<![CDATA[This study addresses the problem of gender bias in hadith interpretation, specifically the narration stating that “a woman comes in the form of a devil” (al-mar’atu tuqbilu fī ṣūrati shayṭān), which has been historically understood literally and contributed to female stigmatization. It aims to reinterpret the hadith using the mubādalah (reciprocity) approach integrated with contextual hermeneutics and maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah to produce a contextual and gender-just understanding of the text. Employing a qualitative descriptive-analytical design based on library research, data were drawn from authoritative collections, specifically Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, alongside classical commentaries (shurūḥ), fatwās, and contemporary literature. Critical sanad and matn analyses confirm the hadith’s verified authenticity (ṣaḥīḥ), proving that problematic readings stem from ahistorical literalism rather than textual unreliability. The findings reveal that the term “devil” (shayṭān) functions metaphorically (majāz), referring to human desire (nafs) rather than female ontology, a view supported by classical scholars such as Ibn al-Jawzī, al-Qāḍī ‘Iyāḍ, and al-Nawawī. Furthermore, a ruling by Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah affirms that the text conveys honor and protection for women rather than demeaning their dignity. By positioning both genders as equal moral agents, mubādalah shifts the core message to universal and reciprocal self-restraint. Operationally, this reading fulfills the maqāṣid of safeguarding faith (ḥifẓ al-dīn), lineage/honor (ḥifẓ al-nasl/‘arḍ), and human dignity (ḥifẓ al-karāmah al-insāniyyah). Theoretically, this study extends mubādalah to misogynistic hadiths; practically, it offers an egalitarian framework for fostering inclusive and contextually relevant religious discourse.]]>
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