Allah 's Apostle said, "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."
Hadith Commentary: Prophetic Guidance on Women's Nature
This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 3331 contains profound wisdom regarding the creation and treatment of women. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) draws upon the primordial creation of Hawwa (Eve) from the rib of Adam to illustrate the inherent nature of women.
The Rib Analogy: Understanding Feminine Nature
The curved rib symbolizes the natural disposition of women, which includes emotional sensitivity, protective instincts, and unique psychological makeup. Just as a curved rib cannot be forcibly straightened without breaking it, a woman's inherent nature cannot be radically altered without causing harm to her personality and dignity.
The "upper portion" being most curved indicates that the most prominent feminine qualities are deeply ingrained and fundamental to her being. Scholars explain this refers to women's natural emotional responses, protective nature over their honor and family, and their distinctive way of reasoning and perception.
Practical Application: Wisdom in Treatment
This teaching emphasizes the necessity of dealing with women through wisdom, patience, and understanding rather than harshness or attempts to fundamentally change their nature. The Prophet instructs men to accommodate rather than confront the natural feminine disposition.
Classical commentators like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain that this hadith teaches men to exercise patience with women's emotional expressions and to approach differences with gentleness and accommodation, recognizing that this is part of their God-given nature.
Spiritual Significance
This Prophetic guidance elevates the status of women by acknowledging their unique creation and requiring men to treat them with special consideration. It establishes a framework for harmonious relationships based on mutual understanding and respect for divinely ordained differences between genders.
The repetition of "treat women nicely" at both beginning and end serves as emphatic instruction, making kindness and good treatment the overarching principle in all dealings with women.