at the beginning of (9—The Book of Fasting) in al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib (“Encouragement and Warning”). *

3517—“Woman was created from a rib; she will never be completely straight for you in any way. If you enjoy her company, you will enjoy her company while she has a crookedness; but if you try to straighten her, you will break her, and breaking her is divorcing her.”

It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah through several chains:

The first: from al-Aʿraj, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ... and he mentioned it.

Recorded by Muslim (4/178), Ibn Hibban (4167), al-Humaydi (1202), and Ahmad (2/449 and 530), all through this chain.

The second: from Abu Hazim, from Abu Hurayrah, in a marfuʿ narration similar to it, with additions and omissions.

Recorded by both al-Bukhari and Muslim, as well as others. It is also cited in al-Irwaʾ under no. 1997.

The third: from Saʿid ibn al-Musayyib, from Abu Hurayrah, in a marfuʿ narration; he mentioned it in abbreviated form.

Also recorded by Muslim and al-Tirmidhi (1188), who said: “A good, authentic, singular hadith.”

The fourth: from Ibn ʿAjlan, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, in a marfuʿ narration similar to it, but without the words: “but if you try ...”

Recorded by Ibn Hibban (4168), and its chain is good.

The hadith also has supporting narrations cited in al-Irwaʾ, and their wordings may be found in al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib (3/72/6–7). *