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Why Did The Prophet Only See Women Being Punished?

09 June, 2017
Q Assalamualaikum. I would like to thank you for your wonderful website. I check it out daily and love the wonderful work you are doing in answering questions from everyone. My question is, why did prophet Muhammad s.a.w only see women being punished during the Miraj? Why are men not mentioned? Some of the sins that the women were being punished for are committed by men as well so why only women? I feel it is unfair. And would like you to help me see the logic in that. Thank you very much.

Answer

Walaikum Asalam Sister,

Thank you for your compliments and following our work here.

And thank you for trusting us with your question. It would seem that you have either read a bad translation of the narration of the night journey or received some bad information.

Both men and women were seen by the Prophet (PBUH) to be receiving reward and punishment. 

The following hadith is narrated that the Prophet (PBUH), during the night journey, saw a woman receiving reward for her struggle to worship Allah alone under the rule of Fir’awn (Pharaoh), who required that he be worshiped as a god:

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The Prophet then noticed a fragrant wind and said: ‘O Jibril, what is this sweet scent?’ He replied: ‘This is the scent of the lady who combed the hair of Fir`awn’s daughter and that of her children. As she combed the hair of Fir`awn’s daughter the comb fell and she said: bismillah ta`isa fir`awn — In the name of Allah, may Fir`awn perish! whereupon Fir`awn’s daughter said: Do you have a Lord other than my father? She said, yes. Fir`awn’s daughter said: Shall I tell my father? She said yes. She told him and he summoned her and said: Do you have a Lord other than me? She replied: Yes, my Lord and your Lord is Allah. This woman had two sons and a husband. Fir`awn summoned them and he began to entice the woman and her husband to renege on their religion, but they refused. He said: Then I shall kill you. She said: Be so good as to bury us all together in a single grave if you kill us. He replied: Granted, and it is your right to ask us. He then ordered that a huge cow made of copper be filled with boiling liquid (oil and water) and that she and her children be thrown into it. The children were taken and thrown in one after the other. The second and youngest was still an infant at the breast. When they took him he said: Mother! fall and do not tarry for verily you are on the right. Then she was thrown in with her children. […]’ (Bukhari)

This following example in the night journey is about a man and a woman being punished for the same sin:

Then he saw a people who had in front of them excellent meats disposed in pots and also putrid, foul meat, and they would eat from the foul meat and not touch the good meat. He said: ‘What is this, O Jibril?’ He replied: ‘These are the men from your Community who had an excellent, lawful wife at home and who would go and see a foul woman and spend the night with her; and the women who would leave her excellent, lawful husband to go and see a foul man and spend the night with him.’

Here is a link to the entire narration from the Isra wal Miraj

Please read through it and see that it is not only women who are seen punished in the night journey and also it is not only men who are seen rewarded.

I hope this helps and please keep in touch. Salam.

Please continue feeding your curiosity, and find more info in the following links:

More Women Will Go To Hell Than Men?

3 Questions About the Night Journey

https://aboutislam.net/reading-islam/about-muhammad/prophets-night-journey-first-started/

About Theresa Corbin
Theresa Corbin is the author of The Islamic, Adult Coloring Book and co-author of The New Muslim’s Field Guide. Corbin is a French-creole American and Muslimah who converted in 2001. She holds a BA in English Lit and is a writer, editor, and graphic artist who focuses on themes of conversion to Islam, Islamophobia, women's issues, and bridging gaps between peoples of different faiths and cultures. She is a regular contributor for AboutIslam.net and Al Jumuah magazine. Her work has also been featured on CNN and Washington Post, among other publications. Visit her blog, islamwich, where she discusses the intersection of culture and religion.