anystateofanticipatedmentalorphysicalhandicapordeformitywould
beevaded.TheProphet(s)assertedthenecessityofcheckingwomenbe-
foremarriage.Hesaid,“Opeople!Bewareofthegreen-looking.”“What
arethegreen-looking,God’smessenger?”someasked.“Itisthebeautiful
women of evil source,” answered the Prophet (s)..
He alsosaid,“Selectforyoursperms. Thematernaluncleisone ofthe
couple–inanysexualintercourse-.”.“Marryyourwomentothesuitable,
and select for your sperms.”.
TheImamsemphasizedonthispointdemandingly.Ibrahimal-Karkhi
soughtthe adviceofImamas-Sadiq (a)inthequestion ofhismarriage.
TheImamsaid,“You shouldcheckconfidentlytheplaceyouaregoing
tochoose foryourselfand theone youare going tomake apartnerin
yourassets,andshowyourreligionandopenyoursecretsbeforehim.If
youinsist, youthenshould choosea non-virginlady that is knownas
moral and well-mannered.”.
In anotheroccasion, the Imam (a) said,“A woman isa necklace. You
shouldselectwhatyouwillput.Neitherthegoodnordotheevilwomen
havelikes.Thegoodwomenarenot likegoldandsilversincetheyare
preferredtogoldandsilver.Theevilwomenarenotlikedust.Theyare
lowlier than dust.”.
Islamdislikesmenwhomarryidiotwomeninorderthatfamilieswill
be saved from decline. Imam as-Sadiq (a) relates Imam Ali’s saying,
“Bewareofmarryingidiotwomen.Thecompanionshipoftheshe-idiotis
an ordeal, and their sons are waste.”.
Inthesameway,Islamwarnsagainstmarryinginsanewomensothat
thesocietywillnotcomeuponirregularandunsoundindividuals.Imam
al-Baqir(a)wasaskedwhetheritwasappropriatetomarrywomenafter
theyhadbeenloved.“No,”answeredtheImam,“Itisnotundesirableto
copulate with the insane bondmaid on condition that she would not
have children.”.
The Imams urged Muslims on testing and checking womenbefore
taking inmarriage, forassuring whethersuch womenortheir families
areemptyofanymentalorphysicaldisability,lestsuchadisabilitywill
be common in the society.
Secondly, Islam stresses that women should identify precisely the
mentheychooseasthelifepartners.Thisidentificationistheresponsib-
ilityofthewomen’sguardians.Imam ar-Rida(a)toldthathisfatherre-
lated that the Prophet (s) said, “Matrimony is slavery. You will be