Mishkat al-Masabih

'Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Young man, those of you who can support a wife should marry, for it keeps you from looking at strange women and preserves you from immorality; but those who cannot should devote themselves to fasting, for it is a means of suppressing sexual desire.”* (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Waja' has been translated freely above. It means castration.

God’s Messenger objected to ‘Uthman b. Maz’un living in celibacy. If he had given him permission we would have had ourselves castrated. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A woman may be married for four reasons, for her property, her rank, her beauty and her religion; so get the one who is religious and prosper.”* (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Taribat yadaka literally, "may your hands cleave to the dust". It is explained as being used to encourage one to action, and so it has been translated above by "prosper.”

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The whole world is to be enjoyed, but the best thing in the world is a good woman.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The best of the women who ride on camels are the good women of Quraish, for they are the most affectionate to small children and the most careful of what belongs to their husbands.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Usama b. Zaid reported God's Messenger as saying, “I have not left behind me a trial more injurious to men than women.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The world is sweet and verdant, and God having put you in it in your turn watches how you act; so fear the world and fear women, for the first trial of the B. Isra’il had to do with women." Muslim transmitted it.

a woman, a dwelling and a beast." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When we were near Medina on our return from an expedition in which we had accompanied the Prophet I told him that I had recently married. He asked, “Have you married?" and when I told him that I had, he asked whether I had married a virgin or a woman who had previously been married. On my telling him that it was one who had previously been married he said, “Why did you not marry a virgin, so that you could play with her and she could play with you?" Then when we arrived and were about to enter he said, “Wait so that we may enter by night, i.e. in the evening, in order that the woman with disheveled hair may comb it and the woman whose husband has been away may get herself ready .’’* (Bukhari and Muslim.) * Tastahidd literally means to shave the hair on the private parts, and is explained as being used here in the sense or preparing herself for her husband’s enjoyment.

the slave whose master has agreed to let him buy his freedom when he wishes to pay the sum, the one who marries desiring to live a chaste life, and the one who fights in God’s path." Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When someone with whose religion and character you are satisfied asks your daughter in marriage, accede to his request. If you do not do so there will be temptation in the earth and extensive corruption." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ma'qil b. Yasar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Marry women who are loving and very prolific, for I shall outnumber the peoples by you." Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Salim b. ‘Utba b.'Uwaim b. Sa'ida al-Ansari, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Marry virgins, for they have the sweetest mouths, the most prolific wombs, and are most satisfied with little.” Ibn Majah transmitted in mursal form.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “You have seen nothing like marriage for increasing the love of two people.” Ibn Majah transmitted.

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Those who wish to be pure and purified when they meet God should marry free women.” Ibn Majah transmitted.

Abu Umama told that the Prophet used to say, “After fear of God a believer gains nothing better for him than a good wife who obeys him if he gives her a command, pleases him if he looks at her, is true to him if he adjures her to do something, and is sincere towards him regarding her person and his property if he is absent.” Ibn Majah transmitted.

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When a man marries he has fulfilled half of the religion; so let him fear God regarding the remaining half.” Baihaqi transmitted in Shu'ab al-iman.

‘A’isha reported the Prophet as saying, “The marriage which produces most blessing is that which involves least burden.” Baihaqi transmitted in Shu'ab al-iman.

Abu Huraira said that a man came to the Prophet and told him he had contracted to marry a woman of the Ansar, to which he replied, “Then look at her, for there is something in the eyes of the Ansar.”* * Meaning that some of them have features which cause aversion. Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A woman must not come in close contact with another and then describe her to her husband, for that is as if he were looking at her.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A man must not look at a man’s private parts or a woman at a woman’s, and a man must not come close to a man in one garment or a woman to a woman in one garment.” Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir reported God's Messenger as saying, “A man must not spend the night in the house of a woman who has been married unless he is her husband or a close relative.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Avoid going in where women are.” A man said, “Messenger of God, tell me about the relatives of a woman’s husband,” to which he replied, “The relatives of a woman’s husband are death.”* *The word "death” is used to indicate a strong prohibition, the idea being that they are a cause of temptation to a man’s wife. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir said that Umm Salama asked permission of God’s Messenger to be cupped and he ordered Abu Taiba to cup her. He said he thought he was her foster-brother, or a lad who had not reached the age of puberty. Muslim transmitted it.

