In a small, quiet village surrounded by lush green fields and tall date trees, there lived a young man who had grown up with very high standards for marriage. He was educated, good-looking, and a bit proud of himself.
“Listen, everyone!” he would often say to his friends, sitting under the old banyan tree.
“I will only marry a girl who knows how to cook delicious food. She must be an expert in the kitchen — otherwise, I will stay single forever!”
At first, his friends laughed and teased him. But slowly, his condition became a topic of gossip in the whole village. Wherever he went, people whispered,
“There goes the young man who will only marry a girl who can cook!”
One evening, his wise uncle, who had watched him grow up, decided it was time to teach him an important lesson about life, expectations, and humility. The uncle had a daughter of marriageable age — gentle, kind-hearted, and known for her soft-spoken nature.
The next day, the uncle came to visit the young man.
“My son,” he said warmly, “I have heard of your condition, and I have a proposal. I would like you to marry my daughter.”
The young man was taken aback.
“But Uncle,” he replied respectfully, “you know very well — I will only marry a girl who can cook really well!”
The uncle chuckled softly and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
“My son, come to my house tomorrow morning. I will personally show you why she is the right bride for you.”
The Test
The next day, the sun rose bright and golden. Birds chirped in the mango trees, and a cool breeze carried the smell of wet earth. The young man dressed neatly and went to his uncle’s house.
He was expecting a delicious breakfast to be waiting for him — perhaps a chance to taste the cooking of his future bride. But to his surprise, his uncle was waiting outside the house, wearing a serious expression.
“Come with me,” the uncle said.
He led the young man to the cattle shed behind the house, where a strong, well-fed ram stood tied to a wooden post. Its wool shone in the sunlight, and it looked big enough to feed a whole family.
The uncle smiled and said,
“Son, here is your test. Take this ram, slaughter it, and bring me its meat. Once you do, your future bride will cook it in front of you, right here in this house. That way, you will know how good she is in the kitchen. This is exactly what my uncle made me do when I wanted to marry my wife. I slaughtered the ram, and she cooked the meat so beautifully that we all sat together, ate to our fill, and the marriage was fixed on the spot.”
The Young Man’s Realization
The young man’s face lost its color. He looked at the ram, then at his uncle, then back at the ram.
“Uncle…” he said quietly, “I… I do not know how to slaughter an animal. I have never done it before.”
The uncle looked at him for a long moment, his face a mixture of amusement and sadness.
“Speak softly, my son,” the uncle finally said, his voice calm and wise.
“Do not tear apart the veil of dignity that Allah has placed over our shortcomings. You are right — times have changed. Today’s young men have forgotten how to slaughter a ram… and today’s young women have forgotten how to cook.”
The young man stood silently, ashamed of his arrogance. His pride melted away as he realized that life is about partnership, not perfection.
The Marriage
Without any more debate, the wedding was arranged. The young man married his cousin, and the entire village gathered to celebrate. Drums played, children ran about with flowers in their hands, and everyone rejoiced.
From that day forward, the couple lived happily together. They did not argue about cooking or household skills. Whenever they wanted a special meal, they ordered food from the nearby town — biryani, kebabs, pizzas, and sweets. They laughed, ate together, and enjoyed their life as partners who shared love instead of unreasonable conditions.
The uncle, whenever he visited, would smile and say,
“See, my son? Marriage is not about setting impossible conditions — it is about learning, adjusting, and building a life together.”
Moral of the Story:
Before you set conditions for others, look at yourself first. Your expectations should match your own abilities. Marriage, like life, is about compromise, understanding, and growth — not about unrealistic demands. If you expect perfection from others while doing nothing yourself, you may lose the chance at happiness.
