English
Hakim ibn Mu‘awiyah al-Qushayri narrated from his father: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the right of the wife of one of us upon him?” He said: “That you feed her when you eat, clothe her when you clothe yourself or earn, do not strike her face, do not revile her, and do not forsake her except in the house.” Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah.
Bukhari narrated from Anas: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) swore an oath (ila) from his wives for a month, and his foot had been injured, so he stayed in an upper room for twenty-nine nights. Then he came down, and they said, “O Messenger of Allah, you swore for a month?” He said, “The month can be twenty-nine days.”
Muslim narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him): Abu Bakr came to seek permission to enter upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and found people sitting at his door, none of whom were permitted to enter. Permission was granted to Abu Bakr, and he entered. Then Umar came, sought permission, and was granted entry. He found the Prophet (ﷺ) sitting, surrounded by his wives, silent and upset. Umar said, “I will say something to make the Prophet laugh.” He said, “O Messenger of Allah, if you had seen the daughter of Kharijah asking me for maintenance, I stood and pushed her neck.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) laughed and said, “They are around me, as you see, asking for maintenance.” Abu Bakr stood and pushed Aishah’s neck, and Umar stood and pushed Hafsah’s neck, both saying, “You ask the Messenger of Allah for what he does not have?” They said, “By Allah, we will never ask the Messenger of Allah for what he does not have.” Then he secluded himself from them for a month or twenty-nine days. Then this verse was revealed to him: “O Prophet, say to your wives…” until “…for the doers of good among you, a great reward” [Al-Ahzab: 28-29]. He began with Aishah, saying, “O Aishah, I want to present a matter to you, and I prefer that you not hasten until you consult your parents.” She said, “What is it, O Messenger of Allah?” He recited the verse to her. She said, “Regarding you, O Messenger of Allah, should I consult my parents? Rather, I choose Allah and His Messenger and the Hereafter. I ask you not to inform any of your wives of what I said.” He said, “If any of them asks me, I will tell her. Allah did not send me to be harsh or difficult, but as a teacher and facilitator.”
Commentary and footnotes (3)
Chapter-heading commentary
(1) The statement: “And live with them in kindness, etc.”: This means to treat women with kindness, such as providing maintenance, speaking gently, and other good conduct. If you dislike them due to their bad character or appearance, be patient with them and do not separate from them, for in what you dislike, there may be much good, such as abundant reward, righteous offspring, or other benefits. The phrase “perhaps you dislike” is placed as the reason for the implied command to be patient, as explained in Tafsir al-Ahmadiyyah.
(2) The statement: “And they have rights similar to those against them in a just manner”: This indicates the mutual rights of the husband and wife. The husband’s rights over the wife include her service, respect, refraining from objecting to him, complete obedience to his commands, submission to him in all matters, and not preventing intimacy during menstruation or postpartum. The wife’s rights over the husband include maintenance, clothing, payment of the dowry as specified in fiqh, and teaching her the laws and rulings of the religion. Although the husband and wife are equal in rights, men have a degree over them, meaning an additional right and virtue due to their responsibility for expenditure, authority in marriage, divorce, revocation, inheritance, and similar matters, as in Tafsir al-Ahmadiyyah.
(3) The statement: “As for those from whom you fear rebellion”: This refers to their turning away or disobedience. Admonish them by advising them to obey. If advice does not work, forsake them in bed, meaning do not share their blanket, engage in intimacy, or turn your back to them in bed. If forsaking does not work, strike them lightly, without causing harm or injury. If they then obey by ceasing rebellion after admonishment, forsaking, or striking, as clarified in “Then if they obey you” [An-Nisa: 34], do not seek means against them by rebuking or harming them. Instead, remove any blame from them and treat their past actions as if they did not occur, for one who repents from a sin is as one who has no sin. “Indeed, Allah is Exalted, Great” [An-Nisa: 34], meaning He has greater power over you than you have over your wives, as in Tafsir al-Ahmadiyyah.