67/80. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5184 — Patience in Marriage
To be polite and kind to the women
وَقَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّمَا الْمَرْأَةُ كَالضِّلَعِ».
Hadith About Patience in Marriage and the Rib Example
Sahih Bukhari : 5184
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5184
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الْمَرْأَةُ كَالضِّلَعِ، إِنْ أَقَمْتَهَا كَسَرْتَهَا، وَإِنِ اسْتَمْتَعْتَ بِهَا اسْتَمْتَعْتَ بِهَا وَفِيهَا عِوَجٌ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) 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."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5184In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 119USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 113
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5184
This hadith about patience in marriage uses the example of a rib. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that a woman is like a rib: if someone tries to straighten it, it will break, but if he seeks benefit from her, he does so while there remains some crookedness. The wording points to patience, gentleness, and realistic treatment in married life. It does not ask a husband to be harsh or to force change. The rib example warns that trying to push everything into one exact shape can harm the relationship. The hadith about women and rib is often searched because it speaks to daily marriage life. Its lesson is to handle differences with care instead of pressure.
What we learn from this hadith
- Marriage needs patience with differences.
- Forcing change can harm the relationship, as shown by the rib example.
- The husband is taught to benefit from his wife without harsh pressure.
- The hadith calls attention to gentle treatment rather than force.
