What is the meaning of the hadith: “When there comes to you a man whose religion and character you are pleased with, marry him to him”?

The questioner : He asks, “What is the meaning of the noble Prophetic hadith: .”

The Shaykh : What is the meaning of the hadith that says

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Yes, this hadith corresponds to the other hadith regarding the woman: . So, this hadith, at the time when it commands the man to marry a woman of religion, the hadith about which the question was asked commands the guardian of the girl that if a suitor comes for his daughter or for the one over whom he is the guardian, he must choose a man who is religious and of good character. . When a man seeks to marry one of the women in your possession, you must respond to this seeking, desiring suitor; otherwise, your refusal will be a cause for the occurrence of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). This is a very clear matter when people marry off their daughters; they do not consider religion or character in that, but rather they consider wealth, status, position, fame, or something similar to that... from the matters of this world. And in reality, I am very surprised whenever I hear of an engagement and there is no one who asks about religion. If they ask about anything, they might ask about character, and if they ask about character, it is only within certain limits: he does not drink khamr (intoxicants), he does not commit zina (unlawful sexual intercourse); that is all the character is, glory be to Allah. It means there is a very severe negligence on the part of the fathers of the girls who are about to be married; the first thing they do not care about is the matter of religion. Does he pray? Does he fast? Does he go to the cinema? Does he not go to the cinema? All of these have no relation, in their view, to either religion or character.
And if they ask—as we mentioned—about character, it is within very, very narrow limits. And this is the meaning of the hadith: It is obligatory upon you to marry him to her. Do not look at the worldly appearances to which reference was previously made. Yes.