One of the main reasons I have an Islamic website is to share the truth and beauty of Islam with others as well as to dispell some of the myths surrounding the religion, especially with regards to Muslim women who are often portrayed in the Western media as weak and oppressed. It has been a great benefit to have access to the Internet and to read what others think and believe about Islam. One of the unfortunate myths I have seen repeated over and over again by both Muslims and non-Muslims is that the Prophet Muhammed, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, described women as "bent ribs," meaning that they have "crooked" mentalities which cannot be straightened out. Non-Muslims have had a field day with this one, using it to demonstrate how Islam (in their view) denegrates women. Some Muslims have also misinterpreted the Prophet's (peace be upon him) words and even doubted that he said them.
The fact is, however, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, to the best of our knowledge, did indeed compare women to bent ribs, but not as an insult. Anyone who has studied Islam and is familiar with the high status and level of respect that Islam demands for women would certainly be surprised (even shocked) if the Prophet Muhammed, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had actually described women as having crooked mentalities. It would be completely inconsistent with everything else he taught to the first generation of Muslims who had just stepped out from Jahiliyya (the period of Ignorance before Islam in which female infants were routinely buried alive and women were often considered the property of men to name just two major injustices women of that time were made to suffer) into the light of Islam. Islam legislates (not just teaches) that women must be afforded human rights as well as dignity and honor, and Muslim men are exhorted to treat women with kindness and patience, even in times of severe distress or marital discord. (See these links dealing with the status of women in Islam to learn more about this subject.)
What, then, did the Prophet, peace be upon him, mean by the bent rib comparison? To answer this question we must take a look at the full text of the relevant hadeeth and also read what the scholars have said about it.
The fact is, however, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, to the best of our knowledge, did indeed compare women to bent ribs, but not as an insult. Anyone who has studied Islam and is familiar with the high status and level of respect that Islam demands for women would certainly be surprised (even shocked) if the Prophet Muhammed, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had actually described women as having crooked mentalities. It would be completely inconsistent with everything else he taught to the first generation of Muslims who had just stepped out from Jahiliyya (the period of Ignorance before Islam in which female infants were routinely buried alive and women were often considered the property of men to name just two major injustices women of that time were made to suffer) into the light of Islam. Islam legislates (not just teaches) that women must be afforded human rights as well as dignity and honor, and Muslim men are exhorted to treat women with kindness and patience, even in times of severe distress or marital discord. (See these links dealing with the status of women in Islam to learn more about this subject.)
What, then, did the Prophet, peace be upon him, mean by the bent rib comparison? To answer this question we must take a look at the full text of the relevant hadeeth and also read what the scholars have said about it.
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