Question

Is this narration authentic?

Mu’adh ibn Jabal (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was asked: “What are the duties of the wife?” He said: “(some of them are) cooking and clothing herself as the husband wishes.” [Ibn Abid Dunya]

 

Answer

This seems to be a mistranslation. The correct translation is as follows:

A woman once came to Mu’adh (radiyallahu ‘anhu) and said, “You are most certainly the messenger of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). What rights does a wife enjoy over her husband?” He replied, “From among her rights is that he does not strike her face and not be repulsive. Further, the rights she enjoys over him is that he should feed her from that which he eats and clothe her from that which he wears. [Another] right that she enjoys over him is that he should not abandon her except in the house [i.e. If he needs to discipline her, he should separate the bed at home only].”

(Kitabul ‘Iyal: 509)

 

The narration is suitable to quote. Further, Imams Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah (rahimahumallah) have recorded a similar authentic narration as a Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). See it here. This version has the words “أن يطعمها إذا طعم وأن يكسوها إذا اكتسى” which means, “He should feed her when he eats and clothe her when he clothes himself.”

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

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التخريج من المصادر العربية

النفقة على العيال لابن أبي الدنيا:
(٥٠٩) – حدثنا إسحاق بن إسماعيل، حدثنا جرير، عن ليث، عن إسماعيل، قال: جاءت امرأة إلى معاذ فقالت: إنك رسول رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حقا، ما حق الزوجة على زوجها؟ قال: حقها عليه ألا يضرب وجهها ولا يقبحه، وحقها عليه أن يطعمها مما يأكل ويكسوها مما يلبس، وحقها عليه أن لا يهجرها إلا في بيتها.