If I were to order anyone to prostrate himself before another, I would have ordered the wife to prostrate herself before her husband

Arabic text

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه مرفوعاً: «لو كنت آمِرًا أحدًا أن يسجد لأحد لأمرت المرأة أن تسجد لزوجها».

Translation

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If I were to order anyone to prostrate himself before another, I would have ordered the wife to prostrate herself before her husband."

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that if he were going to order a human being to prostrate himself to another human being, then he would have ordered the wife to prostrate herself to her husband due to the great right that her husband has over her. However, prostrating oneself before other than Allah, the Almighty, is absolutely prohibited.

Topics

• Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
• Family Jurisprudence
• Marriage
• Marital Relations