Question
Is this Hadith reliable?

إن الفساق هم أهل النار قيل: يا رسول الله، ومن الفساق؟ قال: النساء قال: رجل يا رسول الله، أولسن أمهاتنا، وأخواتنا، وأزواجنا؟ قال: بلى، ولكنهم إذا أعطين لم يشكرن، وإذا ابتلين لم يصبرن

Answer

Imam Ahmad and Imam Tabarani (rahimahumallah) have recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Shibl (radiyallahu ‘anhu) with reliable chains. Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has also declared the Hadith authentic and ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) concurs.

(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 3 pg. 428. Refer: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10 pg. 394 and vol. 4 pg. 73, Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 4 pg. 604)

Translation

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Certainly the ‘fussaq’ are the inhabitants of Jahannam. When Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was asked, ‘Who are the ‘fussaq’, He replied, ‘They are ‘Women’. A Sahabi then asked, ‘O Rasulullah, aren’t they our mothers, sisters and spouses’? Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) replied, ‘Certainly! However, when they are given something they do not appreciate and when they are put through a trial, they do not have patience.”

Another Hadith Regarding the Detrimental Characteristics of Women
Question

Kindly provide the correct Arabic wording and authenticity of the following narration:

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) has said: ‘The majority of those I saw therein [i.e. in the fire] were women who spread secrets when entrusted; when they are asked, they are stingy, and when they ask others, they do so in a demanding way.’

Husayn [ibn Muhammad, when narrating this Hadith] said [that Rasulullah – sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam – also added]: ‘And when they are given something, they are not appreciative.’

Answer

This is part of a lengthy narration which Imam Ahmad and others (rahimahumullah) have recorded on the authority of Sayyiduna Jabir (radiyallahu ‘anhu).

(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 3 pgs. 352-353; Also see: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 2 pgs. 87-88)

Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration with the following wording:

وأكثر من رأيت فيها النساء اللاتي إن ائتمن أفشين وإن يسئلن بخلن وإن يسألن الحفن- قال حسين: وإن أعطين لم يشكرن

Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has recorded and authenticated a very similar Hadith [with identical wording] on the authority of Sayyiduna Ubay ibn Ka’b (radiyallahu ‘anhu). Imam Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has also concurred.

(Mustadrak Hakim with the Talkhis of Imam Dhahabi, vol. 4 pg. 605)

HADITH CAUTIONING WOMEN FROM SHOWING INGRATITUDE
Question

Please mention the Hadith which states that despite the husband taking care of the wife to the best of his ability, she complains and is ungrateful.

Answer

You are probably referring to the following Hadith recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim:

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “…I was shown Jahannam and most of its inhabitants were women who were practising kufr (disbelief/ingratitude).’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was asked, ‘Did they practise disbelief in Allah?’ He replied, ‘They were ungrateful to their husbands and ungrateful when any good was done for them. If you were always good to one of them and then she saw something [that she disliked], she would say, “I have never seen any good in you at all!”

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 29-1052-5197 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 907)

Note: These Ahadith have highlighted some causes for women entering Jahannam in general.

This does not denote that all women are doomed for Jahannam. Just as there are several Hadiths that warn men of Jahannam.

In fact, this should be considered a favour of Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) in having informed women of what bad qualities to stay free from in order to attain salvation from Jahannam.

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar