and reminded them. He then walked on until he reached the women, admonished them, and said, “O assembly of women, give in charity, for you are the majority of Hell’s fuel.”

A woman of average stature, marked by dark cheeks, stood up and asked, “Why is that, O Messenger of Allah?”

He replied, “Because you complain a great deal and are ungrateful toward your husbands.”

Jābir adds: “So the women began to give in charity from their jewellery, throwing their earrings and rings into Bilāl’s cloak.” Muslim narrated the report.

Unfamiliar expressions
• siṭat al-nisāʾ: a woman sitting in the middle of the group.
• safʿāʾ al-khaddayn: a face darkened or sallow in complexion.
• al-shakā: (with an open shīn, short alif) frequent complaining.
• aqrāṭ: plural of qirṭ, an earring hung from the earlobe.
• mutawakkiʾan: leaning for support.
• ḥaththa: urged or incited.
• lim: a shortened form of lima (“why”), the alif of the interrogative mā having been dropped after the lām.
• ḥulī: plural of ḥilyah, adornments made from precious metals.

Overall meaning
The Prophet ﷺ led the ʿId prayer with no call to prayer or iqāmah. When he had finished, he delivered a sermon in which he commanded the congregation to fear Allah by fulfilling His commands, shunning His prohibitions, and obeying Him both openly and privately. He urged them to keep Allah’s promises and warnings before their eyes so that they might be moved by both awe and hope.

Because the women were separated from the men and could not hear the sermon clearly, the Prophet ﷺ—ever compassionate toward young and old alike—went over to them with Bilāl. He addressed them directly, giving them an additional exhortation and informing them that they constitute the largest share of Hell’s inhabitants, while clarifying that charity is a means of extinguishing the Lord’s anger.

One of the women, wishing to understand the cause so that it could be remedied, asked why they were more numerous in Hell. The Prophet ﷺ explained that it was due to their frequent complaining and their ingratitude for the many favors shown them; if a benefactor fell short once, they would overlook his continual kindness.

True to their readiness for righteousness and their eagerness to avoid what angers Allah, the women of the Companions hastened to give charity. They removed the jewellery from their hands and ears—rings and earrings alike—and cast it into Bilāl’s garment, seeking Allah’s pleasure and what is with Him.