Monday, June 6, 2016

Islam grants and encourages the right to marry handsome men

Imam `Abdur-rahman ibnul-Jawzi al-Hanbali (rahimahullah) writes in Ahkam un-Nisa page 103: 

It is recommended for the father who will marry away his daughter that he finds her a handsome and beautiful husband for her. A woman wants (the same) what men want . 

10089 حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْقَاضِي ، ثنا جُبَيْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْوَاسِطِيُّ ، ثنا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ مُوسَى الْأَكْفَانِيُّ ، ثنا قَبِيصَةُ ، ثنا سُفْيَانُ ، ثنا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْرِ بْنِ الْعَوَّامِ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : يَعْمِدُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى ابْنَتِهِ فَيُزَوِّجُهَا الْقَبِيحَ الذَّمِيمَ إِنَّهُنَّ يُرِدْنَ مَا تُرِيدُونَ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ حَدِيثِ الثَّوْرِيِّ , لَمْ نَكْتُبْهُ إِلَّا مِنْ حَدِيثِ جُبَيْرٍ , أَفَادَنِيهِ عَنْهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الدَّارَقُطْنِيُّ

The senior companion of the prophet muhammad sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam narrated that the Messenger of Allah sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam said: " (Some of) you marry your daughters away to ugly repugnant men . They certainly want (the blessings or desires) that which you want.

[Ref: Hilyatul awliya of imam abu nu`aym asbahani as-sufi rahimahullah under the chapter of sufyan ath-thawi number 10089. For grading read the arabic part appended to the above text. ]

the second caliph of Islam and senior most companion of the prophet - `Umar ibn khattab radhiallahu `anhu said: 

10339 - عَنِ الثَّوْرِيِّ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ: «يَعْمَدُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى بِنْتِهِ فَيُزَوِّجُهَا الْقَبِيحَ، إِنَّهُنَّ يُحْبِبْنَ مَا تُحِبُّونَ»، يَعْنِي: إِذَا زَوَّجَهَا الدَّمِيمَ كَرِهَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ مَا يَكْرَهُ، وَعَصَتِ اللَّهَ فِيهِ

Don't marry away the woman to the ugly repugnant man. They (too) wish for themselves what you wish for yourselves 

Imam `abdur-razzaq goes on to explain that if you compel your daughter to marry an ungly man then this is severely disliked and there is an element of disobedience to Allah in this action

[Ref:  `Abdur razzaq in his Musannaf 10339; shamela]

Our prophet, his companions and our scholars from the very beginning have given such attention towards even such needs of women in an era and time when such demands from women were rarely paid attention to by the society !  Which other scripture narrates such narrations from their primary sources of revelation?