Commentary on Hadeeth, - Dought & clear, - * Does this hadeeth contradict the principle of equality and justice in Islam?

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How sound is the following hadeeth, which was narrated by Abu Dawood and others: “Forgive the people of good character for their mistakes”? I have read that some people are not sure about it because it contradicts the Qur’aan and its verses which call for equality and justice.
Praise be to Allaah.
This hadeeth was narrated by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood, al-Nasaa’i, al-Bayhaqi and others from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), who said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Forgive the people of good character for their mistakes, except in cases of hadd punishments.”
It has other isnaads which are not free of faults, but when taken together render the hadeeth hasan.
What is meant by the hadeeth is that it is recommended not to take people of good character to task if they slip up or make mistakes which are out of character, except in cases where a hadd punishment is required and news of the sin reaches the ruler, in which case the hadd punishment must be carried out.
What is meant by “people of good character” is ordinary people who possess an honourable attitude and other praiseworthy characteristics, those who are always obedient and are known for their good character, but who may slip sometimes and commit sins. This meaning was narrated by Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not call the pious who worship a great deal “people of good character” and this phrase is not used in the words of Allaah or His Messenger to describe the obedient and pious. It seems that it refers to those who are respected among the people for their status and high position. Allaah has singled them out for a kind of honour above others of their kind, meaning that if a person is modest and of good character, but then he slips up and the Shaytaan overpowers him briefly (and makes him do something out of character), we should not hasten to rebuke him and punish him, rather his mistake should be forgiven, provided that it does not involve transgressing one of the sacred limits of Allaah (for which a hadd punishment is required), because the hadd punishment must be carried out regardless of whether the one who deserves it is regarded as honourable or ignoble. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Those who came before you were destroyed because if a nobleman among them stole they would let him off, but if a weak and insignificant person stole they would carry out the punishment on him. By Allaah, if Faatimah the daughter of Muhammad were to steal, I would cut off her hand.” Saheeh – agreed upon. This highlights one of the wonderful aspects of this perfect sharee’ah.
End quote.
From the above it may be understood that the meaning of this hadeeth does not contradict the principle of equality and justice in Islam, rather it encourages overlooking sins and mistakes that are not subject to hadd punishments if they are committed by people who do not ordinarily do such things, and if not imposing a ta’zeer punishment will not lead to further trouble.

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M

Kind Treatment of Spouses, - Dought & clear, - * Her husband refuses to let her help him with household expenses

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Recently I could find a good way to earn experience at working as I dont know what could happen to me if my husband died while I dont have a complete education and I never worked before.
Obviously, I can earn money with that work, which is revising translations. I work at home and I don't have a fixed schedule, I can have work at any time but I can do it while my husband is not present.
My question is: Can my husband control the way I spend my money? He doesn't let me buy anything for the house with my own money, he doesn't even let me buy something I want to buy, he says he can buy it for me another time and he doesn't like me to spend any of my money, although it could make things easier for him and for me. I'm living with my parents-in-law for more than a year now and we are joining money to rent a house soon, inshaAllah. But he doesn't let me help him to join money to buy the things for the house like fridge, washing machine, etc.
I know it's his responsibility to take care of these things, but can't I help? What am I supposed to do with the money I may earn except giving in charity? I could do a lot of things and take a lot of weight from my husband's shoulders if I helped him with my income.
Is it permissible if I put some of my money with the savings we have without his knowledge as sadaqah?
Please advise me.
Praise be to Allaah.
We congratulate you for having this virtuous husband who is a man of good character and high integrity. There are very few men like him who refrain from taking their wives’ wealth and insist on keeping away from it and not touching it so that they will not undermine their wives’ rights or fall into dubious matters. This is part of the kind and honourable treatment that Allah enjoins, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And live with them honourably”
[al-Nisa’ 4:19].
It was narrated from Hakeem ibn Mu‘aawiyah al-Qushayri that his father said:
I said: O Messenger of Allah, what are the rights of the wife of one of us over him? He said, “That you feed her when you feed yourself and clothe her when you clothe yourself or when you earn some income, that you do not hit her in the face, you do not say ‘May Allaah make your face ugly’ and you do not forsake her, except in the house.”
Narrated by Abu Dawood inal-Sunan, 2142
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
What this means is: do not buy clothes or food only for yourself and not for her; rather she is your partner and you have to spend on her as you spend on yourself.
End quote fromSharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen, 3/131.
Your husband is obeying the command of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) by spending fully on your maintenance; in fact he is going over and above that by spending on extras from his own money and refusing any financial help on your part.
Hence we advise you to respond to this kindness with kindness and do not give up trying to help financially, even if that is by depositing some of your money in his account without him realising, because it is not essential for him to know about that. Or you could buy things that your husband needs or that the house needs before he realises it, or buy him a valuable gift, especially something that is important to him, or keep the money to give to him at the time of need, and other kinds of beneficial spending.
Then whatever is left over of your money, after you have helped him in whatever way you can and put whatever you can give in your joint account and given in charity, you can save it in your own personal account, because perhaps you will need it for both of you, or your children may benefit from it.
And Allah knows best.

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M

Kind Treatment of Spouses, - Dought & clear, - * How should she deal with her husband who gets angry quickly if she islate in responding to his requests?

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My husband fails to consider me when assigning me to do things for him. He gets angry whenever he asks me to do things for him and i fail to do them in time due to my working schedules.I bothers me alot.
Praise be to Allaah.
There is no doubt that kind and good treatment of one’s spouse and life partner is the most important means of maintaining a good relationship between the spouses. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The best of you is the best of you to his family, and I am the best of you to my family.”
Narrated by at-Tirmidhi, 3895; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
But you should also understand that there is no one who is free of mistakes, faults or shortcomings. If we want to interact with people in this life, then we have to put up with some of what they have of faults of which no one is free. Mistakes and shortcomings are human characteristics. If this person is your husband, then the issue is more serious and more important for you, because he is your life partner and the person who has the greatest rights over you, and because the issue in this case will have a huge impact on both of your lives.
If you do not like the attitude or nature of a friend of yours, you could always leave her and find another friend to make up for that. But in the case of your husband, not understanding this matter in your interactions with him and not putting up with his faults and shortcomings will lead to serious bad consequences. Hence the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) warned that focusing on the wife’s faults and shortcomings makes marital life difficult and may lead to grudges between the spouses.
Muslim narrated in hisSaheeh(1467) that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “No believing man should hate a believing woman. If he dislikes one of her characteristics, he may be pleased with another.”
We are certain that you will find good characteristics and positive features in your husband and your household and your family that will motivate you to put up with this fault, which we agree with you is a fault, but it is possible to live with it and put up with it, and try to remedy it with good treatment and wisdom.
You can give precedence to what he asks you to do – as much as you can – over your other tasks.
You can apologise to him if you are late, even if you have an excuse and the matter was beyond your control. If you apologise to him and put his mind at rest, it will not cost you anything you will gain a great deal, in sha Allah.
We ask Allah to reconcile between you and your husband.
And Allah knows best.

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M