What does it mean that woman was created from the rib of man?

The Holy Qur’an does not say that woman was made from man's rib. It teaches that man and woman come from the same nature. The image of the rib can be understood symbolically: woman is close to man's heart, she protects him and is to be treated with kindness.

The account in which God took part of the man's rib and formed the woman from it comes from the Bible. The Holy Qur’an does not tell this story. Taken literally, it is hard to reconcile with reason. But it can be read as an image, and then it holds a great deal of wisdom.

A rib lies close to the heart. That speaks of closeness and trust. The woman is the man's confidant, the person with whom he shares his secrets. The ribs also enclose the vital organs such as the heart and lungs. In the same way the woman is a protection for the man, as important as the ribs are for the body.

A rib is also curved and flexible, part bone and part cartilage. Whoever tries to force it straight will break it. This is a reminder to the man. He should accept the woman with her own nature and not try to reshape her according to his will. The hadith above expresses exactly this thought and ends with a call to kindness.

The image has a serious side as well. Because the rib lies so close to the inner organs, the man is struck at his very core if this protection fails. Between husband and wife there is no curtain. The Holy Qur’an says the same more fully when it calls husband and wife a garment for each other, covering the whole body.

Understood in this way, the image does not belittle women. It shows their important place and the duty of the man to treat them with respect and tenderness.