A decision to make

The list, and which one he picked out

He gave all four before naming the one.

تُنْكَحُ الْمَرْأَةُ لأَرْبَعٍ لِمَالِهَا وَلِحَسَبِهَا وَجَمَالِهَا وَلِدِينِهَا، فَاظْفَرْ بِذَاتِ الدِّينِ

Tunkaḥu-l-marʾatu li-arbaʿ: li-mālihā wa li-ḥasabihā wa jamālihā wa li-dīnihā. Fa-ẓfar bi-dhāti-d-dīn

A woman is married for four things: her wealth, her family standing, her beauty, and her religion. So win the one with religion.

Where this comes from

He does not deny the other three are reasons people marry. He lists them first, accurately, and then says which one to choose on.

The full narration

Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a losers

Source

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī · 5090

Ṣaḥīḥ
  • Agreed upon as authentic (al-Bukhārī / Muslim)
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