10. Marriage And Divorce

FROM SAHIH BUKHARI

3:882 Narrated by Uqba bin Amir
Allah’s Apostle said, “From among all the conditions which you have to fulfill, the conditions which make it legal for you to have sexual relations (i.e. the marriage contract) have the greatest right to be fulfilled.”

7:1 Narrated by Anas bin Malik
A group of three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet asking how the Prophet worshipped (Allah), and when they were informed about that, they considered their worship insufficient and said, “Where are we from the Prophet as his past and future sins have been forgiven.” Then one of them said, “I will offer the prayer throughout the night forever.” The other said, “I will fast throughout the year and will not break my fast.” The third said, “I will keep away from the women and will not marry forever.” Allah’s Apostle came to them and said, “Are you the same people who said so-and-so? By Allah, I am more submissive to Allah and more afraid of Him than you; yet I fast and break my fast, I do sleep and I also marry women. So he who does not follow my tradition in religion, is not from me (not one of my followers).”

7:11 Narrated by Sad bin Abi Waqqas
Allah’s Apostle forbade ‘Uthman bin Maz’un to abstain from marrying (and other pleasures) and if he had allowed him, we would have gotten ourselves castrated.

7:13 Narrated by Abu Huraira
I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I am a young man and I am afraid that I may commit illegal sexual intercourse and I cannot afford to marry.” He kept silent, and then repeated my question once again, but he kept silent. I said the same (for the third time) and he remained silent. Then repeated my question (for the fourth time), and only then the Prophet said, “O Abu Huraira! The pen has dried after writing what you are going to confront. So (it does not matter whether you) get yourself castrated or not.”

7:14 Narrated by ‘Aisha
I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Suppose you landed in a valley where there is a tree of which something has been eaten and then you found trees of which nothing has been eaten, of which tree would you let your camel graze?” He said, “(I will let my camel graze) of the one of which nothing has been eaten before.” (The sub-narrator added: ‘Aisha meant that Allah’s Apostle had not married a virgin besides herself .)

7:18 Narrated by ‘Ursa
The Prophet asked Abu Bakr for ‘Aisha’s hand in marriage. Abu Bakr said “But I am your brother.” The Prophet said, “You are my brother in Allah’s religion and His Book, but she (Aisha) is lawful for me to marry.”

7:25 Narrated by ‘Aisha
Abu Hudhaifa bin ‘Utba bin Rabi’a bin Abdi Shams who had witnessed the battle of Badr along with the Prophet adopted Salim as his son, to whom he married his niece, Hind bint Al-Walid bin ‘Utba bin Rabi’a; and Salim was the freed slave of an Ansar woman, just as the Prophet had adopted Zaid as his son. It was the custom in the Pre-lslamic Period that if somebody adopted a boy, the people would call him the son of the adoptive father and he would be the latter’s heir. But when Allah revealed the Divine Verses: ‘Call them by (the names of) their fathers . . . your freed-slaves,’ (33.5) the adopted persons were called by their fathers’ names. The one whose father was not known, would be regarded as a Maula and your brother in religion. Later on Sahla bint Suhail bin ‘Amr Al-Quraishi Al-‘Amiri and she was the wife of Abu- Hudhaifa bin ‘Utba came to the Prophet and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! We used to consider Salim as our (adopted) son, and now Allah has revealed what you know (regarding adopted sons).” The sub-narrator then mentioned the rest of the narration.

7:26 Narrated by ‘Aisha
Allah’s Apostle entered upon Dubaa bint Az-Zubair and said to her, “Do you have a desire to perform the Hajj?” She replied, “By Allah, I feel sick.” He said to her, “Intend to perform Hajj and stipulate something by saying, ‘O Allah, I will finish my Ihram at any place where You stop me (i.e. I am unable to go further).” She was the wife of Al-Miqdad bin Al-Aswad.

7:27 Narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, “A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a losers.

7:28 Narrated by Sahl
A man passed by Allah’s Apostle and Allah s Apostle asked (his companions) “What do you say about this (man)?” They replied “If he asks for a lady’s hand, he ought to be given her in marriage; and if he intercedes (for someone) his intercessor should be accepted; and if he speaks, he should be listened to.” Allah’s Apostle kept silent, and then a man from among the poor Muslims passed by, an Allah’s Apostle asked (them) “What do you say about this man?” They replied, “If he asks for a lady’s hand in marriage he does not deserve to be married, and he intercedes (for someone), his intercession should not be accepted; And if he speaks, he should not be listened to.’ Allah’s Apostle said, “This poor man is better than so many of the first as filling the earth.’

7:33 Narrated by Usama bin Zaid
The Prophet said, “After me I have not left any affliction more harmful to men than women.”

7:36 Narrated by Aisha
(the wife of the Prophet) that while Allah’s Apostle was with her, she heard a voice of a man asking permission to enter the house of Hafsa. ‘Aisha added: I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! This man is asking permission to enter your house.” The Prophet said, “I think he is so-and-so,” naming the foster-uncle of Hafsa. ‘Aisha said, “If so-and-so,” naming her foster uncle, “were living, could he enter upon me?” The Prophet said, “Yes, for foster suckling relations make all those things unlawful which are unlawful through corresponding birth (blood) relations.”

7:37 Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas
It was said to the Prophet, “Won’t you marry the daughter of Hamza?” He said, “She is my foster niece (brother’s daughter). “

7:38 Narrated by Um Habiba
(daughter of Abu Sufyan) I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Marry my sister. the daughter of Abu Sufyan.” The Prophet said, “Do you like that?” I replied, “Yes, for even now I am not your only wife and I like that my sister should share the good with me.” The Prophet said, “But that is not lawful for me.” I said, We have heard that you want to marry the daughter of Abu Salama.” He said, “(You mean) the daughter of Um Salama?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Even if she were not my step-daughter, she would be unlawful for me to marry as she is my foster niece. I and Abu Salama were suckled by Thuwaiba. So you should not present to me your daughters or your sisters (in marriage).” Narrated ‘Ursa; Thuwaiba was the freed slave girl of Abu Lahb whom he had manumitted, and then she suckled the Prophet. When Abu Lahb died, one of his relatives saw him in a dream in a very bad state and asked him, “What have you encountered?” Abu Lahb said, “I have not found any rest since I left you, except that I have been given water to drink in this (the space between his thumb and other fingers) and that is because of my manumitting Thuwaiba.”

7:39 Narrated by Aisha
That the Prophet entered upon her while a man was sitting with her. Signs of anger seemed to appear on his face as if he disliked that. She said, “Here is my (foster) brother.” He said, “Be sure as to who is your foster brother, for foster suckling relationship is established only when milk is the only food of the child.”

7:44 Narrated by Jabir
Allah’s Apostle forbade that a woman should be married to man along with her paternal or maternal aunt.

7:47 Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar
Allah’s Apostle forbade Ash-Shighar, which means that somebody marries his daughter to somebody else, and the latter marries his daughter to the former without paying Mahr.

7:52 Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah and Salama bin Al-Akwa’
While we were in an army, Allah’s Apostle came to us and said, “You have been allowed to do the Mut’a (marriage), so do it.” Salama bin Al-Akwa’ said: Allah’s Apostle’s said, “If a man and a woman agree (to marry temporarily), their marriage should last for three nights, and if they like to continue, they can do so; and if they want to separate, they can do so.” I do not know whether that was only for us or for all the people in general. Abu Abdullah (Al-Bukhari) said: ‘Ali made it clear that the Prophet said, “The Mut’a marriage has been cancelled (made unlawful).”

7:54 Narrated by Sahl bin Sad
A woman presented herself to the Prophet (for marriage). A man said to him, “O Allah’s Apostle! (If you are not in need of her) marry her to me.” The Prophet said, “What have you got?” The man said, “I have nothing.” The Prophet said (to him), “Go and search for something) even if it were an iron ring.” The man went and returned saying, “No, I have not found anything, not even an iron ring; but this is my (Izar) waist sheet, and half of it is for her.” He had no Rida’ (upper garment). The Prophet said, “What will she do with your waist sheet? If you wear it, she will have nothing over her; and if she wears it, you will have nothing over you.” So the man sat down and when he had sat a long time, he got up (to leave). When the Prophet saw him (leaving), he called him back, or the man was called (for him), and he said to the man, “How much of the Quran do you know (by heart)?” The man replied I know such Sura and such Sura (by heart),” naming the Suras The Prophet said, “I have married her to you for what you know of the Quran “

7:58 Narrated by Sahl bin Sad
A woman came to Allah’s Apostle and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I have come to you to present myself to you (for marriage).” Allah’s Apostle glanced at her. He looked at her carefully and fixed his glance on her and then lowered his head. When the lady saw that he did not say anything, she sat down. A man from his companions got up and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! If you are not in need of her, then marry her to me.” The Prophet said, “Have you got anything to offer.” The man said, ‘No, by Allah, O Allah’s Apostle!” The Prophet said (to him), “Go to your family and try to find something.” So the man went and returned, saying, “No, by Allah, O Allah’s Apostle! I have not found anything.” The Prophet said, “Go again and look for something, even if it were an iron ring.” He went and returned, saying, “No, by Allah, O Allah’s Apostle! I could not find even an iron ring, but this is my Izar (waist sheet).’ He had no Rida (upper garment). He added, “I give half of it to her.” Allah’s Apostle said “What will she do with your Izar? If you wear it, she will have nothing over herself thereof (will be naked); and if she wears it, then you will have nothing over yourself thereof ‘ So the man sat for a long period and then got up (to leave). When Allah’s Apostle saw him leaving, he ordered that he e called back. When he came, the Prophet asked (him), “How much of the Qur’an do you know (by heart)?” The man replied, I know such Sura and such Sura and such Sura,” naming the suras. The Prophet said, “Can you recite it by heart?” He said, ‘Yes.” The Prophet said, “Go I let you marry her for what you know of the Quran (as her Mahr).

7:61 Narrated by Al-Hasan
Concerning the Verse: ‘Do not prevent them’ (2.232) Ma’qil bin Yasar told me that it was revealed in his connection. He said, “I married my sister to a man and he divorced her, and when her days of ‘Idda (three menstrual periods) were over, the man came again and asked for her hand, but I said to him, ‘I married her to you and made her your bed (your wife) and favored you with her, but you divorced her. Now you come to ask for her hand again? No, by Allah, she will never go back to you (again)!’ That man was not a bad man and his wife wanted to go back to him. So Allah revealed this Verse: ‘Do not prevent them.’ (2.232) So I said, ‘Now I will do it (let her go back to him), O Allah’s Apostle.”So he married her to him again.

7:67 Narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, “A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! How can we know her permission?” He said, “Her silence (indicates her permission).”

7:68 Narrated by ‘Aisha
I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! A virgin feels shy.” He said, “Her consent is (expressed by) her silence.”

7:69 Narrated by Khansa bint Khidam Al-Ansariya
That her father gave her in marriage when she was a matron and she disliked that marriage. So she went to Allah’s Apostle and he declared that marriage invalid.

7:73 Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar
The Prophet decreed that one should not try to cancel a bargain already agreed upon between some other persons (by offering a bigger price). And a man should not ask for the hand of a girl who is already engaged to his Muslim brother, unless the first suitor gives her up, or allows him to ask for her hand.

7:82 Narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, “It is not lawful for a woman (at the time of wedding) to ask for the divorce of her sister (i.e. the other wife of her would-be husband) in order to have everything for herself, for she will take only what has been written for her.”

7:92 Narrated by ‘Aisha
That she prepared a lady for a man from the Ansar as his bride and the Prophet said, “O ‘Aisha! Haven’t you got any amusement (during the marriage ceremony) as the Ansar like amusement?”

7:94 Narrated by Ibn Abbas
The Prophet said, “If anyone of you, when having sexual intercourse with his wife, says: Bismillah, Allahumma jannibni-Sh-Shaitan wa jannib-ish-Shaitan ma razaqtana, and if it is destined that they should have a child, then Satan will never be able to harm him.”

7:97 Narrated by Anas
The Prophet did not give a better wedding banquet on the occasion of marrying any of his wives than the one he gave on marrying Zainab, and that banquet was with (consisted of) one sheep.

7:101 Narrated by Safiyya bint Shaiba
The Prophet gave a banquet with two Mudds of barley on marrying some of his wives. (1 Mudd= 1 3/4 of a kilogram).

7:102 Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar
Allah’s Apostle said, “If anyone of you is invites to a wedding banquet, he must go for it (accept the invitation) .”

7:114 Narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not hurt (trouble) his neighbor. And I advise you to take care of the women, for they are created from a rib and the most crooked portion of the rib is its upper part; if you try to straighten it, it will break, and if you leave it, it will remain crooked, so I urge you to take care of the women.”

7:117 Narrated by ‘Aisha
Eleven women sat (at a place) and promised and contracted that they would not conceal anything of the news of their husbands. The first one said, “My husband is like the meat of a lean weak camel which is kept on the top of a mountain which is neither easy to climb, nor is the meat fat, so that one might put up with the trouble of fetching it.”

The second one said, “I shall not relate my husband’s news, for I fear that I may not be able to finish his story, for if I describe him, I will mention all his defects and bad traits.”

The third one said, “My husband is a tall man; if I describe him (and he hears of that) he will divorce me, and if I keep quiet, he will neither divorce me nor treat me as a wife.”

The fourth one said, “My husband is a moderate person like the night of Tihama which is neither hot nor cold. I am neither afraid of him, nor am I discontented with him.”

The fifth one said, “My husband, when entering (the house) is a leopard, and when going out, is a lion. He does not ask about whatever is in the house.”

The sixth one said, “If my husband eats. he eats too much (leaving the dishes empty), and if he drinks he leaves nothing, and if he sleeps he sleeps alone (away from me) covered in garments and does not stretch his hands here and there so as to know how I fare (get along).”

The seventh one said, “My husband is a wrong-doer or weak and foolish. All the defects are present in him. He may injure your head or your body or may do both.”

The eighth one said, “My husband is soft to touch like a rabbit and smells like a Zarnab (a kind of good smelling grass).”

The ninth one said, “My husband is a tall generous man wearing a long strap for carrying his sword. His ashes are abundant and his house is near to the people who would easily consult him.”

The tenth one said, “My husband is Malik, and what is Malik? Malik is greater than whatever I say about him. (He is beyond and above all praises which can come to my mind). Most of his camels are kept at home (ready to be slaughtered for the guests) and only a few are taken to the pastures. When the camels hear the sound of the lute (or the tambourine) they realize that they are going to be slaughtered for the guests.”

The eleventh one said, “My husband is Abu Zar and what is Abu Zar (i.e., what should I say about him)? He has given me many ornaments and my ears are heavily loaded with them and my arms have become fat (i.e., I have become fat). And he has pleased me, and I have become so happy that I feel proud of myself. He found me with my family who were mere owners of sheep and living in poverty, and brought me to a respected family having horses and camels and threshing and purifying grain . Whatever I say, he does not rebuke or insult me. When I sleep, I sleep till late in the morning, and when I drink water (or milk), I drink my fill. The mother of Abu Zar and what may one say in praise of the mother of Abu Zar? Her saddle bags were always full of provision and her house was spacious. As for the son of Abu Zar, what may one say of the son of Abu Zar? His bed is as narrow as an unsheathed sword and an arm of a kid (of four months) satisfies his hunger. As for the daughter of Abu Zar, she is obedient to her father and to her mother. She has a fat well-built body and that arouses the jealousy of her husband’s other wife. As for the (maid) slave girl of Abu Zar, what may one say of the (maid) slavegirl of Abu Zar? She does not uncover our secrets but keeps them, and does not waste our provisions and does not leave the rubbish scattered everywhere in our house.”

The eleventh lady added, “One day it so happened that Abu Zar went out at the time when the milk was being milked from the animals, and he saw a woman who had two sons like two leopards playing with her two breasts. (On seeing her) he divorced me and married her. Thereafter I married a noble man who used to ride a fast tireless horse and keep a spear in his hand. He gave me many things, and also a pair of every kind of livestock and said, ‘Eat (of this), O Um Zar, and give provision to your relatives.” She added, “Yet, all those things which my second husband gave me could not fill the smallest utensil of Abu Zar’s.”

‘Aisha then said: Allah’s Apostle said to me, “I am to you as Abu Zar was to his wife Um Zar.”

7:123 Narrated by Abu Huraira
Allah’s Apostle said, “It is not lawful for a lady to fast (Nawafil) without the permission of her husband when he is at home; and she should not allow anyone to enter his house except with his permission; and if she spends of his wealth (on charitable purposes) without being ordered by him, he will get half of the reward.”

7:124 Narrated by Usama
The Prophet said, “I stood at the gate of Paradise and saw that the majority of the people who entered it were the poor, while the wealthy were stopped at the gate (for the accounts). But the companions of the Fire were ordered to be taken to the Fire. Then I stood at the gate of the Fire and saw that the majority of those who entered it were women.”

7:138 Narrated by al-Qasim
Aisha said that whenever the Prophet intended to go on a journey, he drew lots among his wives (so as to take one of them along with him). During one of his journeys the lot fell on ‘Aisha and Hafsa. When night fell the Prophet would ride beside ‘Aisha and talk with her. One night Hafsa said to ‘Aisha, “Won’t you ride my camel tonight and I ride yours, so that you may see (me) and I see (you) (in new situation)?” ‘Aisha said, “Yes, (I agree.)” So ‘Aisha rode, and then the Prophet came towards ‘Aisha’s camel on which Hafsa was riding. He greeted Hafsa and then proceeded (beside her) till they dismounted (on the way). ‘Aisha missed him, and so, when they dismounted, she put her legs in the Idhkhir and said, “O Lord (Allah)! Send a scorpion or a snake to bite me for I am not to blame him (the Prophet ).

7:140 Narrated by Anas
The tradition, (of the Prophet) is that if someone marries a virgin and he has already a matron wife (with him), then he should stay with the virgin for seven days; and if someone marries a matron (and he has already a virgin wife with him) then he should stay with her for three days.

7:146 Narrated by Asma
Some lady said, “O Allah’s Apostle! My husband has another wife, so it is sinful of me to claim that he has given me what he has not given me (in order to tease her)?” Allah’s Apostle said, The one who pretends that he has been given what he has not been given, is just like the (false) one who wears two garments of falsehood.”

[Sa’d bin ‘Ubâda said: “If I saw a man with my wife, I would strike him with the sharp edge of the sword.” The Prophet said (to his companions), “Are you astonished by Sa’d’s (Ghira) sense of honour? (By Allah) I have a greater sense of Ghira than he has, and Allah has still more greater sense of Ghira than I have.”]

7:150 Narrated by Abu Huraira
The Prophet; said, “Allah has a sense of Ghira, and Allah’s sense of Ghira is provoked when a believer does something which Allah has prohibited.”

7:151 Narrated by Asma’ bint Abu Bakr
When Az-Zubair married me, he had no real property or any slave or anything else except a camel which drew water from the well, and his horse. I used to feed his horse with fodder and drew water and sew the bucket for drawing it, and prepare the dough, but I did not know how to bake bread. So our Ansari neighbors used to bake bread for me, and they were honorable ladies. I used to carry the date stones on my head from Zubair’s land given to him by Allah’s Apostle and this land was two third Farsakh (about two miles) from my house. One day, while I was coming with the date stones on my head, I met Allah’s Apostle along with some Ansari people. He called me and then, (directing his camel to kneel down) said, “Ikh! Ikh!” so as to make me ride behind him (on his camel). I felt shy to travel with the men and remembered Az-Zubair and his sense of Ghira, as he was one of those people who had the greatest sense of Ghira. Allah’s Apostle noticed that I felt shy, so he proceeded. I came to Az-Zubair and said, “I met Allah’s Apostle while I was carrying a load of date stones on my head, and he had some companions with him. He made his camel kneel down so that I might ride, but I felt shy in his presence and remembered your sense of Ghira (See the glossary). On that Az-Zubair said, “By Allah, your carrying the date stones (and you being seen by the Prophet in such a state) is more shameful to me than your riding with him.” (I continued serving in this way) till Abu Bakr sent me a servant to look after the horse, whereupon I felt as if he had set me free.

7:155 Narrated by Aisha
That Allah’s Apostle said to her, “I you are pleased with me or angry with me.” I said, “Whence do you know that?” He said, “When you are pleased with me, you say, ‘No, by the Lord of Muhammad,’ but when you are angry with me, then you say, ‘No, by the Lord of Abraham.’ ” Thereupon I said, “Yes (you are right), but by Allah, O Allah’s Apostle, I leave nothing but your name.”

7:159 Narrated by ‘Uqba bin ‘Amir
Allah’s Apostle said, “Beware of entering upon the ladies.” A man from the Ansar said, “Allah’s Apostle! What about Al-Hamu the in-laws of the wife (the brothers of her husband or his nephews etc.)?” The Prophet replied: The in-laws of the wife are death itself.

7:167 Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud
The Prophet said, “A woman should not look at or touch another woman to describe her to her husband in such a way as if he was actually looking at her.”

7:171 Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah
Allah’s Apostle said, “When anyone of you is away from his house for a long time, he should not return to his family at night.”

7:173 Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah
The Prophet said, “If you enter (your town) at night (after coming from a journey), do not enter upon your family till the woman whose husband was absent (from the house) shaves her pubic hair and the woman with unkempt hair, combs her hair” Allah’s Apostle further said, “(O Jabir!) Seek to have offspring, seek to have offspring!”

