Question No. 3519 10 September 2026 Official answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) verified Content level: Intermediate

Is the Hadith About a Woman Prostrating to Her Husband Authentic?

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Dear questioner, Master Ali Saei

Tracking code: #Q-3519

Greetings, esteemed teacher,
Is the following hadith authentic and attributable to one of the Infallibles (AS)?

أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : أَنَّ قَوْماً أَتَوْا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ إِنَّا رَأَيْنَا أُنَاساً يَسْجُدُ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لَوْ أَمَرْتُ أَحَداً أَنْ يَسْجُدَ لِأَحَدٍ لَأَمَرْتُ اَلْمَرْأَةَ أَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِزَوْجِهَا .
َّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ

Subject category: Hadith and Traditions

The essence and first answer at a glance (60-word summary)

The report that a woman should prostrate to her husband appears in authoritative hadith collections, but it requires some explanation. God has not permitted anyone to prostrate to another besides Him, except as an act of reverence. A husband is entitled to respect and obedience, but not in the form of prostration.

Answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)

Teacher and researcher in the intellectual tradition of wisdom and the Ahl al-Bayt | Soroush Bamdadān Cultural Center

Yes, this report appears in reliable hadith collections, but it has some important nuances and contains both aspects that may be affirmed and aspects that may be disputed.

1. God Most High has never permitted anyone in the umma of Muhammad ﷺ to prostrate to anyone other than Him—even as an act of honour, like the angels’ prostration before Adam (peace be upon him) or Joseph’s brothers’ prostration before Joseph (peace be upon him).

2. A husband is entitled to such respect and obedience that, if there were a particular and unique form of showing him respect that could be required, God Most High would have made it obligatory for a wife toward her husband.

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Is the Hadith About a Woman Prostrating to Her Husband Authentic?

The essence and first answer at a glance (60-word summary)

Answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)

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