There was once a man who intended travelling to a certain place for work. However, his neighbours, for some reason, did not want him to leave home.
To achieve their goal and keep him home, they approached his wife in an attempt to influence her saying, “How can you allow him to leave you and travel? He has not even left any finances for you!” The wife calmly replied, “Ever since I have known my husband, I have known him to be the means through which the food comes home – not the one who actually provides the food. The One Who provides for me is my Rabb, Allah Ta‘ala. If my husband, who is only the means of the food coming home, is not here, then Allah Ta‘ala Who provides the food is still here to provide for me (and He can send it home through some other means).
(Ihyaau ‘Uloomid Deen vol. 2, pg. 80)
Lessons:
1. Allah Ta‘ala alone is the Provider. When we have firm conviction in this, we will not be tempted to stretch our hands towards impermissible wealth, and we will realize that the key to solving our problems is to please Allah Ta‘ala and turn to Him in du‘aa.
2. Often, a couple enjoy a happy and fulfilling marriage. However, others interfere in the marriage and ‘create’ unhappiness. They sow grieviences in the wife’s mind which was not there previously and thus poison her mind, until she is convinced that her marriage is one of unhappiness – even though she was happy just days before! For our own sakes and that of our marriages, we need to guard ourselves against these influences by not listening or entertaining such ideas. We should instead focus on the happiness that we enjoy and express gratitude to Allah Ta‘ala and to our husbands for this. We should also avoid indulging in such behaviour – even if unintentionally.
3. Even though a husband may have certain faults, a loyal wife will not discuss them with all and sundry and reveal his shortcomings to others. Instead, she will try to safeguard his dignity and honour, just as she would expect him to do the same for her.