[The Statement of Allah : “0 Prophet! When you divorce women, divorce them at their ‘Iddah (prescribed periods) and count (accurately) their ‘Iddah (prescribed periods)].” (V.65:1)

7:178 Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar
That he had divorced his wife while she was menstruating during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle . ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab asked Allah’s Apostle about that. Allah’s Apostle said, “Order him (your son) to take her back and keep her till she is clean and then to wait till she gets her next period and becomes clean again, whereupon, if he wishes to keep her, he can do so, and if he wishes to divorce her he can divorce her before having sexual intercourse with her; and that is the prescribed period which Allah has fixed for the women meant to be divorced.”

7:180 Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar
(Divorcing my wife during her menses) was counted as one legal divorce.

7:181 Narrated by Al-Awza
I asked Az-Zuhri, “Which of the wives of the Prophet sought refuge with Allah from him?” He said “I was told by ‘Ursa that ‘Aisha said, ‘When the daughter of Al-Jaun was brought to Allah’s Apostle (as his bride) and he went near her, she said, “I seek refuge with Allah from you.” He said, “You have sought refuge with The Great; return to your family.”

7:182 Narrated by Abu Usaid
We went out with the Prophet to a garden called Ash-Shaut till we reached two walls between which we sat down. The Prophet said, “Sit here,” and went in (the garden). The Jauniyya (a lady from Bani Jaun) had been brought and lodged in a house in a date-palm garden in the home of Umaima bint An-Nu’man bin Sharahil, and her wet nurse was with her. When the Prophet entered upon her, he said to her, “Give me yourself (in marriage) as a gift.” She said, “Can a princess give herself in marriage to an ordinary man?” The Prophet raised his hand to pat her so that she might become tranquil. She said, “I seek refuge with Allah from you.” He said, “You have sought refuge with One Who gives refuge. Then the Prophet came out to us and said, “O Abu Usaid! Give her two white linen dresses to wear and let her go back to her family.” Narrated Sahl and Abu Usaid: The Prophet married Umaima bint Sharahil, and when she was brought to him, he stretched his hand towards her. It seemed that she disliked that, whereupon the Prophet ordered Abu Usaid to prepare her and to provide her with two white linen dresses. (See Hadith No. 541).

7:186 Narrated by ‘Aisha
The wife of Rifa’a Al-Qurazi came to Allah’s Apostle and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Rifa’a divorced me irrevocably. After him I married ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Az-Zubair Al-Qurazi who proved to be impotent.” Allah’s Apostle said to her, “Perhaps you want to return to Rifa’a? Nay (you cannot return to Rifa’a) until you and ‘Abdur-Rahman consummate your marriage.”

7:193 Narrated by ‘Aisha
Allah’s Apostle was fond of honey and sweet edible things and (it was his habit) that after finishing the ‘Asr prayer he would visit his wives and stay with one of them at that time. Once he went to Hafsa, the daughter of ‘Umar and stayed with her more than usual. I got jealous and asked the reason for that. I was told that a lady of her folk had given her a skin filled with honey as a present, and that she made a syrup from it and gave it to the Prophet to drink (and that was the reason for the delay). I said, “By Allah we will play a trick on him (to prevent him from doing so).” So I said to Sada bint Zam’a “The Prophet will approach you, and when he comes near you, say: ‘Have you taken Maghafir (a bad-smelling gum)?’ He will say, ‘No.’ Then say to him: ‘Then what is this bad smell which i smell from you?’ He will say to you, ‘Hafsa made me drink honey syrup.’ Then say: Perhaps the bees of that honey had sucked the juice of the tree of Al-‘Urfut.’ I shall also say the same. O you, Safiyya, say the same.” Later Sada said, “By Allah, as soon as he (the Prophet ) stood at the door, I was about to say to him what you had ordered me to say because I was afraid of you.” So when the Prophet came near Sada, she said to him, “O Allah’s Apostle! Have you taken Maghafir?” He said, “No.” She said. “Then what is this bad smell which I detect on you?” He said, “Hafsa made me drink honey syrup.” She said, “Perhaps its bees had sucked the juice of Al-‘Urfut tree.” When he came to me, I also said the same, and when he went to Safiyya, she also said the same. And when the Prophet again went to Hafsa, she said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Shall I give you more of that drink?” He said, “I am not in need of it.” Sada said, “By Allah, we deprived him (of it).” I said to her, “Keep quiet.” ‘

7:197 Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas
The wife of Thabit bin Qais came to the Prophet and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I do not blame Thabit for defects in his character or his religion, but I, being a Muslim, dislike to behave in un-Islamic manner (if I remain with him).” On that Allah’s Apostle said (to her), “Will you give back the garden which your husband has given you (as Mahr)?” She said, “Yes.” Then the Prophet said to Thabit, “O Thabit! Accept your garden, and divorce her once.”

7:206 Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas
Barira’s husband was a slave called Mughith, as if I am seeing him now, going behind Barira and weeping with his tears flowing down his beard. The Prophet said to ‘Abbas, “O ‘Abbas ! are you not astonished at the love of Mughith for Barira and the hatred of Barira for Mughith?” The Prophet then said to Barira, “Why don’t you return to him?” She said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Do you order me to do so?” He said, “No, I only intercede for him.” She said, “I am not in need of him.”

7:224 Narrated by Sahl
Allah’s Apostle said, “I and the one who looks after an orphan will be like this in Paradise,” showing his middle and index fingers and separating them.

7:225 Narrated by Abu Huraira
A man came to the Prophet and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! A black child has been born for me.” The Prophet asked him, “Have you got camels?” The man said, “Yes.” The Prophet asked him, “What color are they?” The man replied, “Red.” The Prophet said, “Is there a grey one among them?’ The man replied, “Yes.” The Prophet said, “Whence comes that?” He said, “May be it is because of heredity.” The Prophet said, “May be your latest son has this color because of heredity.”

7:232 Narrated by Said bin Jubair
I asked Ibn ‘Umar about those who were involved in a case of Lien. He said, “The Prophet said to those who were involved in a case of Lien, ‘Your accounts are with Allah. One of you two is a liar, and you (the husband) have no right over her (she is divorced).” The man said, ‘What about my property (Mahr) ?’ The Prophet said, ‘You have no right to get back your property. If you have told the truth about her then your property was for the consummation of your marriage with her; and if you told a lie about her, then you are less rightful to get your property back.’ ” Sufyan, a sub-narrator said: I learned the Hadith from ‘Amr. Narrated Aiyub: I heard Sa’id bin Jubair saying, “I asked Ibn ‘Umar, ‘If a man (accuses his wife for an illegal sexual intercourse and) carries out the process of Lian (what will happen)?’ Ibn ‘Umar set two of his fingers apart. (Sufyan set his index finger and middle finger apart.) Ibn ‘Umar said, ‘The Prophet separated the couple of Bani Al-Ajlan by divorce and said thrice, “Allah knows that one of you two is a liar; so will one of you repent (to Allah)?’ “

7:252 Narrated by Um Salama
A woman was bereaved of her husband and her relatives worried about her eyes (which were diseased). They came to Allah’s Apostle, and asked him to allow them to treat her eyes with kohl, but he said, “She should not apply kohl to her eyes. (In the Pre-Islamic period of Ignorance) a widowed woman among you would stay in the worst of her clothes (or the worst part of her house) and when a year had elapsed, if a dog passed by her, she would throw a globe of dung, Nay, (she cannot use kohl) till four months and ten days have elapsed.” Narrated Um Habiba: The Prophet said, “It is not lawful for a Muslim woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for more than three days, except for her husband, for whom she should mourn for four months and ten days.”

IN SAHIH MUSLIM

Marriage is a social institution as old as the human race itself. It may be defined as relations between a man and a woman which is recognized by custom or law and involves certain rights and duties, both in the case of the parties entering the Union, and in case of the children born of it. Marriage has thus two main functions to perform: it is the means adopted by human society for regulating relations between the sexes; and it furnishes the mechanism by means of which the relations of a child to the community is determined.

The rites and ceremonies of marriage have been different with different peoples and in different ages but these two functions mentioned above are common throughout. It always implies the right of sexual intercourse as allowed and recognized by society and the duties of the parents in bringing up children.

Islam recognizes this institution and accepts it as the basis of human society after purging it of all those evils which had penetrated it.

Firstly, Islam does not regard it as a union only for the gratification of sexual lust, but a social contract with wide and varied responsibilities and duties. The reason behind it is that, according to the Divine Faith, a woman is not a plaything in the hand of man but a spiritual and moral being who is entrusted to him on the sacred pledge to which Allah is made a witness. The wife is, therefore, not meant to provide sensuous pleasure only to the male, but to fully cooperate with him in making the life of the family and ultimately of the whole humanity significantly meaningful.

The Holy Qur’an has in so many verses pointed out the different purposes of marriage. It states: “And of His signs is that He has created wives for you from yourselves that you might find quiet of wind in them, and He put between you love and affection” (xxx. 21). In this verse it has been said that the female is not inferior to the male in the sense that the former is created out of a superior stuff while the latter comes of a base origin. Both man and woman are the progeny of Adam and thus both have the same soul. The purpose of marriage, according to the Holy Qur’an, is therefore, the union of the two souls which are one in essence. Their separate existence is an unnatural state of their being which changes into the natural state when they are united by marriage and thus are brought close to each other physically, mentally and emotionally.

Both man and woman are the joint heirs of the grace of life, and unless there is a very close and intimate form of companionship in them, they cannot enjoy the true grace of life. “He it is Who created you from a single soul, and of the same did He make his spouse, that he might find comfort in her” (vii. 189). “Comfort” implies much more than a mere sexual gratification. It is not too much to say that the whole conception of the marriage relation in Islam is charged with spiritual and moral ideas, and must of necessity elevate the status of matrimonial alliance in the individual and social life.

In Islam the union of the sexes has been purified and the joy of the married relation secured by the absolute prohibition of every kind of extra matrimonial connection. The Holy Qur’an stresses upon the people to marry as it is the most effective means whereby one can lead a virtuous life free from immorality and emotional inhibition. The Holy Qur’an says: “They (your wives) are as a garment to you, and you are as a garment to them” (ii. 187). The mutual relation of husband and wife is here described in words which could not be surpassed in beauty. Herein is the correct description of the relationship between the two. The husband and the wife are for mutual support, mutual comfort and mutual protection, fitting into each other as garments fit into each other.

Then the Holy Qur’an also makes it clear that this union is not a temporary relationship between two individuals of opposite sexes: It is a permanent and enduring relationship in the sense that both the parties should put in their earnest endeavors to lead their lives in perfect harmony and acquitting themselves creditably of the responsibilities saddled upon them by entering into this sacred contract.

The Holy Qur’an further points out that sexual gratification in the married life is not meant only for the satisfaction of the physical lust, but it must be directed to some higher ends. “Your women are tilth for you, so go into your tilth as ye like, and provide beforehand for your souls, and fear Allah and know that you are going to meet Him” (iii. 223). Here the wives are likened to the cultivable land which are ploughed for sowing and reaping the produce (in the form of offspring) and not merely for carnal indulgence. The concluding part of the verse refers to still higher and sublime ends which tell that even in the height of carnal pleasures the moral and spiritual responsibilities should not in any way be lost sight of; rather one should be more conscious to them when one is enjoying physical pleasures as these are the moments when the fear of the Lord and the accountability in the Hereafter is likely to be blurred or effaced from one’s mind.

Book 8: Number 3231: ‘Alqama reported: While I was walking with ‘Abdullah at Mina, ‘Uthman happened to meet him. He stopped there and began to talk with him. Uthman said to him: Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman, should we not marry you to a young girl who may recall to you some of the past of your bygone days; thereupon he said: If you say so, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said:  young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it restrains eyes from casting (evil glances). and preserves one from immorality; but those who cannot should devote themselves to fasting for it is a means of controlling sexual desire.

Book 8: Number 3232: ‘Alqama reported: While I was going along with ‘Abdullah b. Ma’sud (Allah he pleased with him) in Mina, ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan (Allah be pleased with him) happened to meet him and said: Come here, Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman (kunya of Abdullah b. Mas’ud), and he isolated him (from me), and when ‘Abdullah (b. Mas’ud) saw that there was no need (for this privacy), he said to me: ‘Alqama, come on, and so I went there. (Then) ‘Uthman said to him: Abu Abd al-Rahman, should we not marry you to a virgin girl that your past may be recalled to your mind? ‘Abdullah said: If you say so, the rest of the hadith is the same as narrated above.

Book 8: Number 3233: Abdullah (b. Mas’ud) (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to us:  young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it restrains eyes (from casting evil glances) and preserves one from immorality; but he who cannot afford It should observe fast for it is a means of controlling the sexual desire.

Book 8: Number 3234: Abu al-Rahman b. Yazid said: I and my uncle ‘Alqama and al-Aswad went to ‘Abdullah b. Mas’ud (Allah be pleased with him). He (the narrator further) said: I was at that time young, and he narrated a hadith which it seemed he narrated for me that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said like one transmitted by Mu’awiya, and further added: I lost no time in marrying.

Book 8: Number 3235: ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Yazid reported on the authority of Abdullah: We went to him, and I was the youngest of all (of us), but he did not mention:” I lost no time in marrying.”

Book 8: Number 3236: Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that some of the Companions of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) asked his (the Prophet’s) wives about the acts that he performed in private. Someone among them (among his Companions) said: I will not marry women; someone among them said: I will not eat meat; and someone among them said: I will not lie down in bed. He (the Holy Prophet) praised Allah and glorified Him, and said: What has happened to these people that they say so and so, whereas I observe prayer and sleep too; I observe fast and suspend observing them; I marry women also? And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with Me

Book 8: Number 3237: Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) rejected (the idea) of Uthman b. Muz’unliving in celibacy (saying): And if he (the Holy Prophet) had given me permission We would have got ourselves castrated.

Book 8: Number 3238: Sa’id b. al-Musayyib reported: I heard Sa’d (b. Abi Waqqas) saying that the idea of ‘Uthman b. Maz’un for living in celibacy was rejected (by the Holy Prophet), and if he had been given permission they would have got themselves castrated.

