The Importance of Practicing the Prophet’s Saying: "Be Gentle with Women"

The words of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), “Be gentle with women”, were an honor to women and a call for men to care for them, due to their delicate nature and how easily they can be hurt, making them like fragile glass vessels.

What does "Be gentle with women" mean?

The term "glass vessels" refers to containers made of glass used to store liquids. The wife or woman is likened to a glass vessel because of her innocence, fragility, and softness, in contrast to men who are known for their physical and emotional toughness and strength.

Why did the Prophet (peace be upon him) advise men to be gentle with women?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed men to treat their women well because a woman:

1. Is the foundation of the Islamic home, and respecting her is a duty.
2. Is known for her tenderness.
3. Is often treated by men with a harshness that lacks gentleness.
4. Responds better to kindness and gentleness than to harsh treatment.
5. There are many men who do not observe women’s rights, whether she is a wife, sister, or mother, so the Prophet (peace be upon him) urged their care.

The care Islam gives to women:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) sought to address many negative pre-Islamic Arab customs, where women were often treated as mere commodities to be bought and sold.

Therefore, Islam needed to clarify the role of women and explain their rights to men. The Prophet (peace be upon him) would never turn down a woman’s request.

The noble Prophet encouraged men to treat women well, as seen in his words to Anjasha, "O Anjasha, be gentle with the glass vessels," and in his saying (peace be upon him), "The best of you are those who are best to their women."

The reason behind the Prophet’s saying "Be gentle with women":

It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was traveling, and a young man named Anjasha was driving the camels carrying the women. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Take it easy, O Anjasha, be gentle with the glass vessels." Abu Qilabah explained that this meant the women.

In another narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) had a camel driver named Anjasha who had a beautiful voice. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him, "Take it easy, O Anjasha, do not break the glass vessels." Qatadah explained that this referred to the weaker women.

How can we act upon the Prophet’s advice to be gentle with women?

There are several things every Muslim should do to implement the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) advice:

• Be gentle with women and avoid speaking to them harshly.
• Give women their rights to education and work according to Islamic guidelines.
• Treat them kindly and live with them honorably.
• Provide for the woman’s needs, as the man is responsible for her.
• Do not force a woman to do anything she does not wish to do.
• Encourage her to achieve her goals.
• Show mercy to wives, sisters, and mothers.
• Overlook a woman’s anger.
• Spoil women in simple ways.
• Fear Allah regarding women.

Negative consequences of not being gentle with women:

The Prophet’s saying, "Be gentle with women," was not without purpose, but rather the result of profound wisdom. Scholars have explained several negative effects that can result from treating women harshly or with humiliation, the most prominent of which are:

1. Weakening and destabilizing the structure of society.
2. Raising children who are psychologically unhealthy.
3. Negative effects on the mental well-being of women and their children.
4. Harshness breeds harshness; a man’s cruelty towards a woman can make her harsh with her children.
5. Raising a generation that is unaware of women’s rights.

In summary, this article discussed the Prophet’s saying, "Be gentle with women." We see that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had wisdom and purpose in every piece of advice he gave. He never spoke without reason, so it is necessary to adhere to his words and put his guidance into practice.