Of the facts which all intellectual people can reach is that the concept of poverty and richness is very relative, though the popular and prevalent concept that jumps to mind is the financial and economic poverty.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Do you know who is the bankrupt? They said: The bankrupt among us is one who has neither money with him nor any property. He said: The real bankrupt of my nation would be he who would come on the Day of Resurrection with Salah, fasting and charity, (but he will find himself bankrupt on that day as he will have exhausted the good deeds) because he reviled others, brought calumny against others, unlawfully devoured the wealth of others, shed the blood of others and beat others; so his good deeds would be credited to the account of those (who suffered at his hand). If his good deeds fall short to clear the account, their sins would be entered in his account and he would be thrown in the (Hell) Fire.” [Reported by Muslim].
No doubt, there is a strong relationship between understanding the reality of poverty and the ability to live with hard economic circumstances.
There was a wise man leading an ascetic life, and when he entered the market and saw the variety of goods that filled the shelves of vendors, he said: How many things man does not need!
Our speech shall tackle this kind of poverty i.e., financial and economic poverty, and what a woman who is married to a poor man should do, especially when she was leading a good life with her parents?
In the beginning, can we say that poverty hinders marriage?
Perhaps poverty is one of the main reasons that hinder marriage at the present time, if not the most important at all. Allah Almighty said: “And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the Salihun (pious, fit and capable ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allah will enrich them out of His Bounty. And Allah is All-Sufficent for His creatures’ needs, All-Knowing (about the state of the people).” [Surat An-Nur: 32].
Allah Almighty tells us: “Make righteous men marry even if they are poor, for poverty is the unsurmountable obstacle that should not stand in the way of righteousness and Ihsan (a legal term referring to sticking to virtuousness by marriage).
Fatimah bint Qays (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “When my `Iddah (waiting period after marriage or the death of a husband) ended, I mentioned to the Prophet (peace be upon him) that Mu`awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan and Abu Jahm proposed to me. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “As for Abu Jahm, his stick never leaves his shoulder. As for Mu`awiyah, he is very poor and has no money, so marry Usamah ibn Zayd.” [Reported by Muslim].
In order that the wife, who satisfied to lead a life with a poor husband, leads a good life, she has to pay attention to some matters:
- She always needs to charge her religious power to prevent Satanic insinuations.
- She should not compare between herself and her mates who lives in a better economic circumstances.
- She has to recall the favors of Allah given to her including her righteous husband.
- She has to show her happiness to others and repeat that meaning because repetition confirms satisfaction within oneself, therefore, there are many meanings which have been repeated in the Glorious Qur’an and sometimes with the same wordings. This kind of repetition is not a proof to mistrust but to protect oneself from Satan which may leak to her.
- Taking into account the feelings of her husband by not showing discontent whether directly or indirectly and should not compare him to others.
- Taking into account the feelings of the husband’s family by praising him before them even if they maltreat her, as righteous souls do not pay attention to trivial matters.
- The poverty of the husband is not an excuse for a wife to give up her rights, but she should always seek perfection: Her food should be decorated and tasty, her house should be tidy and clean, her children should always dress-up well despite the simplicity of her clothes, and she is keen to teach them by her own. Moreover, her house should be filled with home made things which she can do by her own without buying these things and add burdens to her husband.
- She should be keen to give charity, no matter how small it is.`Ady bin Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned the Fire and turned his face aside and asked for Allah’s protection from it, and then again he mentioned the Fire and turned his face aside and asked for Allah’s protection from it and said: Protect yourselves from the Hell-Fire, even if with one half of a date, and he who cannot afford that, then (let him do so) by (saying) a good, pleasant word. [Reported by Bukhari andMuslim]. Despite the difficult financial circumstances, small charity will not harm but adds blessing to income.
- Do not forget to mention the name of Allah before starting any action so that Allah would bless it for you. Likewise, keep to mentioning Allah day and night and before sleep, and make sure that Allah shall not waste your actions. And remember, when you live in the shade of blessing, you shall not feel any poverty.
