وَقَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : " إِنَّمَا الْمَرْأَةُ كَالضِّلَعِ " .
And the statement of the Prophet (ﷺ) that a woman is like a rib.
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The woman is like a rib; if you try to straighten her, she will break. So if you want to get benefit from her, do so while she still has some crookedness."
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
The reference to being created from a rib alludes to the fact that Hawwa (alayha as-salam) was created from the rib of Adam (alayhis-salam). The rib is more curved from the upper side; similarly, a woman is also more curved from the upper side, that is, in her speech. Therefore, to patiently endure their sharpness of tongue and harsh words is, in fact, to follow the example of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 5184
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
In one narration it is stated:
“A woman will never be completely straight according to your temperament, so benefit from her while she still has some crookedness. If you try to straighten her, you will break her, and her breaking is her being divorced.”
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Rada‘, Hadith: 3643 (715))
In another narration it is stated:
“The crooked part of the rib is at the top.”
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Rada‘, Hadith: 3644 (715))
(2)
This hadith indicates that the crookedness of a woman is also at the top, that is, towards the tongue. Therefore, one should spend the days of life with patience over a woman’s sharp tongue and harsh speech.
(3)
This hadith also shows that one should deal with women with gentleness and tolerance. Otherwise, as a result, homes are ruined.
Wallahu a‘lam.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 5184
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
‘Iwaj:
The visible crookedness or curvature in things is called ‘iwaj, and in non-material matters, crookedness is also referred to as ‘iwaj.
Benefits and Issues:
The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, by likening a woman to a rib, in an extremely eloquent and effective manner, has conveyed that just as it is not possible to straighten a rib, likewise, it is not possible to make a woman completely straight so that all her crookedness and deficiency are entirely removed.
Allah ta‘ala has, by nature and innate disposition, placed some harshness and ill-temper in her temperament, and this should be tolerated.
One should not attempt to remove her crookedness completely; otherwise, the result will be discord and divorce.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 3650
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation:
1:
That is, there is something inherent in the very creation of women; therefore, the nature upon which they have been created cannot be changed. For this reason, one should maintain relations with them while taking these matters into consideration, so that social life may be peaceful, comfortable, and tranquil.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 1188
Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim bin Basheer
Benefit:
In this hadith, the reality of woman is described: that woman, by nature, inclines towards crookedness and likes to deviate, and in most matters, she turns away. Despite this natural weakness, woman has been called the best thing in the world—when she is righteous. And woman has also been called the ropes of Satan—when she is distant from righteousness and piety (taqwa).
A person receives many benefits from woman; for example, she is a source of comfort, a means of safeguarding faith (iman), Allah Most High brings forth children through her, she is the ruler of household affairs, and so on.
When so many benefits are obtained from woman, then her minor crookedness should also be tolerated. It should also be remembered that this hadith does not mean at all that men are not crooked; in the present era, many men are seen to be even worse than women due to the lack of education and upbringing. May Allah Most High grant our Muslims the understanding of the Qur’an and Hadith, ameen.
Source: Musnad al-Humaydi: Commentary by Muhammad Ibrahim bin Bashir, Page: 1201