The Treatment of Wives, and the Rights of each - Section 1

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The believers who show the most perfect faith are those who have the best disposition and the best of you are those who are best to their wives.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>hasan sahih</i> tradition, and Abu Dawud transmitted it up to “disposition.”

قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا وَخِيَارُكُمْ خِيَارُكُمْ لِنِسَائِهِمْ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَرَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد إِلَى قَوْله «خلقا»

'A’isha told that when God’s Messenger arrived after the expedition to Tabuk or Hunain the wind raised an end of a curtain which was placed before her storeroom, revealing some dolls which belonged to her. He asked her what this was and she replied that they were her dolls. Among them he saw a horse with wings made of rags and asked what that was that he saw among them. She told him that it was a horse, and when he asked what it was that it had on it and she replied that it had wings, he said, “A horse with wings!” She replied, “Have you not heard that Solomon had horses with wings?” She said that he laughed so heartily that she could see his back teeth. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ غَزْوَة تَبُوك أَو حنين وَفِي سَهْوَتِهَا سِتْرٌ فَهَبَّتْ رِيحٌ فَكَشَفَتْ نَاحِيَةَ السِّتْرِ عَنْ بَنَاتٍ لِعَائِشَةَ لُعَبٍ فَقَالَ: «مَا هَذَا يَا عَائِشَةُ؟» قَالَتْ: بَنَاتِي وَرَأَى بَيْنَهُنَّ فَرَسًا لَهُ جَنَاحَانِ مِنْ رِقَاعٍ فَقَالَ: «مَا هَذَا الَّذِي أَرَى وَسْطَهُنَّ؟» قَالَتْ: فَرَسٌ قَالَ: «وَمَا الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ؟» قَالَتْ: جَنَاحَانِ قَالَ: «فَرَسٌ لَهُ جَنَاحَانِ؟» قَالَتْ: أَمَا سَمِعْتَ أَنَّ لِسُلَيْمَانَ خَيْلًا لَهَا أَجْنِحَةٌ؟ قَالَتْ: فَضَحِكَ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ نَوَاجِذَهُ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Qais b. Sa'd said:

I went to al-Hira and saw them prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, so I said, “God’s Messenger has most right to have prostration made before him.” When I came to God’s Messenger I said, “I went to al-Hira and saw them prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, but you have most right to have people prostrating themselves before you.” He replied, “Tell me; if you were to pass my grave, would you prostrate yourself before it?” Then when I said that I would not, he replied, “None of you must do it. If I were to command anyone to make prostration before another I would command women to prostrate themselves before their husbands, because of the special right over them given to the husbands by God.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Ahmad transmitted it on the authority of Mu'adh b. Jabal.

عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ: أَتَيْتُ الْحِيرَةَ فَرَأَيْتُهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ لِمَرْزُبَانٍ لَهُمْ فَقُلْتُ: لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم أَحَق أَن يسْجد لَهُ فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقُلْتُ: إِنِّي أَتَيْتُ الْحِيرَةَ فَرَأَيْتُهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ لِمَرْزُبَانٍ لَهُمْ فَأَنْتَ أَحَقُّ بِأَنْ يُسْجَدَ لَكَ فَقَالَ لِي: «أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ مَرَرْتَ بِقَبْرِى أَكُنْتَ تَسْجُدُ لَهُ؟» فَقُلْتُ: لَا فَقَالَ: «لَا تَفْعَلُوا لَو كنت آمُر أحد أَنْ يَسْجُدَ لِأَحَدٍ لَأَمَرْتُ النِّسَاءَ أَنْ يَسْجُدْنَ لِأَزْوَاجِهِنَّ لِمَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ حق» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَرَوَاهُ أَحْمد عَن معَاذ بن جبل

‘Umar reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “A man will not be asked about why he beat his wife.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا يُسْأَلُ الرَّجُلُ فِيمَا ضَرَبَ امْرَأَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَابْن مَاجَه

Abu Sa'id told of a woman who came to God’s Messenger when he was with him and said, “My husband, Safwan b. al-Mu‘attal, beats me when I pray, makes me break my fast when I am observing it, and does not pray the dawn prayer till the sun rises.” Safwan was present, so he asked him about what she had said and he replied, “Messenger of God, as for her statement that I beat her when she prays, she recites two <i>surahs</i> and I have forbidden her to do so.” God’s Messenger said to him, “If it had been one <i>surah</i> it would be enough for people.” He continued:

