Prophet: Happy wife, happy life

‘Best among you is best to his wife’

On the Last Hajj — called Farewell Pilgrimage — Prophet Muhammad stood among 100,000 faithful followers on Mount Arafat making his last will and testament. His message was being echoed to the entire assembly through persons appointed to repeat what they heard onward to others who could not directly hear him. He also willed that his message be carried to one and all through the ages until the Last Day so those that were not present might follow even better than those who were gathered there with him on that holy day.

He said, “Oh people, listen to my words; for I do not know if I shall be among you after this year. Remember that you have to appear before your Lord who will demand from you an account of all your actions.”

He said, “Oh people, you have rights over your wives, and your wives have rights over you. Remember, you must always treat your wives with kindness. Woman is weak and cannot protect her own rights. When you got married, God appointed you the trustees of those rights. You brought your wives to your homes under the Law of God. You must not, therefore, insult the trust which God has placed in your hands.”

Prophet Muhammad advised Muslims to marry; he forbade the practice of celibacy. He said, “Marriage is my precept and my practice. Those who do not follow my practice are not of me.”

Prophet Muhammad said, “Best among you is one who is best to his wife, and I am best among you in my dealings with my wives.”

Once a Persian neighbor of the Prophet who was well-known for his excellent cuisine invited the Prophet for dinner. The Prophet inquired if the invitation was extended to his wife as well. Upon receiving the answer in the negative, the prophet turned down the invitation. The neighbor returned in the afternoon and invited him again. Prophet Muhammad asked him again if his wife was also invited. The neighbor refused to invite his wife, upon which the Prophet once again turned down the invitation. The neighbor came a third time and invited both of them. Prophet Muhammad gladly accepted the invitation and accompanied his wife to the neighbor’s house for dinner.

In some older cultures and religions, women were forced to separate themselves away from their families during their menstrual periods. The Holy Qur’an declared that the period of menstruation was a cause of discomfort and suffering for the women and therefore men were barred from having sex with their wives during this period and were asked to let them alone. Prophet Muhammad treated his wives with special care during those days and showed more love and attention to them. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an that the Holy Prophet Muhammad is a role model for all Muslims to follow as he shows through his conduct the true meaning of the word of God.