Fourth, exhortation to treat women nicely:

Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Treat women nicely, for a women is created from a rib, so if you should try to straighten it, it will break, so treat women nicely." (1)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "A woman is created from a rib and will in no way be straightened for you; so if you want to benefit from her, you will benefit from her while crookedness remains in her. If you attempt to straighten her, you will break her, and breaking her is divorcing her."  (2)

In another narration:"Treat women nicely, for a women is created from a rib, and the most curved portion of the rib is its upper portion, so, if you should try to straighten it, it will break, but if you leave it as it is, it will remain crooked. So treat women nicely." (3)

Ibn Hajar said: As for the Prophet's saying: (and most curved portion of the rib is its upper portion), it is an indication that the most curved portion of women is their tongues.

The benefit of this introduction is that women are created from a curved rib, so its curve cannot be denied. Or the meaning is that they do not accept amendment as a rib does not accept amendment.

As for the Prophet's saying: (if you should try to straighten it, it will break), it was said that the meaning is: If you intend to fix the curve of women, you will divorce them; and that is supported by the narration of Al A`raj on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sahih Muslim (and if you attempt to straighten it, you will break her, and breaking her is divorcing her) (4)

The Hadith exhorts to show kindness to women, treat them well, and observe patience for their bad manners, the probability of the weakness of their minds, and reprehensibility of divorcing them without reason because a husband shall not be able to fix his wife. And Allah knows best. (5)

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(1) Reported by Ibn Hibban in the chapter on kind treatment of spouses, Hadith No. 4178 - 9/485. Al Arna'ut said: Its chain of narration is according to the conditions of Imam Muslim. It was also reported by Al Hakim in the book of dutifulness and preserving the ties of kinship, Hadith No. 7333 - 4/192 and said: This is an authentic Hadith according to the conditions of Al Bukhari and Muslim, but they did not report it. Adh-Dhahaby said agreed to his judgment on the Hadith, and Ahmad, Hadith No. 20105 - 5/8.

(2) Reported by Muslim in the chapter on recommendation in regard to women, Hadith No. 3719 - 4/178.

(3) Reported by Al Bukhari in the chapter on Allah's Saying): "And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: Verily, I am going to place (mankind) generations after generations on earth" Hadith No. 3153 – 3/1212.

(4) Fathul-Bary 6/368.

(5) The commentary of An-Nawawy on Sahih Muslim 10/57.

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