Book 8: Number 3239: Sa’id b. al Musayyib heard Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas (Allah be pleased with him) saying that Uthman b. Maz’un decided to live in celibacy, but Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade him to do so, and if he had permitted him, we would have got ourselves castrated.

Book 8: Number 3240: Jabir reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) saw a woman, and so he came to his wife, Zainab, as she was tanning a leather and had sexual intercourse with her. He then went to his Companions and told them: The woman advances and retires in the shape of a devil, so when one of you sees a woman, he should come to his wife, for that will repel what he feels in his heart.

Book 8: Number 3241: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) saw a woman; and the rest of the hadith was narrated but (with this exception) that he said he came to his wife Zainab, who was tanning a (piece of) leather, and he made no mention of:” She retires in the shape of satan.”

Book 8: Number 3242: Jabir heard Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) say: When a woman fascinates any one of you and she captivates his heart, he should go to his wife and have an intercourse with her, for it would repel what he feels.

Book 8: Number 3243: Abdullah (b. Mas’ud) reported: We were on an expedition with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and we had no women with us. We said: Should we not have ourselves castrated? He (the Holy Prophet) forbade us to do so He then granted us permission that we should contract temporary marriage for a stipulated period giving her a garment, and ‘Abdullah then recited this verse: ‘Those who believe do not make unlawful the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, and do not transgress. Allah does not like trangressers” (al-Qur’an, v. 87).

Book 8: Number 3244: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Jarir with the same chain of transmitters and he also recited this (above mentioned verse) to us, but he did not say that ‘Abdullah recited it.

Book 8: Number 3245: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Isma’il with the same chain of transmitters (and the words are):” We were young, so we said: Allah’s Messenger, should we not have ourselves castrated? But he (the narrator) did not say; We were on an expedition.”

Book 8: Number 3246: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah and Salama b. al-Akwa’ said: There came to us the proclaimer of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) has granted you permission to benefit yourselves, i. e. to contract temporary marriage with women.

Book 8: Number 3247: Salama b. al. Akwa’ and Jabir b. Abdullah reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came to us and permitted us to contract temporary marriage.

Book 8: Number 3248: Ibn Uraij reported: ‘Ati’ reported that jibir b. Abdullah came to perform ‘Umra, and we came to his abode, and the people asked him about different things, and then they made a mention of temporary marriage, whereupon he said: Yes, we had been benefiting ourselves by this temporary marriage during the lifetime of theHoly Prophet (may peace be upon him) and during the tinie of Abi! Bakr and ‘Umar.

Book 8: Number 3249: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah reported: We contracted temporary marriage giving a handful of (tales or flour as a dower during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and durnig the time of Abu Bakr until ‘Umar forbade it in the case of ‘Amr b. Huraith.

Book 8: Number 3250: Abu Nadra reported: While I was in the company of Jabir b. Abdullah, a person came to him and said that Ibn ‘Abbas and Ibn Zubair differed on the two types of Mut’as (Tamattu’ of Hajj 1846 and Tamattu’ with women), whereupon Jabir said: We used to do these two during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). Umar then forbade us to do them, and so we did not revert to them.

Book 8: Number 3251: Iyas b. Salama reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave sanction for contracting temporary marriage for three nights in the year of Autas 1847 and then forbade it.

Book 8: Number 3252: Sabra Juhanni reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) permitted temporary marriage for us. So I and another person went out and saw a woman of Bana ‘Amir, who was like a young long necked she camel. We presented ourselves to her (for contracting temporary marriage), whereupon she said: What dower would you give me? I said: My cloak. And my companion also said: My cloak. And the cloak of my companion was superior to my cloak, but I was younger than he. So when she looked at the cloak of my companion she liked it, and when she cast a glance at me I looked more attractive to her. She then said: Well, you and your cloak are sufficient for me. I remained with her for three nights, and then Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He who has any such woman with whom he had contracted temporary marriage, he should let her off.

Book 8: Number 3253: Rabi’ b. Sabra reported that his father went on an expedition with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) during the Victory of Mecca, and we stayed there for fifteen days (i. e. for thirteen full days and a day and a night), and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) permitted us to contract temporary marriage with women. So I and another person of my tribe went out, and I was more handsome than he, whereas he was almost ugly. Each one of us had a cloaks, My cloak was worn out, whereas the cloak of my cousin was quite new. As we reached the lower or the upper side of Mecca, we came across a young woman like a young smart long necked she camel. We said: Is it possible that one of us may contract temporary marriage with you? She said: What will you give me as a dower? Each one of us spread his cloak. She began to cast a glance on both the persons. My companion also looked at her when she was casting a glance at her side and he said: This cloak of his is worn out, whereas my cloak is quite new. She, however, said twice or thrice: There is no harm in (accepting) this cloak (the old one). So I contracted temporary marriage with her, and I did not come out (of this) until Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) declared it forbidden.

Book 8: Number 3254: Rabi’ b. S’abra al-jahanni reported on the authority of his father. We went with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) to Mecca during the year of Victory and he narrated like this a hadith transmitted by Bishr (the previous one) but with this addition:” She said: Can it be possible?” And it is also mentioned in it:” He said: The cloak of this (man) is old and worn out.”

Book 8: Number 3255: Sabra al-Juhanni reported on the authority of his father that while he was with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon hm) he said:  people, I had permitted you to contract temporary marriage with women, but Allah has forbidden it (now) until the Day of Resurrection. So he who has any (woman with this type of marriage contract) he should let her off, and do not take back anything you have given to then (as dower).

Book 8: Number 3256: This  hadith  has  been  narrated  on  the  authority  of  ‘Abd  al-‘Aziz  b  ‘Umar  with  the  same  chain of transmitters, and he said: I saw Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) standing between the pillar and the gate (of the Ka’ba) and he was relating a hadith as narrated by Ibn Numair.

Book 8: Number 3257: ‘Abd al-Malik b. Rabi’ b. Sabraal Juhanni reported on the authority of his father who narrated it on the authority of his father (i e. ‘Abd al-Malik’s grandfather, Sabura al-juhanni): Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) permitted us to contract temporary marriage in the Year of Victory, as we entered Mecca, and we did come out of it but he forbade us to do it.

Book 8: Number 3258: Sabra b. Ma’bad reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) permitted his Companions to contract temporary marriage with women in the Year of Victory. So I and a friend of mine from Banu Sulaim went out, until we found a young woman of Banu Amir who was like a young she camel having a long neck. We made proposal to her for contracting temporary marriage with us, and presented to her our cloaks (as dower). She began to look and found me more handsome than my friend, but found the cloak of my friend more beautiful than my cloak. She thought in her wind for a while, but then preferred me to my friend. So I remained with her for three (nights), and then Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded us to part with them (such women).

Book 8: Number 3259: Rabi’ b. Sabra reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) prohibited the contracting of temporary marriage.

Book 8: Number 3260: Rabi’ b. Sabra reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade on the Day of Victory to contract temporary marriage with women. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Rabi’ b. Sabra that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade to contracf temporary marriage with women at the time of Victory, and that his father had contracted the marriage for two red cloaks.

