“A woman may be married for four things: her wealth, her lineage, her beauty and her religious commitment. Seek the one who is religiously committed, may your hands be rubbed with dust (i.e., may you prosper)”.

Narrated by al-Bukhārī (no. 5090) and Muslim (no. 1466) from the narration of Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him).

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

Islam encourages and promotes marriage, guiding believers to choose a spouse wisely. While people's intentions and desires in marriage vary, they generally stem from four primary reasons for which a woman is married:
1- Wealth: To marry a woman of means, thereby reducing the financial burden of her upkeep and allowing the husband to benefit from her wealth. Financial considerations are often prioritized due to their inherent appeal to human nature.
2- Lineage (Hasab): This refers to her honor derived from her ancestors, tribe, and relatives – all that which one boasts about.
3- Beauty: To marry her for her good looks and elegant physique. The love of beauty is inherent in human nature and is often what one aspires to in marriage.
4- Religion: To marry a woman who is pious, of good character, and upright.
Then the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) urged the pursuit of the religious woman, making religiosity the essential criterion in choosing a spouse. The term ẓafar (to attain or triumph) is used only for something precious and highly sought after. By attaining a woman of religion, one secures the benefits of both worlds and attains happiness in this life and the Hereafter.
The most crucial quality a person should prioritize when seeking marriage is religious devotion. If righteousness in religion is coupled with the other mentioned qualities—or even some of them—that is an added blessing. However, if a woman possessing wealth, beauty, or lineage lacks religious integrity, it is preferable to avoid marrying her.
His saying: “Tāribat yadāk” — meaning: “May your hands be soiled with dust” — is a metaphor for poverty. While it is phrased as a statement, it functions as a supplication, though its literal meaning is not intended. This is a common linguistic idiom among Arabs, not meant to be taken at face value.
As the lines of poetry illustrate:
Don't you see the Arabs,
When amazed, they say,
"May Allah fight him!"
But they don't mean it out of hatred.
The intended meaning here is to emphasize, encourage, and urge one to seek and attain a woman of religion.