Good men don’t beat their wives

Good men don’t beat their wives

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Iyaas bin ‘Abd (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Don’t beat the bondswomen of Allah (i.e. the wives).

 

Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) came to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and said:  Your words have made women very bold to their husbands.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) permitted men to (lightly) beat their wives.  (Then the men soundly beat up their wives).  Many women came to the blessed wives of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) with complaints of their husbands (and presented their complaint to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)).

 

Then the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Many women have come to the blessed wives with complaints of their husbands beating them.  (Be aware) those of you who beat your wives are not good men.  (This is related by Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah and Daarimi).

 

Husbands should be patient on the disagreeable disposition of their wives

 

It should be remembered that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) prohibited men from hitting their wives.  Most probably, this is before the revelation of the verse of Surah Nisa.

 

With this, the women became bold and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) permitted men to (lightly) beat them.  Then the same command was revealed in the Holy Quran.  However, when the husbands started beating up their wives indiscriminately and this was brought to the notice of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), He said:  Although it is permissible to (lightly) beat women on their ill nature.  However, patience and forbearance is more superior and more excellent.  This is related from Imam Shafa’ee (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) and is mentioned in Mirqaat.

 

A good man is one who doesn’t hurt anybody

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her), she says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The best man among you is the one who is the best in kind treatment of his dependents (i.e. his wife, children, relatives and strangers) and I am the best for My dependents.

 

When anyone of you passes away, then stop speaking ill of that person (after his/her death).  This is related by Tirmidhi and Daarimi and till “…for My dependents” by Ibn Majah on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with him).

 

It should be remembered that in this Hadith, the word Saahibukum is used.  Some Hadith experts have taken this to mean the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  It would mean that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is saying:  After My demise, don’t trouble Me by hurting My family, My Companions and My Ummah.

 

 

To be continued….

[Excerpted from Noor Ul Masabeeh Vol. 8]