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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Taqwa (Piety) Advice of Wife and Husband’s Duties ============================= Love One of the other duties of wife and husband is to love each other and this is a very important factor behind the unity in society. There are two kinds of love between wife and husband; one is divine love that is when two persons get married, they feel love towards each other.

This is something Godly: “And one of His signs is that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest in them, and He put between you love and compassion; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.” [^1] The other kind of love is acquired love that is to say one should create the groundwork for love. Both wife and husband should act in a way that the other spouse starts to love him or her. They should take care in choosing their mates.

Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (al-Kadhim) (AS) has narrated from the Messenger of Allah (SAW) his saying: “Choose virgin women as your wives, for they are more pleasant in mouths, purer in wombs, smarter in learning, and steadier in love.” [^2] The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The more a person is faithful, the more he loves his wife.”[^3] In a sermon of Imam Sajjad (AS), we read: “Seven features have been given to us, the Ahlul Bayt which are not given to anyone else; good look, eloquence, manliness, courage, forbearance, knowledge and love of women.” ^4 Imam Sadiq (AS) said: “Love of women is a trait of the prophets.”[^5] The Holy Prophet (SAW) also said: “Fear Allah concerning the two weaks; orphan and woman.

The best of you is one who behaves well towards his wife and children.”[^6] Toleration The wife and husband’s duty is to forgive each other’s lapses. The husband has a special duty in observing the state of his wife. After the Battle of Jamal, Imam Ali (AS) delivered the following sermon: “O peoples! Women are deficient in intelligence. As regards the deficiency in their faith, it is their abstention from prayers and fasting during their menstrual period.

As regards deficiency in their intelligence, it is because the witnessing of two women is equal to that of one man. As for the deficiency of their shares, it is that their share in inheritance is half of men’s. So beware of the evils of women. Be on your guard even from those of them who are reportedly good.