From a reminder by Habib Muhammad al-Saqqaf

A man may think that manliness is to be strict and serious – but we see what this means in the life of The Prophet pbuh, and his dealings with his family, “the best of you are those who are best to their women, and I am best to my women”

Today when we speak of romance, and love – we find that the Prophet was the best in these things – The Prophet, when he sacrificed an animal, would send a portion to Khadija’s friends, who today thinks of his wife’s friends?
The Prophet was a member of the household, he used to sweep the house, and the bathroom, a man today would think this was not suitable for his manliness.

A woman leads her husband to her happiness – the Prophet would be gentle with his wives and would beautify himself for them..
His whole life was like this, it was not limited to a few incidents!
On the day of Hudeibiyah, he, peace be upon him, took counsel from Umm Salama, and this is recorded in the history of women, that he to him revelation was revealed, took counsel from his wife.

The Prophet did not travel but he took one of his wives with him – he would draw lots between them. During the last Pilgrimage, he took all of them with him. He did not think that a woman was a burden to him.

Once his wife, Safiyya, wanted to climb onto a camel, so the Prophet bent over, and let her put her foot on his shoulder, so that she could climb up! This would be like someone opening the door of a car for a women, and he doing so happily, seeing this as an act of ihsan and following of the Prophet pbuh.

Statistics say that 20-50% of women suffer domestic physical violence at the hand of men. The Prophet never hit a women in his entire life. Today, men think that this makes them more manly,- and the one who is more manly than them over 100 times never did so! He never extended his hand to women. The one who hits women he has a lack of manliness!
Whoever wants to follow and have a portion of the manliness of the Prophet, he is gentle, and merciful and receives his family with a smile:)

One of his final advices was, “Be good to your women!” and he said the best of you are best to your family – This was the advice of the master of all men.
Whoever wants to be close to the Prophet, be good to your women, and be gentle, patient, and merciful, fulfil her rights, enjoy yourself with her and this will bring you closer to him and help you to meet him at the basin on the day of Judgement, in sha Allah.

Source: http://h0neyb3e.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/the-best-of-you-are-those-best-to-their-women/