Chapter on Miscellaneous Matters
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 4|Chapter 25
وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ لاِبْنِهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ اَلْحَنَفِيَّةِ: "يَا بُنَيَّ إِذَا قَوِيتَ فَاقْوَ عَلَى طَاعَةِ اَللَّهِ وَ إِذَا ضَعُفْتَ فَاضْعُفْ عَنْ مَعْصِيَةِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِنِ اِسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ لاَ تُمَلِّكَ اَلْمَرْأَةَ مِنْ أَمْرِهَا مَا جَاوَزَ نَفْسَهَا فَافْعَلْ فَإِنَّهُ أَدْوَمُ لِجَمَالِهَا وَ أَرْخَى لِبَالِهَا وَ أَحْسَنُ لِحَالِهَا فَإِنَّ اَلْمَرْأَةَ رَيْحَانَةٌ وَ لَيْسَتْ بِقَهْرَمَانَةٍ فَدَارِهَا عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ وَ أَحْسِنِ اَلصُّحْبَةَ لَهَا لِيَصْفُوَ عَيْشُكَ".
Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام said in his will to his son Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah: "O my son, when you are strong, be strong in obedience to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, and when you are weak, be weak in disobedience to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic. And if you can avoid giving a woman authority over anything beyond herself, then do so, for it preserves her beauty longer, brings more comfort to her mind, and improves her condition. Indeed, a woman is like a delicate flower, not a caretaker. So, be gentle with her in every situation and maintain good companionship with her so that your life may be peaceful."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh