In Islamic tradition, certain hadiths—sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)—carry weighty implications that demand scrutiny. One such narration, found in Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Hadith no. 1173) and Mishkat al-Masabih (Hadith 3109), states: “The woman is Awrah (genitalia), so when she goes out, the Shaitan seeks to tempt her.” This blunt statement has stirred controversy for its degrading portrayal of women, equating them to private parts and blaming them for temptation. In this blog post, we’ll dissect the hadith, its meaning, its classifications, and the modern efforts to dodge its harsh reality. No sugarcoating, no euphemisms—just the facts.
The Hadith in Its Raw Form
Here’s the text straight from the sources:
- Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Hadith no. 1173):
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَاصِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ مُوَرِّقٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ الْمَرْأَةُ عَوْرَةٌ فَإِذَا خَرَجَتِ اسْتَشْرَفَهَا الشَّيْطَانُ ” . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ .
Translation: “The woman is Awrah (genitalia), so when she goes out, the Shaitan seeks to tempt her.”
Imam Tirmidhi classifies it as Hasan Gharib (good but unique). - Mishkat al-Masabih (Hadith 3109):
وَعَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «الْمَرْأَةُ عَوْرَةٌ فَإِذَا خَرَجَتِ اسْتَشْرَفَهَا الشَّيْطَانُ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ
Same wording, same meaning. Sheikh Al-Albani grades it Sahih (authentic) in As-Sahihah (no. 2688) and on Sunnah.com.
But here’s the twist: the modern institute Darrusualam labels it Daif (weak). This discrepancy among scholars screams discomfort with the hadith’s content.
What Does “Awrah” Mean?
The Arabic term Awrah (عَوْرَةٌ) isn’t vague. It means “genitalia” or “private parts.” Check any reputable Arabic dictionary—like Almaany—and you’ll see it plain as day. In Islamic law, Awrah refers to body parts that must be covered, but this hadith takes it to an extreme: it calls the entire woman Awrah. Not just her body, but her very being is likened to genitals that need hiding.
This isn’t a subtle metaphor. It’s a direct, explicit comparison. And it’s degrading—full stop.
The Ugly Implications
Let’s break it down:
- “The woman is Awrah”: If Awrah means genitalia, the hadith says a woman is essentially a walking private part. Her whole existence is something shameful, something to be concealed.
- “When she goes out, the Shaitan seeks to tempt her”: When a woman steps into public, Satan zeros in on her, using her presence to stir trouble. The blame lands squarely on her shoulders—just for existing outside.
This paints women as objects of temptation, stripping them of dignity and agency. It’s not about modesty here; it’s about reducing women to a source of sin. Historically, this kind of rhetoric has fueled restrictions on women’s freedom, from locking them indoors to blaming them for harassment. It’s a brutal mindset, and it’s right there in the text.
Scholars Squirming: Modern Reinterpretations
The hadith’s stark language is a nightmare for Muslim scholars today. It’s tough to defend calling women “genitalia” in a world that demands equality. So, some are scrambling to soften the blow:
- Reclassifying It as Weak: Darrusualam’s Daif rating smells like a cop-out. Earlier heavyweights like Al-Albani called it Sahih, and Tirmidhi gave it Hasan Gharib. Downgrading it now looks like a dodge to avoid grappling with its meaning. Where’s the evidence to overturn those earlier judgments?
- Tweaking the Translation: Modern scholars are pushing translations like “something concealed” or “shame” for Awrah. Anything but “genitalia.” But this is a stretch—Arabic dictionaries don’t bend that far. It’s a clear attempt to sanitize the hadith, to make it less embarrassing.
These moves don’t hold up. The word Awrah means what it means. Changing it now is intellectual sleight-of-hand, a way to whitewash a problem instead of facing it.
Wrapping It Up
The hadith “The woman is Awrah” is a raw, unfiltered statement. It calls women private parts and ties their public presence to Satanic temptation. Scholars can reclassify it or rewrite the dictionary all they want, but the text stands as is—degrading and indefensible. Modern attempts to dodge its meaning only highlight how awkward it is for today’s world.
Religious texts aren’t untouchable. We’ve got to stare them down, question them, and call out what doesn’t add up. This hadith is a glaring example of why that matters. Ignoring it or dressing it up won’t cut it—honesty will.