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Fatwa CenterMeaning of the Hadeeth: 'If I were to command anyone to fall prostrate before anyone…'
Question
Aslamulakaum Can you please explain this hadith The prophet (pbuh) said if it was allowed he would allow wifes to bow to there husbands. i think that is wording, i heard it on tv. Can you please explain it.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
related that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “If I were to order someone to fall prostrate before anyone other than Allaah, I would have ordered women to prostrate themselves before their husbands because of the great right that Allaah has made due to them from their wives.”
This is a reference to the saying of Allaah (which means): {Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allaah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth.} [Quran 4:34]”. [Excerpt from Mirqaat Al-Mafaateeh by Shaykh Mulla Ali Qaari’]
This Hadeeth, in general, means that the husband has a great right with respect to his wife; for more benefit concerning this, please refer to Fataawa 9623 and 85167.
It should be noted that in the same manner that a husband has rights with respect to his wife, a wife also has rights with respect to her husband. Moreover, in the same manner that he likes her to fulfill her duties towards him, his wife also likes him to fulfill his duties towards her. Shaykh ‘Atiyyah Muhammad Saalim 
said in his commentary on Buloogh Al-Maraam: “Likewise, the wife has rights with respect to her husband and he is obliged to fulfill her rights; in fact, the husband ought to fulfill her rights first and demand his rights second.” [End of quote]
Some scholars are of the view that the wife has the right to deny her husband some of his rights if he is unjust to her. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: “In brief, these words that were mentioned in the Hadeeth are general, but they are restricted to the husband fulfilling his wife’s rights. If he does not fulfill her rights, then she is entitled to demand her rights and deny his rights in the same manner that he denies her rights; Allaah says (what means): {So whoever has assaulted you, then assault him in the same way that he has assaulted you.} [Quran 2:194] Allaah says (what means): {And if you punish [an enemy, O believers], punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed.} [Quran 16:126]” [End of quote]
For more benefit on the rights of spouses towards each other, please refer to Fatwa 85308.
Allaah Knows best.
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