Hadith on Women in Marriage

This booklet is written to provide the reader with an understanding of the Hadith and its complex history and methodology in determining its authenticity. Sisters in Islam hopes that with this understanding, Muslims are better able to evaluate and question the authenticity of Hadiths which are degrading to women that are popularly used in the media, publications and in talks on women in Islam.

The booklet is made up of two parts:
Part I introduces the Qur'an, Sunnah and Hadith, as well as the relationship between the three sources of Islamic law. This part of the booklet also discusses how certain factors such as politics, traditional outlook and misogyny have shaped the Hadith and provided support for popularising some Hadith while suppressing others.

Part II focuses on some of the actual dilemmas and questions Muslim women face because of the popular use of Hadith that are degrading and oppressive of women. The answers address the context of the Hadith, the issues of authenticity, conflict with the Qur'an and conflict between Hadiths that are positive to women and those that are negative.