Question:

Is it true that the hadith where the Prophet peace be upon him says that the best of you are the best to your wives is mistranslated, and that wives is supposed to be translated into family?

Answer:

The wording of the Hadith is the following:

خيرُكم خيرُكم لأهلِه ، وأنا خيرُكم لأهلي

The best of you is the one who is best to his wife, and I am the best of you to my wives.

[Saheeh Targheeb no. 1925]

‘Allamah al-Mubaarkfoori rahimahullah said: “That is: his children and his relatives. It was said his wives and relatives”.

[Tuhfatul-Ahwadhi (10/269)]

Imam al-Munaawi rahimahullah said: “His children and relatives. This is what Ibn Atheer said”.

[Fayd al-Qadir (3/495)]

However, there is another wording of the same Hadith which states:

خيرُكم خيرُكم للنِّساءِ

The best of you is the best of you to your women.

[Saheeh Targheeb no. 1925]

as-San’aani rahimahullah said:

“That is: his wives. It is a specific admonishment for doing good towards the wives in general, except they are more deserving  of good companionship. It is also carried to mean the daughters, sisters, and their like”

[Tanweer Sharh Jami as-Sagheer (6/33)]

Shaikh Ibn ul-‘Uthaymeen rahimahullah said that the intent of women in one Hadith is the family as comes in the other Hadith

[See: Sharh Riyaadhus-Saliheen (3/569)]

So the Hadith is in regards to the wives and other than them of the family.

And Allah knows best

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan