السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
With reference to your query, please be informed as follows:
1. The mentioned hadith is categorized as slightly weak, indicating that it should not be relied upon in matters of fiqh or aqidah. Nonetheless, even if it were an authentic hadith, it does not imply that women who disobey their husbands would face more severe punishment than husbands who abuse their wives. The Prophet ﷺ cautioned against severe punishments for various groups, which include individuals engaging in violent behavior towards others.
2. Allah’s Law is Balanced—
Know that the Law of Allah is inherently fair. Its purpose is to establish stability in the lands, fostering strong relationships, honing understanding, and promoting compassion among all human beings. Allah’s Law ensures justice for everyone and does not favor one race or gender over another. In the eyes of Allah, we are all equal, regardless of color or gender. The only distinguishing factor is taqwa (Allah-consciousness).
3. Once this fundamental understanding is ingrained in our hearts, it motivates us to seek a suitable interpretation or comprehension for narrations or traditions that may initially appear unjust towards women, or men, for that matter.
4. The Hadith in Question—
The hadith has been narrated by Imam Tirmidhi in his Sunan and Ibn Abi Shayba in his Musannaf. Both chains of transmission include Ziyad ibn Abi al-Jad, who transmits from the companion Amr ibn al-Harith, who said, “It used to be said that the people with the worst punishment on the Day of Judgment are two: A woman who disobeyed her husband, and a people’s Imam whom they dislike.”
5. Authenticity—
Ziyād ibn Abī al-Jaʿd is classified as layyin al-ḥadīth. This means that the ḥadīth he transmitted is mildly weak and, as such, should not be used as evidence in matters of law or creed. Furthermore, the companion does not attribute these words to the Messenger ﷺ directly, although one may understand that he is implying that it is a statement of the Messenger ﷺ.
6. Meaning of the ḥadīth—
Nevertheless, even if we assume the authenticity of the narration, the language employed does not imply that a disobedient wife is in a worse condition than an abusive husband. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ utilized similar wording to describe various groups of people, emphasizing the severity of their actions without any reference to gender. Notably, he employed the same phrase when addressing violence, encompassing the conduct of an abusive husband.
7. In an authenticated narration, he ﷺ stated, “Indeed, those who will face the most intense punishment on the Day of Judgment are those who inflicted the most intense punishment on humans in this world” [Musnad al-Humaydi].
والله تعالى أعلم
And Allah knows best
