Book 13: Marriage

Qais b. Sa'd said: I went to al-Hira and saw them prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, so I said, “God’s Messenger has most right to have prostration made before him.” When I came to God’s Messenger I said, “I went to al-Hira and saw them prostrating themselves before a satrap of theirs, but you have most right to have people prostrating themselves before you.” He replied, “Tell me; if you were to pass my grave, would you prostrate yourself before it?” Then when I said that I would not, he replied, “None of you must do it. If I were to command anyone to make prostration before another I would command women to prostrate themselves before their husbands, because of the special right over them given to the husbands by God.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Ahmad transmitted it on the authority of Mu'adh b. Jabal.

‘Umar reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “A man should not be asked about why he beat his wife.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id told of a woman who came to God’s Messenger when he was with him and said, “My husband, Safwan b. al-Mu‘attal, beats me when I pray, makes me break my fast when I am observing it, and does not pray the dawn prayer till the sun rises.” Safwan was present, so he asked him about what she had said and he replied, “Messenger of God, as for her statement that I beat her when she prays, she recites two surahs and I have forbidden her to do so.” God’s Messenger said to him, “If it had been one surah it would be enough for people.” He continued: “As for her statement that I make her break her fast when she is observing it, she keeps on fasting, and I am a young man who cannot contain himself.” God’s Messenger said, “A woman may fast only with her husband’s permission.”* He continued: “As for her statement that I do not pray till the sun rises; I belong to a family which has such a reputation, hardly awakening till the sun rises.” He said, “Then when you awake, Safwan, you must pray.” * This refers to fasting which is not obligatory. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

'A’isha said that once when God’s Messenger was with a number of the Emigrants and Helpers a camel came and prostrated itself before him. Thereupon his companions said, “Messenger of God, beasts and trees prostrate themselves before you, but we have most right to do so.” He replied, “Worship your Lord and honour your brother. If I were to order any one to prostrate himself before another, I would order a woman to prostrate herself before her husband; and if he were to order her to convey stones from a yellow mountain to a black one, or from a black mountain to a white one, it would be incumbent on her to do so.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “There are three whose prayer is not accepted and whose good deeds are not taken up to heaven: a runaway slave, till he returns to his patrons and puts his hand in theirs; a woman with whom her husband is displeased; and a drunkard, till he becomes sober.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Abu Huraira told that when God’s Messenger was asked which woman was best he replied, “The one who pleases [her husband] when he looks at her, obeys him when he gives a command, and does not go against his wishes regarding her person or property by doing anything of which he disapproves.” Nasa’i and Baihaqi, in Shu'ab al-iman, transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, "There are four characteristics which are of such a nature that one who has been given them has been endowed with what is best in this world and the next: a thankful heart, a tongue which makes mention of God, a body which shows endurance in trial, and a wife who does not seek to be unfaithful to [her husband] in her person or his property.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.