I asked God’s Messenger about an accidental glance and he ordered me to turn my eyes away. Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A woman advances in the form of a devil and retires in the form of a devil. When one of you is charmed by a woman and she affects his heart he should go to his wife and have intercourse with her, for that will repel what he is feeling.” Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you asks a woman in marriage, if he is able to look at what will induce him to marry her, he should do so.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

I asked a woman in marriage and God’s Messenger asked me whether I had looked at her. When I replied that I had not, he said, “Then look at her, for it is better that there should be love between you.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud said that God’s Messenger saw a woman who charmed him, so he went to Sauda who was making perfume in the company of some women. They left him, and after he had satisfied his desire he said, “If any man sees a woman who charms him he should go to his wife, for she has the same kind of thing as the other woman.” Darimi transmitted it.

He reported the Prophet as saying, “A woman should be concealed, for when she goes out the devil looks at her.”* * The basic idea is to lift up the eyes to look at something. Here it is explained as meaning either that the devil makes her attractive to men, or that he looks at her to seduce her and to seduce people by her. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Buraida reported God's Messenger as saying to ‘Ali, “Do not give a second look, ‘Ali, for while you are not to blame for the first you have no right to the second.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather reported the Prophet as saying, “When one of you marries his slave to his slave girl he must not look at her private parts.” A version has, “he must not look at what is below the navel and above the knee.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Jarhad reported the Prophet as saying, "Do you not know that the thigh is a private part?” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Ali told that God’s Messenger said to him, "Do not uncover your thigh, ‘Ali, and do not look at the thigh of anyone alive or dead.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Muhammad b. Jahsh told that God’s Messenger came upon Ma'mar when his thighs were uncovered and said, "Cover your thighs, Ma'mar, for the thighs are private parts.” It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Avoid being naked, for with you are those who never leave you (the recording angels) except when you are relieving yourselves and when a man has intercourse with his wife; so observe modesty before them and honour them.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

I was with God’s Messenger along with Maimuna when Ibn Umm Maktum approached and came in to visit him, so he told us to veil ourselves. I said, "Messenger of God, is he not blind and unable to see us?” He replied, "Are you blind and unable to see him?” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Bahz b. Hakim, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Cover your private parts, except from your wife or your female slave,” and said he asked him to tell him what a man might do when alone. He replied, "God has most right to modesty from you.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Umar reported the Prophet as saying, "Whenever a man is alone with a woman the devil makes a third.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, "Do not visit women whose husbands are away from home, for the devil circulate in you like your blood.” He was asked if this applied to him also and said, "To me also, but God has helped me against him so that I may be safe.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas said that when the Prophet brought Fatima a slave whom he presented to her she was wearing a garment which did not reach her feet when she put it over her head, and did not reach her head when she covered her feet with it. Noticing her predicament, God’s Messenger said, “There is nothing to worry about. It is only your father and your slave.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Umm Salama told that once when the Prophet was with her there was in the house a hermaphrodite who said to Abdallah b. Abu Umayya, Umm Salama's brother, “If God conquers at-Ta'if for you tomorrow, I shall lead you to the daughter of Ghailan who has four folds of fat in front and eight behind.” Thereupon the Prophet said, “Do not let these people visit you.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

While I was walking along carrying a heavy stone my garment fell off and I was unable to get it. God’s Messenger saw me and said to me, “Put on your garment and do not go naked.”* * "Put on” is singular and “do not go” is plural, indicating that the first part of the sentence is addressed to al-Miswar and that the second is a general injunction. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A'isha said, “I never looked at (or, I never saw) God’s Messenger’s private parts.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Umama reported the Prophet as saying, “If any Muslim happens to look at a woman’s beauties and then lowers his eyes, God will produce for him an act of worship whose sweetness he will experience.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Al-Hasan told in mursal form that he heard God’s Messenger had said, “God curse the one who looks and the one who is looked at!” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A woman without a husband* must not be married till she is consulted, and a virgin must not be married till her permission is asked.” When asked how her permission was indicated he replied that it was by her saying nothing. * Ayyim. This means a woman who has no husband. It may mean a woman who has not been married, whether a virgin or not, or a woman previously married who has no husband. See n. 2. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, “A woman without a husband has more right to her person than her guardian, and a virgin’s permission must be asked about herself, her permission being her silence.” In a version he said, “A woman who has been previously married* has more right to her person than her guardian, and a virgin must be consulted, her permission consisting in her saying nothing.” In another version he said, “A woman who has been previously married has more right to her person than her guardian” and a virgin’s father must ask her permission about herself, her permission being her silence.” * Thayyib. This means a woman previously married who has no husband. In view of the context it is argued that ayyim is used above in this sense. Muslim transmitted it.

Khansa’ daughter of Khidham told that when her father married her when she had previously been married and she disapproved of that, she went to God's Messenger and he revoked her marriage. A version by Ibn Majah has “the marriage her father.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that the Prophet married her when she was seven, she was brought to live with him when she was nine bringing her toys with her, and he died when she was eighteen. Muslim transmitted it.