Rights of Wives
Total Hadiths 20
Prophetic Teachings and Hadiths on the Rights of Wives
The provided prophetic traditions highlight the fundamental marital rights of wives in Islam, focusing heavily on justice, emotional care, and the fair distribution of a husband's time. In the recorded narratives, when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) married Umm Salama, he demonstrated the legal standard for dividing time between co-wives. The traditions clarify that a newly married husband should dedicate three consecutive nights to a previously married bride or a full week to a virgin bride. If a wife requests an extension of this initial stay, the husband may grant it, provided he balances it out by offering the exact same amount of time to his other wives. According to Islamic scholars, these texts emphasize that a wife's right to companionship must never compromise the strict framework of equal treatment required in polygamous marriages.
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ شُمَيْلٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَوْ كُنْتُ آمِرًا أَحَدًا أَنْ يَسْجُدَ لأَحَدٍ لأَمَرْتُ الْمَرْأَةَ أَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِزَوْجِهَا " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ وَسُرَاقَةَ بْنِ مَالِكِ بْنِ جُعْشُمٍ وَعَائِشَةَ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أَوْفَى وَطَلْقِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَأُمِّ سَلَمَةَ وَأَنَسٍ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet said: “If I Were To Order Anyone To Prostrate To Anyone, Then I Would Order The Wife To Prostrate To Her Husband.”
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1159In-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 14English translation : Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1159
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ مَا رَأَيْتُ امْرَأَةً أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ أَنْ أَكُونَ فِي مِسْلاَخِهَا مِنْ سَوْدَةَ بِنْتِ زَمْعَةَ مِنِ امْرَأَةٍ فِيهَا حِدَّةٌ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا كَبِرَتْ جَعَلَتْ يَوْمَهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِعَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ جَعَلْتُ يَوْمِي مِنْكَ لِعَائِشَةَ . فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْسِمُ لِعَائِشَةَ يَوْمَيْنِ يَوْمَهَا وَيَوْمَ سَوْدَةَ .
A'isha Narrated from:
Never did I find any woman more loving to me than Sauda bint Zam'a. I wished I could be exactly like her who was passionate. As she became old, she had made over her day (which she had to spend) with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to 'A'isha. She said: I have made over my day with you to 'A'isha. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) allotted two days to 'A'isha, her own day (when it was her turn) and that of Sauda.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1463aIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 62USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3451
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كُنْتُ أَغَارُ عَلَى اللاَّتِي وَهَبْنَ أَنْفُسَهُنَّ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَقُولُ وَتَهَبُ الْمَرْأَةُ نَفْسَهَا فَلَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { تُرْجِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ مِنْهُنَّ وَتُؤْوِي إِلَيْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَمَنِ ابْتَغَيْتَ مِمَّنْ عَزَلْتَ} قَالَتْ قُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَرَى رَبَّكَ إِلاَّ يُسَارِعُ لَكَ فِي هَوَاكَ.
A'isha Narrated from:
I felt jealous of the women who offered themselves to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Then when Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this:" You may defer any one of them you wish, and take to yourself any you wish; and if you desire any you have set aside (no sin is chargeable to you)" (xxxiii. 51), I ('A'isha.) said: It seems to me that your Lord hastens to satisfy your desire.
[1] Al-Ahzâb 33:51.Reference : Sahih Muslim 1464aIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 64USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3453
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَقُولُ أَمَا تَسْتَحْيِي امْرَأَةٌ تَهَبُ نَفْسَهَا لِرَجُلٍ حَتَّى أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { تُرْجِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ مِنْهُنَّ وَتُؤْوِي إِلَيْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ} فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيُسَارِعُ لَكَ فِي هَوَاكَ.
A'isha Narrated from:
Does the woman not feel shy of offering herself to a man? Then Allah the Exalted and Glorious revealed this verse:" You may defer any of them you wish and take to yourself any you wish." I ('A'isha said): It seems to me that your Lord hastens to satisfy your desire.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1464bIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 65USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3454
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، وَخَالِدٍ، الْحَذَّاءِ عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ أَنْ يُقِيمَ، عِنْدَ الْبِكْرِ سَبْعًا . قَالَ خَالِدٌ وَلَوْ شِئْتُ قُلْتُ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Anas Narrated from:
It is the Sunnah to stay with a virgin (after having married her) for a week. Khalid (one of the narrators) said: If wish I can say that it can be traced up to the Prophet (ﷺ).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1461bIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 60USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3449
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ بْنُ سَوَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ الْمُغِيرَةِ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تِسْعُ نِسْوَةٍ فَكَانَ إِذَا قَسَمَ بَيْنَهُنَّ لاَ يَنْتَهِي إِلَى الْمَرْأَةِ الأُولَى إِلاَّ فِي تِسْعٍ فَكُنَّ يَجْتَمِعْنَ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ فِي بَيْتِ الَّتِي يَأْتِيهَا فَكَانَ فِي بَيْتِ عَائِشَةَ فَجَاءَتْ زَيْنَبُ فَمَدَّ يَدَهُ إِلَيْهَا فَقَالَتْ هَذِهِ زَيْنَبُ . فَكَفَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَهُ . فَتَقَاوَلَتَا حَتَّى اسْتَخَبَتَا وَأُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَمَرَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَسَمِعَ أَصْوَاتَهُمَا فَقَالَ اخْرُجْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ وَاحْثُ فِي أَفْوَاهِهِنَّ التُّرَابَ . فَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ الآنَ يَقْضِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلاَتَهُ فَيَجِيءُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَيَفْعَلُ بِي وَيَفْعَلُ . فَلَمَّا قَضَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلاَتَهُ أَتَاهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ لَهَا قَوْلاً شَدِيدًا وَقَالَ أَتَصْنَعِينَ هَذَا.
Anas Narrated from:
Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) had nine wives. So when he divided (his stay) with them, the turn of the first wife did not come but on the ninth (day). They (all the wives) used to gather every night in the house of one where he had to come (and stay that night).It was (the night when he had to stay) in the house of 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her), when Zainab came there. He (the Holy Prophet) stretched his hand towards her (Zainab), whereupon she ('A'isha) said: It is Zainab. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) withdrew his hand. There was an altercation between the two until their voices became loud (and it was at that time) when Iqama was pronounced for prayer.There happened to come Abu Bakr and he heard their voices and said: Messenger of Allah, (kindly) come for prayer, and throw dust in their mouths. So the Prophet (ﷺ) went out. 'A'isha said: When Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) would finish his prayer there would also come Abu Bakr and he would do as he does (on such occasions, i.e. reprimanding). When Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) had finished his prayer, there came to her Abu Bakr, and spoke to her ('A'isha) in stern words and said: Do you behave like this?
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1462In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 61USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3450
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَهُوَ الدَّسْتَوَائِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى امْرَأَةً فَدَخَلَ عَلَى زَيْنَبَ فَقَضَى حَاجَتَهُ وَخَرَجَ وَقَالَ " إِنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ إِذَا أَقْبَلَتْ أَقْبَلَتْ فِي صُورَةِ شَيْطَانٍ فَإِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمُ امْرَأَةً فَأَعْجَبَتْهُ فَلْيَأْتِ أَهْلَهُ فَإِنَّ مَعَهَا مِثْلَ الَّذِي مَعَهَا " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ جَابِرٍ حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ . وَهِشَامٌ الدَّسْتَوَائِيُّ هُوَ هِشَامُ بْنُ سَنْبَرٍ .
Jabir Narrated from:
The Prophet Saw A Woman, Then He Went To Zainab To Fulfill His Need And He Left. He Said: ‘Indeed When The Woman Enters, She Enters In The Image Of Shaitan. So When One Of You Sees A Woman That He Is Fascinated With, Then Let Him Go To His Wife, For Indeed With Her (His Wife) Is The Same As That Which Is With Her.”
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1158In-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 13English translation : Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1158
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ، مَالِكٍ قَالَ إِذَا تَزَوَّجَ الْبِكْرَ عَلَى الثَّيِّبِ أَقَامَ عِنْدَهَا سَبْعًا وَإِذَا تَزَوَّجَ الثَّيِّبَ عَلَى الْبِكْرِ أَقَامَ عِنْدَهَا ثَلاَثًا . قَالَ خَالِدٌ وَلَوْ قُلْتُ إِنَّهُ رَفَعَهُ لَصَدَقْتُ وَلَكِنَّهُ قَالَ السُّنَّةُ كَذَلِكَ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
When anyone who has already a wife marries virgin, he should stay with her for seven nights (and then turn to his other wife), but when anyone having a virgin with him (as his wife) marries a woman who has been previously married he should stay with her for three nights. Khalid (one of the narrators) said. If I were to say that it could be directly traced to the Prophet (ﷺ). I would have told the truth, but he (Hadrat Anas) said: Such is the tradition.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1461aIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 59USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3448
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، وَيَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمَّا تَزَوَّجَ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ أَقَامَ عِنْدَهَا ثَلاَثًا وَقَالَ " إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بِكِ عَلَى أَهْلِكِ هَوَانٌ إِنْ شِئْتِ سَبَّعْتُ لَكِ وَإِنْ سَبَّعْتُ لَكِ سَبَّعْتُ لِنِسَائِي " .
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) married Umm Salama, he stayed with her for three nights, and said: There is no lack of estimation on the part of your husband for you. If you wish I can stay with you for a week, but in case I stay with you for a week, then I shall have to stay for a week with all my wives.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1460aIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 54USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3443
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ غِيَاثٍ - عَنْ عَبْدِ، الْوَاحِدِ بْنِ أَيْمَنَ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، ذَكَرَ أَنَّصلى الله عليه وسلم تَزَوَّجَهَا وَذَكَرَ أَشْيَاءَ هَذَا فِيهِ قَالَ " إِنْ شِئْتِ أَنْ أُسَبِّعَ لَكِ وَأُسَبِّعَ لِنِسَائِي وَإِنْ سَبَّعْتُ لَكِ سَبَّعْتُ لِنِسَائِي " .
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) married her, and he (the narrator) made mention of so many things in this connection (and one of them was this) that he said: If you desire that I spend a week with you, I shall have to spend a week with my (other) wives, and if spend a week with you, I shall have to spend a week with my (other) wives.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1460eIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 58USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3447
