The extent to
which physical compatibility is weighted as a priority will
vary from one person to another but what is undeniable is
the fundamental desire that each of us harbours in that we
wish to partake in a lifelong partnership of marriage with
someone who is appealing to our eye. That is perfectly in
keeping with human nature and not something one should be
embarrassed to admit! The Prophet (PBUH) touched explicitly
on the need to feel physically attracted to one's future
spouse. Beauty. for example, is earmarked as one of the
three secondary parameters comprising the personal
preference of a man when choosing a wife. The Prophet (PBUH)
further exhorted that if a man finds his prospective wife to
be physically attractive it will help to nourish that bond
of love and compassion, which underpins compatibility. Thus
the Prophet (PBUH) remarked: "Look at her, for it is
more likely to establish affection between you" (Ahmed,
Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nisai and Ibn Majah). The Prophet (PBUH)
also acknowledged that physical chemistry greatly helps to
sustain a marriage: "Look at her because that will be
more conducive to a longer marriage" (Al-Omar, 1999:
p.13). Physical compatibility is not inconsequential: it
clearly has a vital role to play in safeguarding the
longevity of a marriage. As the Prophet's observations show
to discount the need for physical compatibility is to ignore
it at your peril! That is nit to say the physical attraction
a man feels for a woman is the only secondary parameter
informing his life partner choice but none-the-less assuming
the woman has the right level of faith, which is the primary
parameter driving a man's life partner choice, the woman he
marries should have the right blend of secondary
parameters in unison with his personal preference with
physical attraction for the woman clearly having an
important role to play in that personal preference as the
Prophet's timeless advice displays.