Book 8: Number 3261: ‘Urwa b. Zabair reported that ‘Abdullah b. Zubair (Allah be pleased with him) stood up (and delivered an address) in Mecca saying: Allah has made blind the hearts of some people as He has deprived them of eyesight that they give religious verdict in favour of temporary marriage, while he was alluding to a person (Ibn ‘Abbas). Ibn Abbas called him and said: You are an uncouth person, devoid of sense. By my life, Mut’a was practised during the lifetime of the leader of the pious (he meant Allah’s Messenger, may peace be upon him), and Ibn Zubair said to him: just do it yourselves, and by Allah, if you do that I will stone you with your stones. Ibn Shihab said. Khalid b. Muhajir b. Saifullah informed me: While I was sitting in the company of a person, a person came to him and he asked for a religious verdict about Mut’a and he permitted him to do it. Ibn Abu ‘Amrah al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) said to him: Be gentle. It was permitted in the early days of Islam, (for one) who was driven to it under the stress of necessity just as (the eating of) carrion and the blood and flesh of swine and then Allah intensified (the commands of) His religion and prohibited it (altogether). Ibn Shihab reported: Rabi’ b. Sabra told me that his father (Sabra) said: I contracted temporary marriage with a woman of Banu ‘Amir for two cloaks during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) ; then he forbade us to do Mut’a. Ibn Shihab said: I heard Rabi’ b. Sabra narrating it to Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz and I was sitting there.

Book 8: Number 3262: Sabra al-Juhanni reported on the authority of his father: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited the contracting of temporary marriage and said: Behold, it is forbidden from this very day of yours to the Day of Resurrection, and he who has given something (as a dower) should not take it back.

Book 8: Number 3263: ‘Ali b. AbiTalib reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited on the Day of Khaibar the contracting of temporary marriage with women and the eating of the flesh of domestic asses.

Book 8: Number 3264: Malik narrated this hadith on the authority of the same chain of transwitters that ‘Ali b. Abil Talib said to a person: You are a person led astray; Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade us (to do Mut’a), as is stated In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Yahya b. Malik.

Book 8: Number 3265: Muhammad b. ‘Ali narrated on the authority of his father ‘Ali that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) on the Day of Khaibar prohibited forever the contracting of temporary marriage and eating of the flesh of the domestic asses.

Book 8: Number 3266: ‘Ali (Allah be pleased with him) heard that Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) gave some relaxation in connection with the contracting of temporary marriage, whereupon he said: Don’t be hasty (in your religious verdict), Ibn ‘Abbas, for Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) on the Day of Khaibar prohibited forever the doing of it And eating of the flesh of domestic asses.

Book 8: Number 3267: ‘Ali (Allah be pleased with him) said to Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) on the Day of Khaibar forbade forever the contracting of temporary marriage and the eating of the flesh of domestic asses.

Book 8: Number 3268: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace upon him) having said this: One should not combine a woman and her father’s sister, nor a woman and her mother’s sister in marriage.

Book 8: Number 3269: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade combining of four women in marriage: a woman with her tather’s sister, and a woman with her mother’s sister.

Book 8: Number 3270: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) say: Father’s sister should not be combined with her brother’s daughter, nor the daughter of a sister with her mother’s sister.

Book 8: Number 3271: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade a person to combine in marriage a womanarid her father’s sister, and a woman and her mother’s sister. Ibn Shihab said: So we regarded the paternal aunt of her (wife’s) father and the maternal aunt of her (wife’s) father at the same level.

Book 8: Number 3272: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: One should not combine in marriage a woman with her father’s sister, or her mother’s sister.

Book 8: Number 3273: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) through another chain of transmitters.

Book 8: Number 3274: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: A man must not make proposal of marriage to a woman when his brother has done so already. And he must not offer a price for a thing for which his brother had already offered a price; and a woman must not be combined in marriage with her father’s sister, nor with her mother’s sister, and a woman must not ask to have her sister divorced in order to deprive her of what belongs to her, but she must marry, because she will have what Allah has decreed for her.

Book 8: Number 3275: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade the combining of a woman in marriage with her father’s sister, or with her mother’s sister, or that a woman should ask for divorce for her sister in order to deprive her of what belongs to her. Allah, the Exalted’and Majestic, is her Sustainer too.

Book 8: Number 3276: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade to combine a woman and her father’s sister, and a woman and her mother’s sister.

Book 8: Number 3277: A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of Amr b. Dinar

Book 8: Number 3278: Nubaih b. Wahb reported that ‘Umar b. Ubaidullah intended to marry Talha b. ‘Umar with the daughter of Shaiba b. Jubair; so he sent a messenger to Aban b. Uthman to attend the marriage, and he was at that time the Amir of Hajj. Aban said: I heard ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan say that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had stated: A Muhrim must neither marry himself, nor arrange the marriage of another one, nor should he make the proposal of marriage.

Book 8: Number 3279: Nubaih b. Wahb reported: Umar b. Ubaidullah b. Ma’mar sent me to Aban b. Uthman as he wanted to make the proposal of the marriage of his son with the daughter of Shaiba b. Uthman. He (Aban b. Uthman) was at that time (busy) in the season of Pilgrimage. He said: I deem him to be a man of the desert (for it is a common thing) that a Muhrim can neither marry, nor is he allowed to be married to anyone. It is Uthman (b. Affan) who reported this to us from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him).

Book 8: Number 3280: Uthman b. ‘Affan reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had said: A Muhrim should neither marry himself, nor should he be got married to anyone, nor should he make the proposal of marriage.

Book 8: Number 3281: ‘Uthman (b. ‘Affan) reported it directly from Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) that he said: A Muhrim should neither marry (in that state) nor make the proposal of marriage.

Book 8: Number 3282: Nabaih b. Wahb reported that Umar b. ‘Ubaidullah b. Ma’mar intended to marry his son Talha with the daughter of Shaiba b. Jubair during the Pilgrimage. Aban b. Uthman was at that time the Amir of Pilgrims. So he (‘Umar b. Ubaidullah) sent someone (as a messenger) to Aban saying: I intend to marry Talha b. ‘Umar and I earnestly desire you to be present there (in this ceremony of marriage). Aban said to him: I find you a block headed ‘Iraqi. I heard ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan say that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: A Muhrim should not marry.

Book 8: Number 3283: Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) married Maimulna in the state of Ihram. Ibn Numair made this addition:” I narrated it to Zuhri and he said: Yazid b. al-Asamm (Allah be pleased with him) told me that he (the Holy Prophet) married her when he was not a muhrim.”

Book 8: Number 3284: Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported: Allah’s Messenger. (may peace be upon him) married Maimuna while he was a Muhrim.

Book 8: Number 3285: Yazid b. al-Asamm reported: Maimuna daughter of al-Harith narrated to me that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) married her and he was not in the state of Ihram. And she (Maimuna) was my mother’s sister and that of Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them).

Book 8: Number 3286: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as having said this: None amongst you should out bid another in a transaction, nor should he make proposals of marriage upon the proposal made by someone else.

Book 8: Number 3287: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as having said this: A person should not enter into a transaction when his brother (had already entered into but not finalised), and he should not make proposal of marriage upon the proposal already made by his brother, until he permits it.

