Assalamu'alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh,
This thread was about types of women but since there's quite an active participation from the brothers also to make this matter on a balance scale, I'll post a few on men.
What are the qualities of a great man/husband/leader? Of course, all those qualities of the Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wassalaam are the BEST of the best qualities, so if you [guys] happen to resemble even a FEW; if not all of them, all praise is to Allaah and may you be able to remain and upgrade on your akhlaaq, Ameen. So, shall we start with being a great man?
A great man is a man who puts his deen first and foremost before anything. First are His priorities to his Lord, then to his parents, wife, family and the society [in order]. A great man is a man whose heart is filled with taqwa to Allaah subhanahu wa Ta'ala, always seeking for new knowledge of the deen or that of the duniya (but deen comes first, as always), whose thirsts is to make as much good deeds as possible [collect as much A'jr as he can]. A great man is whose Solaat is his dignity, who never fears to say the truth [Al-haq], who never give up to fight against his bad desires/nafs.
A great man always prepares himself for the deen, he understands and practice the Quran and the Sunnah like the beat of his heart, whose main focus in this world is to "plant the seeds" and "pluck the flowers" in the Hereafter. Mashaa Allaah.
A great man doesn't get fascinated with the beauty of the world i.e women, wealth or throne (power) as his one and only dream is to enter Jannaah with his wife; a woman of the mold of the Quran. Mashaa Allaah.
Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wassalaam sewed his own shoes, help with the chores of his wives so it is against the good actions of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wassalam if men just expect the woman to do all the house chores, cook and cleaning while he waits for everything to be prepared to him. He may not need to do everything [that of a woman's job] but he can always lend a hand. However, a story of a sahabiyah comes in mind when one day, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wassalam told her daughter, Fathimah radiyallahu anha about a woman who will be the leader to enter Jannah. When Fathimah radiyallahu anha went to that woman's house, she came to know that her deeds that made her to be the leader of Jannah was because of her service to her husband. Mashaa Allaah. Also, in Prophet Muhammad's sallallahu alayhi wassalam last sermon, didn't he put responsibilities towards men to treat the woman nicely?
As for being a good leader in a household/good father and husband, that great man always make sure that his house is always filled with recitation of the Quran, ensuring that his family pray in congregation, teaches Fardhu A'in not only to his children but also to his wife. In last morning lectures, the Ustadhah was asked, what if the husband is lacking in matters of the deen (Fardhu 'Ain), so what should he teaches to his family? The answer is, the husband should make an effort to learn, practice and teach Fardhu 'Ain to his family. The least is to have an intention to learn and understands the deen. Why? Because in the Quran, Allaah said to the believer men [and women] to protect their families from the Hell-fire.
"O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded." 66:6
In his efforts to bring up a soleeh/solehaah children, who will make du'a for him and his wives when they have passed away, who will live in the future generation on which surrounding would be totally different from nowadays is indeed a noble action.
There was once a young boy crying so a man approached him. The man asked why was he crying. The boy said he felt sad because he was unable to join along in a war to fight against the Mushrik. A few years later, the man saw the boy again when he was crying. This time when asked, the boy said that he felt sad due to something related to the worldly affair. An important lesson we can gather here is that, the future of the Muslims depends on how we bring up our children and future generation. The question is, how much have we done so far?
Thinking, acknowledging and pondering again upon our responsibilities that Allaah has put upon each and everyone of us [men and women] are not an easy and light one. Both have equal, heavy responsibilities that will be judge in Akhirah.
So, let us take heed to follow the examples of Prophet Muhammad sallahu alayhi wassalam, the Sahaabah and Sahabiyyah so that inshaaAllaah one day, someday, Islam will arise again to the place where it deserves and always belongs to! Ameen. .
P.S: Sorry for making it long.
Wa'alaykummusalaam wa rahmatullah.
