Is it permissible for a man to choose a wife based on her religiosity, while the wife chooses the man based on his wealth? And what should one do to find the religious wife encouraged by the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him? And is it permissible to choose a Muslim wife who is not religious, or a woman from the People of the Book, when a religious Muslim wife is unavailable?

The Shariah encourages choosing a spouse of good religious commitment and character. Therefore, a man should marry a religious woman. If you intend to propose to a specific woman, inquire about her religious commitment. If it becomes clear to you that she is religious, then seek guidance from your Lord through Istikhara regarding marrying her, and then proceed with the proposal. If your marriage to her is good for you, Allah will facilitate it; otherwise, He will divert you from it, as Allah Almighty says: "But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not." If you do not find the righteous woman you desire, but you find a Muslim woman who observes her obligatory duties and avoids major sins, then marry her; that is better for you than marrying a Kitābī (a woman from the People of the Book), even though marriage to a Kitābī is permissible in Shariah if she is chaste, yet it is not without risks.