His wish would be fulfilled, and We would make it easy for him.

When the man learned this, he informed his wife, saying, “A message has come from Allah,” and he related to her what he had heard. Then he asked, “What would you like?” She replied, “The choice is yours.”

The man said, “I have seen poverty in youth; if I remain poor while young, I can endure it with patience. Then, when I grow old and Allah grants me wealth, I shall have what sustains me and frees me to devote myself to the worship and obedience of my Lord.”

His wife responded, “My good man, if in our youth we live in hardship, unable to obey our Lord, unable to perform good deeds or give charity, then you ought to choose wealth during the years of youth. That way we will have youth, prosperity, and obedience together, enabling us to worship Him with both our bodies and our wealth.”

The man said, “You have spoken well; that is what we shall do.”

Revelation then came to that prophet—peace be upon him—saying, “Tell that man: because you have preferred Our obedience, exhausted your efforts in Our worship, and your intention and that of your wife have agreed upon obeying Us, I have decreed that your entire life shall be spent in affluence. You and your wife must devote yourselves to My worship, and whatever provision I bestow upon you, give it in charity to My creatures, so that you may have a share in this world and the Hereafter.”

The author adds: We have cited this story only to show the value of a righteous wife and what a great blessing she is from Allah Most High.