Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Yahya bin Ja'dah (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: After Islam, the most beneficial thing for a Muslim is a beautiful woman whom, when a man looks at her, he becomes pleased; when he commands her, she obeys him; and when he is on a journey, she protects his wealth and honor.

Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) says that after believing in Allah Almighty, no greater good has been granted to a man than a woman with good character, who is very loving and bears children. And after disbelief, no greater calamity has befallen a man than a wife with bad character and a sharp tongue. Some women are such blessings that one cannot be disinterested in them, and some women are such calamities that one cannot escape from them.

Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Abzi (may Allah have mercy on him) says that the example of a righteous wife is like a crown adorned with gold on the head of a king, and the example of a bad wife of a righteous man is like a heavy burden on the back of an old man.

Hazrat Abu Musa (may Allah have mercy on him) says that there are three people who call out but no one listens to them. The first is the person who has entrusted his wealth to a foolish person; Allah Almighty says: Do not entrust your wealth to the foolish. The second is the man who has a bad-tempered woman in his marriage but neither divorces her nor separates from her. The third is the man whose right is due upon someone, but he has no witness with him.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Shall I not tell you about three calamities? One is a tyrant ruler: if you do good, he does not thank you, and if you make a mistake, he does not forgive you. The second is a bad neighbor: if he sees your good, he conceals it, and if he sees your bad, he spreads it. The third is a bad wife: if you are present, she angers you, and if you are absent, she betrays you.

Hazrat Mughira (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that it was the practice of Hazrat Ja'da bin Hubaira (may Allah have mercy on him) that whenever he married off any of his daughters, he would advise her in private, instructing her to avoid bad habits and commanding her to adopt good manners.

Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) says that women are of three types: The first is the good-natured, gentle, chaste, Muslim, loving, child-bearing wife who assists her husband in every situation and does not complain in times of hardship. But such a woman is very rarely found. The second is the chaste and Muslim woman who raises children and has no other work besides the children. The third is the ill-tempered and ill-natured woman. Allah the Exalted puts such a woman around the neck of whomever He wills, and none can remove her except Allah. Men are also of three types: The first is the chaste, Muslim, wise man who has understanding of all kinds of matters; if he is afflicted with any difficulty, he gets out of it due to his wisdom. The second is the chaste, Muslim man who is not himself a man of opinion, but when any matter arises, he consults a wise and opinionated person and acts upon his advice. And the third is the ignorant and foolish person who is neither a man of opinion himself, nor does he consult any wise person, nor does he obey any well-wisher.