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Wife walking behind her husband

Question

Assalam alaikum, it can be seen in some muslim cultures (like Bosnian and Turkish), that a muslim woman walks 3 spteps behind her husband (when they are outside). Is this cultural thing only, or is it from Sunnah? Barakallahu feek.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

We are not aware of any evidence from the Book of Allaah or the Sunnah of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) about this custom; rather, it is reported in the Sunnah that it is permissible for a woman to walk in front of her husband. For instance, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) raced with ‘Aa’ishah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  her in running at two different occasions and she won once.

However, the Sunnah clarified to us a high moral conduct for a woman as to how to walk in the street in general. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) saw women walking alongside men in the street, so he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) ordered the women to keep away from the middle of the road and to walk on its sides. This is better for them because in this way they will not be mixing with men.

Allaah Knows best.

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