Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Women and perfume have been made beloved to me from the things of this world, and the coolness of my eyes has been placed in prayer."
Explanation & Benefits
Hafiz Muhammad Ameen
Benefits and Issues:
➊ Among worldly things, the wife is the best thing, as she is a means for the completion of both religion and worldly life, and a cause for the survival of humanity. She is the most suitable place for the expression of natural emotions and inclinations, and a companion for life. Life is distressing without a wife; therefore, why would the Prophet of Mercy, who presented the religion of nature, not love her the most (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)? And this is not something to be ashamed of.
➋ Fragrance (perfume) was liked because it covers the defects of the human body, creates attraction in the heart of the person one meets, and makes the heart and mind happy and alert. Especially, your (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) connection with the angels was always established, and the angels intensely dislike bad odors. And you would give preference to the likes of others over your own.
➌ Coolness of the Eyes: That is, true happiness and satisfaction are found in prayer (salah), which is impossible to attain even from wife and fragrance, because prayer is a conversation with the Lord of the worlds, who is the greatest beloved, and the remembrance of the beloved surpasses everything else.
Source: Sunan Nasa'i: Translation and Benefits by Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Amin Hafizullah, Page: 3391
Hafiz Muhammad Ameen
(1) Among worldly things, the wife is the best thing, and she is a means for the completion of both religion and worldly life, as well as the cause for human survival. She is the most appropriate place for the expression of natural emotions and inclinations. She is a lifelong companion. Life becomes distressing without a wife; therefore, why would the Prophet of Mercy, who presented the religion of nature, not love her the most… sallallahu alayhi wa sallam … and this is not something to be ashamed of.
(2) Fragrance (perfume) was liked because it covers the unpleasant aspects of the human body. It creates attraction in the heart of the person one meets. It makes the heart and mind happy and alert. Especially, your (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) connection with the angels was always established, and angels have extreme aversion to bad odors. And you would give preference to the likes of others over your own.
(3) “The coolness of the eyes.” That is, true happiness and satisfaction are in prayer (salah), which cannot be attained even from wife and fragrance, because prayer is conversation with the Lord of the worlds, who is the greatest beloved, and the remembrance of the beloved surpasses everything else.
Source: Sunan Nasa'i: Translation and Benefits by Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Amin Hafizullah, Page: 3391