The Beloved Prophet ﷺ & Chores

عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ مَا كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصْنَعُ فِي الْبَيْتِ قَالَتْ كَانَ فِي مِهْنَةِ أَهْلِهِ، فَإِذَا سَمِعَ الأَذَانَ خَرَجَ.‏

Al-Aswad bin Yazid said, “I asked Aisha رضى الله عنها, ‘What did the Prophet ﷺ do at home?’ She replied, ‘He would be in the service of his family, and when he heard the Adhaan, he would leave.’”  [Bukhari, #5363]

عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ‏:‏ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا‏:‏ مَا كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْمَلُ فِي بَيْتِهِ‏؟‏ قَالَتْ‏:‏ يَخْصِفُ نَعْلَهُ، وَيَعْمَلُ مَا يَعْمَلُ الرَّجُلُ فِي بَيْتِه

Hisham ibn ‘Urwah narrates from his father that he said, “I asked Aisha رضى الله عنها, ‘What did the Prophet ﷺ, do in his house?’ She replied, ‘He mended sandals and worked as any man would work in his home.’” [Al-Adab al-Mufrad, #539]

عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ‏:‏ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ‏:‏ مَا كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصْنَعُ فِي بَيْتِهِ‏؟‏ قَالَتْ‏:‏ مَا يَصْنَعُ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي بَيْتِهِ‏؟‏ قَالَتْ‏:‏ مَا يَصْنَعُ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي بَيْتِهِ، يَخْصِفُ النَّعْلَ، وَيَرْقَعُ الثَّوْبَ، وَيَخِيطُ

Hisham ibn ‘Urwah narrates from his father, “I asked Aisha رضى الله عنها, ‘What did the Prophet ﷺ, do in his house?’ She replied, ‘He did what one of you would do in his home. He mended sandals, patched clothing and sewed.’” [Al-Adab al-Mufrad, #540]

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ distributed responsibilities between his daughter, Sayyidah Fatimah رضى الله عنها and her husband, Sayyiduna Ali رضى الله عنه. Sayyidah Fatimah رضى الله عنها was tasked with domestic household duties, while Sayyiduna Ali رضى الله عنه was assigned the external responsibilities. (Palanpuri, Tuhfah al-Qari v.10:331) Once, she approached her father, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to request a servant who could assist her. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not provide her with a servant. Instead, she was encouraged to engage in the remembrance of Allah when going to bed. (Bukhari #5361) Imam Bukhari رحمة الله عليه has written this hadith under the title: The service of a lady in her husband’s home.

During the blessed era, it was common for women to tend to domestic duties. Sayyidah Asmaa bint Abi Bakr رضى الله عنها says: “When Zubair married me, he had no property or any slave or anything else except a camel and his horse. I used to feed his horse, draw water, sew the bucket (bucket made of leather for drawing water from the well), and prepare the dough. I did not know how to bake bread. My female neighbours from the Ansaar would bake bread for me.” (Bukhari #5224)

In the Muslim family, the husband is the Ameer of the home. The Noble Prophet ﷺ was also the leader of his house. This position comes with responsibilities and accountability. It is not a licence for abuse, oppression, or dictatorship.

Regarding household chores, the Noble Prophet ﷺ did not consider it below his position to tend to his household needs, whether it be fixing his sandals, stitching his clothes or milking the sheep (Musnad Ahmed, #26194).

Imam Bukhari رحمة الله عليه has recorded hadith #5363 in the chapter titled: The Man Serving his Family and again in The Book of Adab (Good Manners), under the heading: How Should a Man be with his family?

The above three narrations encourage the members of the home to serve others. This can be done by sharing household responsibilities and distributing chores. Serving others develops humbleness. It refines the heart by purifying it from pride, the mother of all spiritual ailments.

The people would ask Sayyidah Aisha رضى الله عنها about the domestic life of the Prophet ﷺ because she was the most knowledgeable of it. It was his noble habit to help around in the home. The impeccable character of the Prophet ﷺ in the privacy of his house and public was the same. Assisting in household chores is a sunnah for every member of the family.

Bibliography

Al-Bukhari, Abu Abd Allah Muḥammad ibn Ismail ibn Ibrahim ibn Al-Mughirah ibn al-Bardizbah. Al-Adab al-Mufrad. n.d.

—. Sahih Bukhari. n.d.

Hanbal, Ahmad bin. Musnad Ahmed. n.d.

Palanpuri, Mufti Saeed. Tuhfah al-Qari. Vol. 10. n.d.

by Mawlana Mushtaq Shaikh