A: This is a Hadith Sahih (authentic Hadith)related by AlBukhari and Muslim in their Sahih (authentic) books of Hadithon the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, "Treat women kindly, for they were created from a rib, and the most curved part of a rib is its uppermost. So treat women kindly." End of quote.
It is a command to husbands, fathers, brothers, and other men to treat women kindly, be nice to them, be fair to them, give them their rights and guide them to what is good.
This is the duty of all men, for the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, "Treat women kindly." This does not mean that women sometimes may not say or do something offensive to their husbands or relatives, for they were created from a rib, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated and the most curved part of a rib is its uppermost. It is known that the uppermost part of a rib is the part by which it is attached and this part is always curved.
The Hadith means that women will certainly have their shortcomings, and that is why it is narrated in a Hadithrelated in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. AlBukhari and Muslim)that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, "I have not seen any lacking in ability to reason and deficiency in religion but (at the same time) robbing the wisdom of the wise, besides you [women]." This is the judgment of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Hadith isrelated in the Two Sahih Bookson the authority of Abu Sa`id AlKhudri (may Allah be pleased with him). The lack in ability to reason, as explained by the Prophet (peace be upon him), can be seen in the fact that the testimony of two women is equivalent to the testimony of one man. The failing in religion, as explained by the Prophet (peace be upon him), can be seen in the fact that women remain for days and nights without praying, due to their menses or postpartum bleeding. This is the ordainment of Allah and women will bear no sin as a result.
Consequently, a woman has to accept these two shortcomings mentioned by the Prophet (peace be upon him), even if she is very wise and knowledgeable, for the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not speak of his own desire. It is the revelation of Allah to him to convey to all people. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states: By the star when it goes down (or vanishes). Your companion (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) has neither gone astray nor has erred. Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation revealed.