The Book of Marriage from the Explanation of Bulugh al Maram Part 1 (Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen)

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported, the Prophet (May Allah elevate his rank & grant him peace) said, “A woman is married for four reasons: for her wealth, for her class, for her beauty or for her piety. Select the pious, may your hand be rubbed in the dust!” Related by Bukhari and Muslim. Explanation The purposes of people regarding marriage are different. Women are often married for these four reasons: for her wealth, class, beauty or piety. First: “For her wealth.” For example, an old woman is married for her big fortune because she will die sooner or later. If she is childless, he will take half of her wealth or all of it according to a weak point of view. Second: “For her class.” Tribes are different from each other regarding superiority and inferiority. A man who is inferior can marry from a tribe superior to his in order to upgrade himself. So, people will say that he married this one to upgrade himself and his children. Third: “For her beauty.” The beautiful woman is married in spite of her low class and being penniless. Fourth: “For her religion.” This refers to the religious woman, especially a knowledgeable one. The Muslim has to marry a woman who helps him to obey Allah. The religious woman helps her husband to obey Allah and she is obedient to her husband. Some religious women can choose another wife for her husband if she notices his desire for her. If she is not religious, she will make troubles if her husband has dreamt of marrying another woman. A religious woman is an honest one. When her husband is absent, she will not betray him. Also, she will care for his wealth, children and family. The Prophet (May Allah elevate his rank & grant him peace) said, “Select the pious,” meaning to look upon her as a prize you want to win.