The Characteristics of the Pious Wife by Shaikh Abdur-Razzaaq

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Therefore, she is in need of being righteous, chaste, committed and obedient to Allaah; (in order) to prevent herself from the passageways of evil, the means to evil and the doors to corruption.  The woman is also a great responsibility upon the one whom Allaah has placed in charge over her affairs. It is a great affair in need of (being given) profound importance and considerable attention.  Therefore, So I say:

Under this state of affairs, and alongside the little reminders and the rarity of reminders on the (distinguished) characteristics of Imaan, the (distinguished) characteristics of virtue and the good qualities that are incumbent upon a woman to adorn herself with; thus weakness, a lack of mental strength and liability to failure under pressure has occurred in many women.  And many types of shortcomings and divergent paths of defectiveness have become widespread amongst them.

To proceed:

So with regards to these remarks/statements about the characteristics of the pious wife, I ask Allaah (The Most Generous; The Lord of The Tremendous Throne) to put goodness and benefit in them; and that He makes these remarks/statements a key to goodness and a blockage in the face of evil; and that He put in these remarks/statements a guidance for the hearts, a rectification for the souls and a path leading to The Lord of The Worlds in attainting His Pleasure and Love, and being distanced from that which annoys and angers Him.

Therefore I say, and from Allaah I seek aid and assistance: When we speak about the characteristics of the pious wife and righteousness, it is incumbent that we are not led away from a great principle in this subject matter, (which) is the foundation of this topic and the basis in reaching, obtaining and attaining righteousness.  That is, righteousness cannot be attained, except by way of two affairs:

The First Principle Is: The Tawfeeq of Allaah (i.e. that Allaah guides the person to accept the truth and to act upon it); Allaah’s Aid, Facilitation and direction for the towards ( the right direction/cause of action). So Allaah is The One Who Guides; He (alone) is the Bestower and the affairs are in His Hand.  Allaah (The Most High) said: ‘‘He whom Allaah guides, he is rightly guided; but he whom He sends astray, for him you will not find any (guiding friend) to lead him (to the right path).’’[1]

And He (The Most High) said: ‘‘Allaah calls to the home of peace (i.e. paradise) and guides whom He wills to the straight path.’’ [2] [10:25]

So guidance,  being led towards righteousness, being enabled to accept the truth and acting upon it are in His Hand.  And whatever He (The Most High) wishes will take place and whatever He does not wish, will not take place.  And there is neither power nor strength except with Allaah.