Sunday 12 April 2009

I got your back...



“Woman was made from the rib of man,
She was not created from his head to top him,
Nor form his feet to be stepped upon,
She was made from his side to be close to him,
From beneath his arm to be protected by him,
Near his heart to be loved by him”
(Unknown)

Such a beautiful quote!

I stumbled across this earlier today and was left thinking ‘Wow!’...

I was listening to a lecture earlier in the week on the creation of Prophet Adam (Alayhis Salam) and was reminded that Huwa (Peace be upon Her) was created from Adam (Alayhis Salam) so my enquiring little mind then wanted to research a little further into this...

I came across the following hadith;

Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet said: “...Treat women well and with kindness, for woman was created from the rib, and the most crooked part of a rib is its upper part. And if you were to straighten it, you would break it ; and if you were to leave it, it would remain crooked. So treat women well...”
(Sahih Al -Bukhari)

I was a bit confused as to the meaning of this hadith – what did it mean exactly? What relation did the bent rib have to do with the how Islam teaches you to treat women?

It wasn’t until I googled further I found my answers...!

What was interesting to see was how Christian followers had taken this hadith in a negative way and illustrated this hadith to mean Islam views women as being created ‘crooked’ or ‘bent’ by nature therefore – defective!

APPARENTLY - In attempting straighten this rib would break it and as woman also, is crooked like the rib – it would be pointless in trying to do so...

I’m now left thinking WTH?!?!! Ok so I know that the hadith won’t mean anything so negative for Islam isn’t a religion that’s unfair or unreasonable – but what interested me is how it was taken in such a bipolar way! Anyways...

The Noble Quran states:

“We have indeed created man in the best of moulds,”
(Surah Al Tin – 95:4)

And:

“It is He [Allah] who made good everything He created”
(Surah Al Sajda – 32:7)

This hadith has clearly been taken in the wrong context and is often used to promote the view that Islam treats us women as inferiors and unequal.... A true believer strives to live every part of his live by the Quran and Sunnah so any one anyone who has studied or even has the slightest knowledge of these is fully aware that this is so not what Islam says about women and the role they play.

In fact it's quite contradictory!

Women are regarded highly and far superior in Islam as some would think. And the hadith above would no way entertain any other notion...

Women have an exceptionally important place in Islam which also holds a woman in high esteem. Her importance as a mother and a wife has been clearly stated by Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa-Sallam);

Once a person asked the prophet who deserves the best care from me? The prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa-Sallam) said your mother (3 times), then your father and then your closest relatives.

He (Sallallahu Alaihi wa-Sallam) also said "Fear Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) in respect of women; and, the best of you are they who behave best to their wives; and, a Muslim must not hate his wife, and if he is displeased with one bad quality in her, let him be pleased with one that is good; the more civil and kind a Muslim is to his wife, the more perfect in faith he is."

Ok so what exactly does this Hadith in question speak of? The wording of the same hadith as narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih, which reads:

Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa-Sallam) said: “The woman was created from a rib. She will not be straight according to your way. If you want to enjoy her, you will have to enjoy her with her twist [crookedness]. And if you try to straighten her, you would break her: and breaking her is divorcing her"

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa-Sallam) states that woman is not ‘’...straight according to your way...’’

So in other words refers to man and woman being different in the way in that they were created. The mind of the man works in a way that is different to that of the woman and thus leads to differences in the way in which they think; and also behave. It could also be said that to woman, the man is also ‘bent’ or ‘crooked’ compared to her.

(I couldn’t help but laugh here!)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa-Sallam) then goes onto say that do not try and change her inherent nature but to work with her and any ‘crookedness’ that may be ... This means that she may not be as the man may wish in some aspects but to accept her fully as Allah, Al-Khaliq, has made her.

“O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the dowry you have given them - except when they have become guilty of open lewdness. On the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them, it may be that you dislike something and God will bring about through it a great deal of good”
(Surah An Nisa – 4:19)

The hadith finishes with explaining in trying to straighten the rib will result in it breaking... So in trying to straighten out the woman will result in breaking her also - and the way in which to break a woman...? Divorce...

The woman is like the protection like the rib is to the heart; and the same way, the woman is the protection to the man. For the protection for the heart to remain, there needs to be an initial protection to the rib as if any harm were to come to the rib, this would leave the heart unprotected and vulnerable...

Subhanallah - a very soft and kind Hadith which illustrates the affection that should be between man and woman whilst also teaches us how a wife and husband should compliment each other...

Truly such a beautiful analogy – which I pray that I too, will be blessed with one day Insha’Allah.

Keep me in your duas,
Fi amanillah
x

8 comments:

  1. salam sister such a nice post, your last post was touching too, i pray that your brother is in a beautiful place, a piece of paradise, may Allah forgive him and give him comfort ameen. i have parted to some close people in my life, 3 from cancer and 1 unexplained. 2 were older, it was easier to accept but when youngsters die it is harder, may Allah forgive them, and give them comfort ameen

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  2. salam i keep trying to post a comment but it wont allow me

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  3. forgive me for my madness and lack of patience i didnt realise you had to authorise the comments!

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  4. Asalaamu alikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu Sis Queenie

    Jazakallah for your post - or should that be posts - lol!
    = )

    Ameen.

    Iv lost quite a few relatives to cancer too - it such a horrendous illness... it amazes me just how much the illness deteriorates the person, my relatives were unrecognisable - as ive never seen them before..

    Sometimes i dont know whats worse - if the soul is aware they are soon to die or of it happns suddenly...

    = )

    x

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  5. Nice blog and nice post sis. I would like to follow your blog but I didnt see a link to click here to follow..I really enjoyed reading this!

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  6. Salaam alaikum sis,

    I enjoyed writing it too!

    Sis I've been reading your blog and have been meaning to comment on some of your posts but havnt had the chance as yet!

    = (

    But inshallah will do so very soon! Glad you like my blog sis-it means a lot!

    You should my 'about me' section followed by a blog list and then the option to follow my blog?

    Let me know if you still can't see it and inshallah I'll tell u another way if doing it!

    Have a blessed day sis
    x

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  7. Salamu Alaikum sis,

    May Allah reward you for your efforts. I do LOVE to see sisters who use their efforts to help inspire, educate, and lift up other's, as well as clearing up some misconceptions about our beloved deen of Allah.

    Zaina Bint Islam, remember me? lol

    xxx

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  8. Walaukum asalaam Zaina!
    Awww So good to see you in here! Much love for stopping on by sweetie!
    = )

    Jazaks sweets. I do what I can insh'allah and anything that particularly is on my mind or has inspired me, I like to share with you all also.

    Inshallah I pray Allah guides us all and increases us all in knowledge.
    Praying you remain blessed on this beautiful day sis-enjoy!

    Much love to you missus!
    xxx

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