Good Lineage

[QUALITIES CONDUCIVE TO A HAPPY CONJUGAL LIFE]

[Good Lineage]

The seventh quality is that the wife should be of good lineage, that is to say, she should come from a religious and righteous background, because she will bring up her daughters and sons. If she is not well bred, she will not be able to raise her children well. For that reason the Prophet* said, “Beware of the green dung (khadra' al-diman).^”56 It was asked, “What is the green dung?” He said, “The beautiful woman with an evil origin.”⁵⁷ The Prophet* said, “Exercise care in choosing [wives] for your sperm, for a hereditary quality is wont to return.”“