Characteristics of the woman whom it is most befitting to marry

As we have previously mentioned, what is intended by nikaah is for the husband and wife to seek pleasure/enjoyment with each other and build a pious family leading to a stable community. So, based upon this, the type of woman whom it is most befitting to marry is the one who exemplifies these two issues, and that she is both physically and spiritually/internally beautiful.

As regards physical beauty, this entails completeness of structure, the more beautiful and sweeter in speech a woman is, the more pleasing she is to the eyes, and likewise her speech is to the ears. So the heart opens up to her and feels comfortable in her presence, and in so doing, actualising the statement of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala):

{And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy…} (Soorah ar-Room, Aayah 21)

Her spiritual/inner beauty, on the other hand entails completeness of religion and manners, and the more complete a woman is in her religion and manners the more beloved she is to the soul and the better are the consequences (of marrying her). Because, a religious woman obeys Allaah's commands and safeguards her duties towards her husband, his bed, his children and wealth; She assists him in obeying Allaah, when he forgets she reminds him and if he is lazy she encourages him, if he is angry she cools him down. And a well mannered lady does things to increase her husband's love, respects him and does not stay back in anything he likes her to go ahead with, nor does she go ahead in anything he likes her to stay back in. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) was asked: who is the best wife? And he answered:

«One who pleases him when he looks, obeys him when he commands, and does not go against his rules in her person and his wealth, in a manner he dislikes.» And he also said:

«Marry loving wives with high birth rates for I will be proud of your numbers in front of the (other) Prophets (or nations).» Thus, if a woman with both physical and spiritual/inner beauty can be obtained, then this is the height of perfection and the greatest happiness with the guidance of Allaah.