Sahih al-Bukhari - Book 67, Hadith 158 View on sunnah.com →
Narrated Anas: While the Prophet (ﷺ) was in the house of one of his wives, one of the mothers of the believers sent a meal in a dish. The wife at whose house the Prophet (ﷺ) was, struck the hand of the servant, causing the dish to fall and break. The Prophet (ﷺ) gathered the broken pieces of the dish and then started collecting on them the food which had been in the dish and said, "Your mother (my wife) felt jealous." Then he detained the servant till a (sound) dish was brought from the wife at whose house he was. He gave the sound dish to the wife whose dish had been broken and kept the broke…Narrated Anas: While the Prophet (ﷺ) was in the house of one of his wives, one of the mothers of the believers sent a meal in a dish. The wife at whose house the Prophet (ﷺ) was, struck the hand of the servant, causing the dish to fall and break. The Prophet (ﷺ) gathered the broken pieces of the dish and then started collecting on them the food which had been in the dish and said, "Your mother (my wife) felt jealous." Then he detained the servant till a (sound) dish was brought from the wife at whose house he was. He gave the sound dish to the wife whose dish had been broken and kept the broken one at the house where it had been broken.

How the Prophet ص modelled 4 behaviours here

Gentleness & Kind Speech

“Your mother (my wife) felt jealous.”

Is gentle and soft toward his wife in word and deed; speaks kindly and never with harshness, insult, or contempt.

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Patience & Forbearance

“The Prophet (ﷺ) gathered the broken pieces of the dish and then started collecting on them the food which had been in the dish”

Bears his wife's faults, mistakes and difficult moments with patience over time; is slow to anger and endures hardship in the marriage gracefully.

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Justice & Fairness

“He gave the sound dish to the wife whose dish had been broken and kept the broken one at the house where it had been broken.”

Treats his wife (and co-wives) justly and equitably; honors her rights and gives her what is due without wronging her.

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Serving The Household

“The Prophet (ﷺ) gathered the broken pieces of the dish and then started collecting on them the food which had been in the dish”

Helps with the work of the home and serves his family; does not consider domestic help beneath him.

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