17/18. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 715l — Woman Like a Rib Hadith
Advice with regard to women
Hadith About Woman Like a Rib and Patience
Sahih Muslim : 715l
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 715l
وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ كَالضِّلَعِ إِذَا ذَهَبْتَ تُقِيمُهَا كَسَرْتَهَا وَإِنْ تَرَكْتَهَا اسْتَمْتَعْتَ بِهَا وَفِيهَا عِوَجٌ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Woman is like a rib. When you attempt to straighten it, you would break it. And if you leave her alone you would benefit by her, and crookedness will remain in her.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 715lIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 77USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3466
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 715l
This hadith about woman like a rib uses a short comparison to teach patience in marriage. Abu Huraira reports that Allah’s Messenger said a woman is like a rib. If someone tries to straighten it, he would break it. If he leaves her alone, he would benefit by her, while crookedness remains in her. The wording should be handled carefully. The text does not call for harshness; it warns against a forceful approach that leads to breaking. In a marriage context, the hadith points toward living with patience, accepting that a spouse may not fit every expectation, and seeking benefit without trying to force a complete change. The related narrations make the advice clearer by saying to act kindly toward women.
What we learn from this hadith
- The rib comparison warns against a forceful attempt to straighten.
- The report says benefit remains even while crookedness remains.
- The hadith points to patience rather than harsh treatment.
- The wording should be read with the related instruction to act kindly toward women.
