Islam on Marital Rights — Page 23
ISLAM ON MARITAL RIGHTS 23 and consideration which he showed to his wives. He never entered the house with a frown on his face. He was always cheerful. He used to amuse himself and his wives with cheerful and merry talks within the bounds of decorum. He assisted them in their household chores and it is recorded that once in a playful mood, he competed with his wife, Ayesha, in a short race. . Nasaa'ee reports that no man was ever as kind and courteous to his wives as the Holy Prophet (s. a. w. ) was while at home nor as jovial and mirthful. He used to help them in the chores of the house. For instance if his wife wanted to knead flour he would fetch water for her or would help her in kindling the fire for cooking. In short he never deemed it beneath his dignity to join his wives in their housework. . Hazrat Ayesha has reported that once the Holy Prophet (s. a. w. ) told her that he could always gauge her mood and knew whether she was pleased or displeased with him. She said, "How?" and the Holy Prophet (s. a. w. ) replied "When you are pleased you say, 'By the God of Muhammad I say . . . ', but when you are irritated you say, 'By the God of Abraham. ' she said "Exactly!", but added that such moments were short-lived and even then her heart was never devoid of his love, nor ever a cause of decrease in her affection for and devotion to him. " (Bukhari and. Muslim). Hazrat Ayesha has also reported, “I once accompanied the. Holy Prophet (s. a. w. ) on one of his journeys. On the way we stopped and in a jovial mood we both competed in a short race which I won. But a few years later when I had gained weight, the. Holy Prophet (s. a. w. ) had a race with me again and easily beat me, and then said, "This settles the debt I owed you!". The Holy Prophet (s. a. w. ) always treated his wives with the greatest kindness and never was an over-bearing husband who take pride in handling their wives rudely and keeping them terror-stricken. . WINGED HORSES. Hazrat Ayesha has reported that when the Holy Prophet (s. a. w. ) returned from the battle of Tabuk or Hunain, he observed