In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

The Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

A woman is married for four (reasons); her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should take possession of the one with Religion, otherwise you will be a loser”. [Al-Bukhari 5090]

Imam Abdul Aziz Bin Baz, may Allah have mercy upon her, said:

 فليكن همك الوحيد هو صلاح دينها، فإذا كان مع ذلك جمال ومال وحسب؛ فهذا خير إلى خير، طيب، لكن لا يكون همك الجمال، أو المال، أو الحسب، لا. فليكن أكبر الهم، وأعظم القصد صلاح الدين، واستقامة الأخلاق، تسأل عنها الخبيرين بها، فإذا كانت ذات دين، بعيدة عن التبرج، وعن أسباب الفتنة، محافظة على الصلاة في أوقاتها؛ فاقرب منها، وإذا كانت بخلاف ذلك؛ فاتركها، المهم أن العناية الكبرى تكون بالدين، نعم.

Your only concern should be the righteousness of her religion. If beauty, wealth, and noble lineage accompany that, then this is goodness added to goodness. But let not beauty, wealth, or family status be your foremost concern.

Your greatest concern and objective should be the righteousness of her religion and steadfast moral character. Ask those who know her well about these matters. If she is a woman with sound religious practice, far removed from Tabarruj and the causes of temptation, and she observes her prayers at their prescribed times, then incline toward her. But if she is the opposite, leave her. What is important is that religion should be your greatest concern. [1]

Some women complain about the opinionated beauty standards that burden women- cheekbones, slim, angular faces with big features, fat-freezing cosmetic procedure etc. The women who blindly follow this path are regarded beautiful and attractive, regardless whether they are righteous or not; rather as long as they are considered more attractive based on what a group of women exploiters consider to be the beauty standard, they are given an advantage – Pretty Privilege!!! Indeed, the upright scholars have spoken about this matter and warned against it. Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Women are portrayed as if they are mere images- pictures people attach no importance to except that which is connected to the woman’s figure (outward appearance). See how they have decorated and beautified her! See how they have brought about beautifications for her and presented her in a desirable condition, in relation to hair, skin, legs, arms, face and everything else, until they make it the most important thing for the woman, like a picture made out of plastic. They neither present to her the importance of establishing worship nor bearing children. [2]

Al-Allamah Khalil Al-Harras, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated in his Sharh An-Nooniyyah:

After Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, described the beauty and perfection of the women of Paradise so that one is drawn towards them, he warned against being deceived by the evil women of this worldly life- those who are deprived of every excellent trait. They are neither perfect in their physical appearances nor do they possess good deeds.

How can one be deceived by a woman who possesses ugly manners and is untrustworthy! How can one be deceived by a woman who neither fulfills her obligations nor does she possess patience! How can one be deceived by a woman who is neither contented nor is she obedient and humble, and her deeds are ugly! Rather she is a female devil disguised in the image of a human, thus, she deceives the despicable and depraved people who desire her because they are similar to her and are ready to obey her.

As for the people of virtue, she neither wants nor desires them because there are no similarities between her and them. She is deprived of everything that directs her towards good and prevents her from evil. She neither possesses the correct way of life ordained by Allah and a sound moral intellect nor does she possess good manners and fear of Allah. She does not possess natural beauty, rather her beauty is a falsified one that emanates from cosmetics. And when she leaves that beautification and embellishment, the defects on her becomes apparent and she is deprived of everything that makes a person desirous of her. She is characterised with betrayal- neither grateful for good companionship nor does she preserve and fulfill its rights.

Her beauty is a thin shell and underneath it are defects and ugly affairs. Her beauty resembles a fake coin plated with gold or silver, which one may consider to be a real gold or silver coin; but this counterfeit cannot be circulated amongst the money changers even though many people are deceived by it. [3]

Be Warned Against Extremist Women

Imaam Adh-Dhahabee, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated that Salamah Bin Alqamah relates from Ibn Seereen, may Allah have mercy upon him, who said, “Imran Ibn Hattaan married a kharijiyyah (a female khaarijite) and said, ‘I will bring her back’ (i.e. make her leave her misguidance). Ibn Seereen said, ‘However, she converted him to her way'”. [4]

[1]https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/9619/%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A7 paraphrased

[2]An Excerpt from this lecture:

https://safeshare.tv/x/fKxP_Mt7o9w# https://youtu.be/fKxP_Mt7o9w

[3] Sharh Al-Qaseedah An-Nooniyyah 2/738-739

[4] Siyar Alam An-Nubulaa 4/214