Question

Is this narration authentic?

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “A woman is ‘awrah. Thus, hold her at home. Because, when she is about to go outdoor, and her kinsmen ask, ‘Where are you going?’ She says, ‘I will visit a patient, or attend a funeral.’ Shaytan keeps on tempting her until she leaves the house. Thus, if a woman seeks Allah’s pleasure, it is better for her to stay home, worship Allah and obey her husband.” (Majma’uz Zawaid)

 

Answer

I have not come across these exact words in any primary Hadith source, nor have I come across these words in the source mentioned in your question. These words appear in certain unreliable editions of Al Kabair attributed to ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah).

(Refer: Al Kabair, pg. 143, Edition of Darul Ghadd Al Jadid)

 

Imams Tabarani (rahimahullah) and Bayhaqi (rahimahumallah) have recorded a similar narration. However, this version has difference in the wording especially in the last part.

 

The wording of this version is as follows:

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said:

“Women should remain concealed. When a woman emerges from her home due to having a [genuine] need, Shaytan stares at her and says, “You will not pass by anybody except that they will marvel at you.” When a woman dresses [to leave her home] and she is asked, “Where are you going?”, she replies, “I am going to visit the sick, or attend a funeral or offer Salah in the Masjid, [whereas] a woman can not worship her Rabb as [wonderfully] as she can worship Him in her home.”

(Al Mu’jamul Kabir, Hadith: 8914 and 9480 as the statement of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud -radiyallahu ‘anhu- and Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 7434 as a Hadith of Nabi -sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam-)

 

See here

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar