadith from Her Holiness Hazrat Fatimah (SA): “Being a good wife has, for a woman, the reward of the struggles in the way of Allah.”

“Observing Hijab perfectly exalts a woman towards Allah.”