17/18. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1468a — Speak Good and Act Kindly Toward Women
Advice with regard to women
Hadith About Speaking Good and Acting Kindly Toward Women
Sahih Muslim : 1468a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1468a
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ مَيْسَرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَإِذَا شَهِدَ أَمْرًا فَلْيَتَكَلَّمْ بِخَيْرٍ أَوْ لِيَسْكُتْ وَاسْتَوْصُوا بِالنِّسَاءِ فَإِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ خُلِقَتْ مِنْ ضِلَعٍ وَإِنَّ أَعْوَجَ شَىْءٍ فِي الضِّلَعِ أَعْلاَهُ إِنْ ذَهَبْتَ تُقِيمُهُ كَسَرْتَهُ وَإِنْ تَرَكْتَهُ لَمْ يَزَلْ أَعْوَجَ اسْتَوْصُوا بِالنِّسَاءِ خَيْرًا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: He who believes in Allah and the Hereafter, if he witnesses any matter he should talk in good terms about it or keep quiet. Act kindly towards woman, for woman is created from a rib, and the most crooked part of the rib is its top. If you attempt to straighten it, you will break it, and if you leave it, its crookedness will remain there. So act kindly towards women.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1468aIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 80USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3468
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1468a
This hadith about speaking good and acting kindly toward women brings two strong instructions together. Abu Huraira reports that the Prophet said whoever believes in Allah and the Hereafter should speak good when witnessing a matter, or remain silent. Then he said to act kindly toward women. The report explains this with the rib comparison: woman was created from a rib, and the most crooked part of the rib is the top. If someone tries to straighten it, he will break it; if he leaves it, its crookedness remains. The hadith ends again with the instruction to act kindly toward women. The message is plain: guard speech, avoid harsh forcing, and treat women with care.
What we learn from this hadith
- Faith is linked here with speaking good or keeping silent.
- The Prophet directly instructed kind treatment toward women.
- The rib example warns against a harsh attempt to force straightening.
- The instruction to act kindly toward women is repeated at the end.
