Upon betrothal, there are 2 conditions which consists of recommendable conditions and legal conditions.

It is recommended that the future wife is a virgin woman, a fertile woman who can bear children and religious woman. With regard to religious woman, Abu Hurairah r.h. stated that Prophet s.a.w. said " Women may be married for four reasons: for her property, her rank, her beauty and her religion. So get the one who is religious and you will prosper ". (Bukhari and Muslim) There are many reasons why it was recommendable to choose religious woman. Having said this, I believe, this does not solely apply to future wife, in fact it is also advisable for the woman to choose religious man. One of the reasons why it is recommendable to marry a religious woman, is that one who cannot commit herself to religion might won't commit herself to a marriage life at all. According to Ali Akbar Mazaheri, regardless of what one have, one have nothing if one have no religion. Illustrated as 'moving dead body' 1, the rational behind this is that, how can such person take care of his spouse and live together when they did not even care about his religion. I personally agrees with this view. In a general context, one who have no religion basically have no purpose in life. What is his purpose in life? Just like a 'moving dead body', he lives with no direction. Thus, when a person live without religion, basically he live with no purpose and less likely to appreciate marriage life. Other than that, 'religious' in this context mean committing oneself to Islam from the bottom of his heart and practice Islam as his way of life. 2 Therefore, having a religion does not itself ensure a prosperity life. As we know, Islam is a way of life. Committing oneself to Islam will ensure prosperity in life not only in this momentary world, but also afterlife. According to imamfaisal.com, "Do not ask only for religion, she memorizes the Quran. A tape recorder can play the Quran, but does she act according to the Quran? "3. In other word, admitting oneself a Muslim does not mean she is 'religious'. Instead, 'religious' is when one profess, commit and practice Islam. Therefore, one who commit herself to Islam will most likely live on the right path and thus she will do the same with her marriage life.

1 Ali Akbar Mazaheri. (1915) "Youth and spouse selection". Retrieved from http://www.maareffoundation.com/english/library/social/youth_and_spouse_selection/ on 28 September 2013. 2 ibid 3 "Fiqh of Marriage, Class 4" (2010). Criteria of a spouse selection. Retrieved from http://www.imamfaisal.com/audio/marriage/notes/ on 28 September 2013.

Next, Prophet s.a.w. has forewarned that " A man who marries a woman for the sake of her wealth, Allah leaves him in his own condition, and the one who marries her (only) for her beauty, he will find in her (things) which he dislikes (displeasing matters) and the one who marries her for the sake of her faith (religiousness), Allah will gather up all these things for him.4 The rational behind this is that if a man marries his wife just for her beauty, he might have problem due to the beauty as well. 5 For example, insecurity or jealousy might arise due to wife's beauty. In fact, Nayl alAwtar Imam Shawkani advise " Do not marry a woman for her beauty, for she will be conceited, and spend three fourths of her time between doing her hair and in front of the mirror." 6 Meaning that, there are probability that a beautiful wife become too absorb and amuse with her own beauty that she forgot her true purpose of life. As for the husband, will the love for her beauty remains till end? Of course, 'beauty' in this context is up to personal preferences. Some may love her wife facial beauty, while some may love the way they dress up. Yet, by years, wrinkles will appear or her wife may no longer dress up to impress and eventually sooner or later, what he sees as a beauty are no longer there. What will happen to his marriage then? Therefore, it is recommended to marry a religious woman instead of a beauty. Other than that, Nayl al Awtar Imam Shawkani further mentioned that " As for marrying for wealth alone, she will be arrogant, and think lowly of her husband, who is modest wealth. He fulfills her needs, but she has so much wealth, and he buys whatever she likes, and this wealth makes her feel greater than her husband "7. Of course, a wealthy woman may help his husband financially. Yet, she might enjoyed her wealth too much that she forgot about his responsibility as a mukmin and may also neglect his husband. Even worse than that, she may downgrade his husband just because she is more wealthy. In fact, it is also worried that the husband might forget his responsibility as the head of the family as he was equipped with her wife money all this time. Thus, a religious woman is a better choice instead of a wealthy woman. With regard to rank, it is something that can be deceiving. Yes, the wife may come from a good family, nice background who seems well-raised. Yet, this does not mean the wife can be a good spouse. Her father may be a well known Imam, but she might not be, as it is not
4 "Islamic Marriage (Nikaah) Handbook for Young Muslims, Muslim Wedding and Marriage Guide" (2009). Online Muslim Matrimonial. Retrieved from http://www.ezsoftech.com/omm/handbook.asp on 28 September 2013. 5 Ali Akbar Mazaheri. (1915) "Youth and spouse selection". Retrieved from http://www.maareffoundation.com/english/library/social/youth_and_spouse_selection/ on 28 September 2013. 6 "Fiqh of Marriage, Class 4" (2010). Criteria of a spouse selection. Retrieved from http://www.imamfaisal.com/audio/marriage/notes/ on 28 September 2013. 7 ibid

something that she can inherit. In fact, there is a thin line between having a social status that may levitate husband status in the society and concerning what people view them publicly. In other word, when the husband think of a rank in society too much, it may make him crave for more or concerning too much of his or her wife rank, which eventually, become a disease. What public view them seems more important then what Allah sees. Therefore, rank may help the marriage household but only to a specific extent. I believe that property, rank and beauty are only momentary. Property comes and go. Rank is not there forever. Beauty fades by age. Though it was not prohibited to marry based on those three reasons, religious is definitely the best catch. Even Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) advise us, 'Fadhfar dhat ad deen'8 (seize the rare, religious woman). After all, being a Muslim, what we aim for is Allah blessing in this life and afterlife. Marrying a religious woman or man, will ensure us to never forget such and thus help us to keep on track with our life purpose.

8 ibid