3/275 Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “A believing man must not loathe a believing woman; if he dislikes one trait of hers, he will be pleased with another”—or, he said, “with something else.” Recorded by Muslim.

The word “yafrak” is read with a fatḥah on the yā’, a quiescent fā’, and a fatḥah on the rā’. It means “to hate.” One says, “farakat (with kasrah on the rā’) the woman left her husband, and he farakaha (open rā’)—that is, he detested her.” Allah knows best.

[Commentary]

The author (may Allah have mercy on him) cites the report from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in which the Prophet ﷺ said: “A believing man should not loathe a believing woman; if he finds one characteristic of hers displeasing, he will find another characteristic pleasing.”

Al-fark here denotes hatred and enmity. In other words, a believer should not treat a believing woman—his wife, for instance—with hostility and abhorrence merely because he notices in her a trait he dislikes. A person is required to uphold justice and to deal with others in a manner suited to their condition. Justice means weighing faults against virtues, examining which are more numerous and which carry greater weight, and allowing the side that predominates to prevail. That is true justice.

Allah the Exalted says: “O you who believe! Stand firmly for Allah, as witnesses to justice, and do not let the hatred of a people lead you to swerve from justice. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness” (al-Mā’idah 5:8). The verse means: do not let your dislike of them prevent you from being fair—be fair even if you detest them. For this reason, when the Prophet