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Fatwa CenterMeaning of Hadeeth: A Woman Comes Forward in the Shape of a Devil and Goes Back in the Shape of a Devil...
Question
Assalaamu'alaikum Warahmatullah ya Syaikh
What's the meaning of this hadith : "The Prophet saw a woman, then he went to Zainab to fulfill his need and he left. He said: ‘Indeed when the woman enters, she enters in the image of Shaitan. So when one of you sees a woman that he is fascinated with, then let him go to his wife, for indeed with her (his wife) is the same as that which is with her.” ? I am confused with the "...for indeed with her (his wife) is the same as that which is with her." part. Does this hadith means that every women is same? From what I know, not every women is the same. There are those who are tall, short, slim, big, beautiful, so-so, etc. And how about their character(s)? So, what's the comprehensive meaning of this hadith?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
This Hadeeth was narrated by Muslim 
in his Saheeh on the authority of Jaabir 
and this wording was narrated by At-Tirmithi on the authority of Jaabir as well.
The overall meaning of the Hadeeth, as mentioned by the commentators of Hadeeth, is that it is recommended for a man who sees a woman and experiences sexual arousal to approach his wife and have sexual intercourse with her to satisfy his lust and find peace of heart and mind. In the Hadeeth in reference, the Prophet said: “A woman comes forward in the shape of a devil and goes back in the shape of a devil...” The scholars of Hadeeth said that it referred to the devils’ work in enticing a man’s sinful urges and tempting him with her, given the innate inclination inculcated by Allah, The Exalted, within men towards women and having pleasure in looking at them and in all that relates to them. His saying: “for with her (his wife) is the same as that which is with her,” refers to her private parts, being the means of sexual enjoyment in intercourse.
Thus, it becomes clear to you that the meaning is different from what you understood; it is not about women’s physical traits like how tall or short or slim or fat they are or the like.
Allah Knows best.
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