“As for her statement that I make her break her fast when she is observing it, she keeps on fasting, and I am a young man who cannot contain himself.” God’s Messenger said, “A woman may fast only with her husband’s permission.”* He continued: “As for her statement that I do not pray till the sun rises; I belong to a family which has such a reputation, hardly awakening till the sun rises.” He said, “Then when you awake, Safwan, you must pray.” * This refers to fasting which is not obligatory. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَنَحْنُ عِنْده فَقَالَت: زَوْجِي صَفْوَانُ بْنُ الْمُعَطَّلِ يَضْرِبُنِي إِذَا صَلَّيْتُ وَيُفَطِّرُنِي إِذَا صُمْتُ وَلَا يُصَلِّي الْفَجْرَ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ قَالَ: وَصَفْوَانُ عِنْدَهُ قَالَ: فَسَأَلَهُ عَمَّا قَالَت فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمَّا قَوْلُهَا: يَضْرِبُنِي إِذَا صَلَّيْتُ فَإِنَّهَا تَقْرَأُ بِسُورَتَيْنِ وَقَدْ نَهَيْتُهَا قَالَ: فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَوْ كَانَتْ سُورَةً وَاحِدَةً لَكَفَتِ النَّاسَ» . قَالَ: وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهَا يُفَطِّرُنِي إِذَا صُمْتُ فَإِنَّهَا تَنْطَلِقُ تَصُوم وَأَنا رجل شَاب فَلَا أَصْبِر فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَصُومُ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ زَوْجِهَا» وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهَا: إِنِّي لَا أُصَلِّي حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَإنَّا أهل بَيت قد عرف لنا ذَاك لَا نَكَادُ نَسْتَيْقِظُ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ قَالَ: «فَإِذَا اسْتَيْقَظْتَ يَا صَفْوَانُ فَصَلِّ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَابْن مَاجَه

'A’isha said that once when God’s Messenger was with a number of the Emigrants and Helpers a camel came and prostrated itself before him. Thereupon his companions said, “Messenger of God, beasts and trees prostrate themselves before you, but we have most right to do so.” He replied, “Worship your Lord and honour your brother. If I were to order any one to prostrate himself before another, I would order a woman to prostrate herself before her husband; and if he were to order her to convey stones from a yellow mountain to a black one, or from a black mountain to a white one, it would be incumbent on her to do so.” Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ فَجَاءَ بِعِيرٌ فَسَجَدَ لَهُ فَقَالَ أَصْحَابُهُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تَسْجُدُ لَكَ الْبَهَائِمُ وَالشَّجَرُ فَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ أَنْ نَسْجُدَ لَكَ. فَقَالَ: «اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَأَكْرِمُوا أَخَاكُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ آمُرُ أَحَدًا أَنْ يَسْجُدَ لِأَحَدٍ لَأَمَرْتُ الْمَرْأَةَ أَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِزَوْجِهَا وَلَوْ أَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَنْقُلَ مِنْ جَبَلٍ أَصْفَرَ إِلَى جَبَلٍ أَسْوَدَ وَمِنْ جَبَلٍ أَسْوَدَ إِلَى جَبَلٍ أَبْيَضَ كَانَ يَنْبَغِي لَهَا أَن تَفْعَلهُ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “There are three whose prayer is not accepted and whose good deeds are not taken up to heaven:

a runaway slave, till he returns to his patrons and puts his hand in theirs; a woman with whom her husband is displeased; and a drunkard, till he becomes sober.” Baihaqi transmitted it in <i>Shu'ab al-iman</i>.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا تُقْبَلُ لَهُمْ صَلَاةٌ وَلَا تَصْعَدُ لَهُمْ حَسَنَةٌ الْعَبْدُ الْآبِقُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى مَوَالِيهِ فَيَضَعَ يَدَهُ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ وَالْمَرْأَةُ السَّاخِطُ عَلَيْهَا زَوْجُهَا وَالسَّكْرَانُ حَتَّى يصحو» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيّ فِي شعب الْإِيمَان

Abu Huraira told that when God’s Messenger was asked which woman was best he replied, “The one who pleases [her husband] when he looks at her, obeys him when he gives a command, and does not go against his wishes regarding her person or property by doing anything of which he disapproves.” Nasa’i and Baihaqi, in <i>Shu'ab al-iman</i>, transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قِيلَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَيْ النِّسَاءِ خَيْرٌ؟ قَالَ: «الَّتِي تَسُرُّهُ إِذَا نَظَرَ وَتُطِيعُهُ إِذَا أَمَرَ وَلَا تُخَالِفُهُ فِي نَفْسِهَا وَلَا مَالِهَا بِمَا يَكْرَهُ» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيُّ وَالْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَان

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, "There are four characteristics which are of such a nature that one who has been given them has been endowed with what is best in this world and the next:

a thankful heart, a tongue which makes mention of God, a body which shows endurance in trial, and a wife who does not seek to be unfaithful to [her husband] in her person or his property.” Baihaqi transmitted it in <i>Shu'ab al-iman</i>.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم قَالَ:

أَربع من أعطيهن فقد أعطي خير الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ: قَلْبٌ شَاكِرٌ وَلِسَانٌ ذَاكِرٌ وَبَدَنٌ عَلَى الْبَلَاءِ صَابِرٌ وَزَوْجَةٌ لَا تَبْغِيهِ خَوْنًا فِي نَفسهَا وَلَا مَاله

. رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيّ فِي شعب الْإِيمَان