All praise is due only to Allaah. We laud Him and beseech His

The meaning of women being created of a crooked rib
Our beloved Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) gave an 
excellent example and comparison, the like of which cannot be 
found elsewhere. He (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said that 
women were created from a rib. Some commentators have 
interpreted this such: Allaah Ta`ala first created Hadhrat 
138
Aadam (alaihis salaam) and thereafter created Hadhrat Hawa 
(alahas salaam) from the rib of Hadhrat Aadam (alaihis 
salaam). Others have interpreted this statement of Nabi 
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) as follows: He (sallallahu alaihi 
wasallam) compared a woman to a rib because of its being 
delicate and its crookedness. But at the same time, the beauty 
of the rib-bone lies in this crookedness. If a person decides to 
straighten a rib, then in his attempt to do so, he will certainly 
break the rib. It will never be the same again and if he wishes to 
repair it, he will have to used an adhesive, but it will still 
remain in that shape. 
Similarly, in another Hadith Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) 
said regarding women, 
“If you try to straighten her, you will 
break her.”
[Muslim Shareef, Hadith number 3669] 
“If you desire reaping benefit from her, then do so whilst she is 
crooked.”
[Bukhaari Shareef, Hadith number 4786] 
This is not an insult to women
Many people regard and use this Hadith that women are created 
from a rib as a form of degradation and insult to women, 
whereas this was most certainly not the desire and import of 
Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) when he stated this. 
The crookedness in women is a natural trait
Allaah Ta`ala had created some qualities in men and different 
qualities in women. If the thoughts or ideas of a woman differs 
from her husband then he regards it as though she is opposing 
him, whereas this is not the case, because the nature of women 
is different. The fact that she is likened to a rib is not a flaw in 
her character. Would anyone claim that because a rib is bent, it 
is faulty? The nature of women is such, hence Nabi (sallallahu 
alayhi wasallam) likened it to a rib. There is no fault in it, it is 
to be used and benefited from in the natural state it was created. 

---

139