The love and affection of spouses towards each other is one of the sacred signs of God and is related with the increase of faith in them. Thus Islam, which is the plan of human’s well-being and perfection, has a special focus on health and liveliness of the relations between spouses. Here we review a hadith from Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (as) about the reward of the man’s helping his wife and the relations between spouses in the words of the Prophet of Islam (s).
The late Al-Muhaddith al-Nuri and ‘Allamah Majlisi and other great scholars have narrated from Imam Ali (as) who said:
“Once Fatima al-Zahra (sa) was cooking food and I helped her with cleaning lentils.
At that time, the Prophet (pbuh) entered the house, and after seeing Fatima al-Zahra(a.s) cooking by the stove, and me helping her, he said:
“O Abu al-Hasan (title of Imam Ali (a))! Listen to my words, and notice that I do not say anything but what God has commanded me (that it was the word of God).”
Then, he added, “Every man who helps his wife with home tasks, the reward of one year of prayer and fasting for every hair in his body is recorded for him, and God will grant him the reward of the patient.”
“And the man who helps his wife with housework and does not count it a favor to her, God will record his name in the list of the martyrs and the saints.”
And then he said: “Know that one hour of housework is better than one year of recommended prayers and fasting.”
“So, any man who serves his wife without indebtedness, will indeed enter Paradise without reckoning.
And serving the wife is the atonement for the great sins; and it will put out God’s anger and wrath, increase the good deeds and raise the ranks.”
The Prophet (pbuh) said at the end:
“O Abu al-Hasan! Also know that no one helps his wife, unless he believes in the origin and the resurrection, and his goal is to please God and to achieve happiness in this world and the hereafter.” [1]
This is part of the Ahl al-Bayt’s (as) way of conduct in the marital relationships and Islamic lifestyle that we mentioned.
God willing, we will discuss more in the future.
Source:
[1] Mustadrak al-wasa’il: vol. 13, p. 48, hadith 2.
Jāmi’ al-akhbār, p. 102.
Bihār al-Anwār: vol. 104, p. 132, hadith 1; we provide a summarized translation of the long narration.
