Has the woman been created from a crooked rib? The correct meaning of the Hadith and the response to the objection

Clarification of the Doubt​

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The hadith states that woman was created from a crooked rib

Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 5184)

. This sentence is considered derogatory towards women and against women's rights.

Response to the Doubt​

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First Point:​

Allah Almighty has given women certain characteristics different from men, as Allah Almighty said:

وَلَيْسَ الذَّكَرُ كَالْأُنْثَى

Reference: (Al Imran: 36)

Translation: And a son is not like a daughter.

The commands that are specific to women include exemption from prayer and fasting during menstruation and postpartum days, and the non-obligation of jihad, etc. For this reason, Allah Almighty also made a difference in the creation of men and women and made the structure of their bodies different.

Second Point:​

There is no insult in the phrase that woman was created from a crooked rib because the beginning and end of this very hadith praise women, as the hadith states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

میں تمہیں عورتوں کے بارے میں اچھے سلوک کی وصیت کرتا ہوں

Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 5184-5186, 3331)

.

Third Point:​

This sentence actually explains the origin of the creation of woman. Stating the original truth is not an insult. There is no degradation in stating the fact that human creation was from clay and sperm, because despite this origin of birth, he is considered the best of creation. Similarly, the intention is to explain the reality of the creation of woman; despite this, the virtues and greatness that have come to her share are acknowledged, such as the virtues of a woman as a mother, wife, and daughter.

Fourth point:​

Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded this hadith in three different chapters, all of which indicate the status of women.

➊ باب خلق آدم -صلوات الله عليه- وذريته = The description of the creation of Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, and his offspring
➋ باب المداراة مع النساء = Treating women with good character
➌ باب الوصاة بالنساء = The prophetic advice to treat women well

This is why Qadi Iyad, may Allah have mercy on him, says:

فيه الحضُّ على الرفق بهنّ، ومداراتهن، وأن لا يتقصَّى عليهن في أخلاقهن، وانحراف طباعهن

Reference: (Ikmāl al-Mu'allim bi Fawā'id Muslim (4/680)

Translation: This hadith encourages gentleness, good treatment of women, and not to be overly inquisitive about their character and temperament.

It is clear that the scholars have not at all interpreted this hadith as an insult to women.