Book 8: Number 3288: A hadith like this has been reported on the authority of Nafi’ with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 8: Number 3289: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as having forbidden a dweller of the town selling the merchandise of a villager or outbidding in a sale (in order that another might fall into a snare), or a person making the proposal of marriage when his brother has already made such a proposal, or entering into a transaction when his brother has already entered; and a woman asking the divorce of her sister in order to deprive her of what belongs to her. ‘Amr made this addition:” The person should not purchase in opposition to his brother.”

Book 8: Number 3290: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as having said this: Do not outbid in a sale in order to ensnare. No man should enter into a transaction in which his brother has already entered, and no dweller of the town should sell on behalf of the villager. And no man should make a proposal of marriage which his brother has already made and no woman should ask for the divorce of another (co wife) in order to deprive her of what belongs to her.

Book 8: Number 3291: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight alteration.

Book 8: Number 3292: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The Muslim should not purchase in opposition to his brother, and he should not make the proposal of marriage on the proposal already made by his brother.

Book 8: Number 3293: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) through another chain of transmitters.

Book 8: Number 3294: ‘Uqba b. ‘Amir said on the pulpit that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: A believer is the brother of a believer, so it is not lawful for a believer to outbid his brother, and he should not propose an engagement when his brother has thus proposed until he gives it up.

Book 8: Number 3295: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) said that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited Shighar which means that a man gives his daughter in marriage on the condition that the other gives his daughter to him in marriage without any dower being paid by either.

Book 8: Number 3296: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of” Abdullah b. ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) but with a slight variation of words.

Book 8: Number 3297: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited Shighar.

Book 8: Number 3298: Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as having said: There is no Shighar in islam.

Book 8: Number 3299: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited Shighar. Ibn Numair added: Shighar means that a person should say to the other person: Give me the hand of your daughter in marriage and I will (in return) marry my daughter to you; or merry me your sister, and I will marry my sister to you.

Book 8: Number 3300: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Vmar with the same chain of transmitters, but there is no mention of Ibn Numair.

Book 8: Number 3301: Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited Shighar.

Book 8: Number 3302: ‘Uqba b. Amir (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The most worthy condition which must be fulfilled is that which makes sexual intercourse lawful. In the narration transmitted by Ibn Muthanna (instead of the word” condition” ) it is” conditions”.

Book 8: Number 3303: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as having said: A woman without a husband (or divorced or a widow) must not be married until she is consulted, and a virgin must not be married until her permission is sought. They asked the Prophet of Allah (may peace be upon him): How her (virgin’s) consent can be solicited? He (the Holy Prophet) said: That she keeps silence.

Book 8: Number 3304: This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.

Book 8: Number 3305: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: I asked Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) about a virgin whose marriage is solemnised by her guardian, whether it was necessary or not to consult her. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Yes, she must be consulted. ‘A’isha reported: I told him that she feels shy, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Her silence implies her consent.

Book 8: Number 3306: Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: A woman without a husband has wore right to her person than her guardian, and a virgin’s consent must be asked from her, and her silence implies her consent.

Book 8: Number 3307: Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: A woman who has been previously married (Thayyib) has more right to her person than her guardian. And a virgin should also be consulted, and her silence implies her consent.

Book 8: Number 3308: Sufyan reported on the basis of the same chain of transmitters (and the words are): A woman who has been previously married (Thayyib) has more right to her person than her guardian; and a virgin’s father must ask her consent from her, her consent being her silence, At times he said: Her silence is her affirmation.

Book 8: Number 3309: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) married me when I was six years old, and I was admitted to his house at the age of nine. She further said: We went to Medina and I had an attack of fever for a month, and my hair had come down to the earlobes. Umm Ruman (my mother) came to me and I was at that time on a swing along with my playmates. She called me loudly and I went to her and I did not know what she had wanted of me. She took hold of my hand and took me to the door, and I was saying: Ha, ha (as if I was gasping), until the agitation of my heart was over. She took me to a house, where had gathered the women of the Ansar. They all blessed me and wished me good luck and said: May you have share in good. She (my mother) entrusted me to them. They washed my head and embellished me and nothing frightened me. Allah’s Messenger (, may peace be upon him) came there in the morning, and I was entrusted to him.

Book 8: Number 3310: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) married me when I was six years old, and I was admitted to his house when I was nine years old.

Book 8: Number 3311: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) married her when she was seven years old, and he was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old.

Book 8: Number 3312: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) contracted marriage with me in Shawwal and took me to his house as a bride during Shawwal. And who among the wives of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was dearer to him than I, and’ A’isha liked that the women (of her family) should enter the houses as brides during the month of Shawwal.

Book 8: Number 3313: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Sufyan with the same chain of transmitters, but he made no mention of the act of ‘A’isha (being admitted as a wife in the house of the Holy Prophet).

Book 8: Number 3314: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was in the company of Allah’s Messenger (way peace be upan him) when there came a man and informed him that he had contracted to marry a woman of the Ansar. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Did you cast a glance at her? He said: No. He said: Go and cast a glance at her, for there is something in the eyes of the Ansar.

Book 8: Number 3315: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: I have contracted marriage with a woman of the Ansar, whereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Did you cast a glance at her, for there is something in the eyes of the Ansar? He said: I did cast a glance at her, whereupon he said: For what (dower) did you marry her? He said: For four ‘uqiyas. Thereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: For four ‘uqiyas; it seems as if you dig out silver from the side of this mountain (and that is why you are prepared to pay such a large amount of dower). We have nothing which we should give you. There is a possibility that we may send you to an (expedition) where you may get (booty). So he sent that man (in the expedition) which was despatched to Banu ‘Abs.

Book 8: Number 3316: Sahl b. Sa’d al-Sa’idi (Allah be pleased with him) reported: A woman came to Allah’s Messenger. (may peace be upon him) and said: Messenger of Allah, I have come to you to entrust myself to you (you may contract my marriage with anyone at your discretion). Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) saw her and cast a glance at her from head to foot. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) then lowered his head. When the woman saw that he had made no decision in regard to her, she sat down. There stood up a person from amongst his companions and said: Messenger of Allah, marry her to me if you have no need of her. He (the Holy Prophet) said: is there anything with you (which you con give as a dower)? He said: No, Messenger of Allah, by Allah I have nothing. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Go to your people (family) and see if you can find something. He returned and said: I have found nothing. The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: See even if it is an Iron ring. He went and returned and said: No, by God, not even an iron ring, but only this lower garment of mine (Sahl said that he had no upper garment), half of which (I am prepared to part with) for her. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: How can your lower garment serve your purpose, for it you wear it, she would not be able to make any use of it and if she wears it there would not be anything on you? The man sat down and as the sitting prolonged he stood up (in disappointment) and as he was going back Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded (him) to be called back, and as he came, he said to him: Do you know any part of the Qur’an? He said: I know such and such surahs (and he counted them). whereupon he said: Can you recite them from heart (from your memory)? He said: Yes, whereupon he (Allah’s Messenger) said: Go, I have given her to you in marriage for the part of the Qur’an which you know.

Book 8: Number 3317: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Sahl b. Sa’d with a minor alteration of words, but the hadith transmitted through Za’idah (the words are that the Holy Prophet) said: Go, I have married her to you, and you teach her something of the Qur’an.

Book 8: Number 3318: Abu Salama b. ‘Abd al-Rahman reported: I asked ‘A’isha, the wife of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him): What is the amount of dower of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him)? She said: It was twelve ‘uqiyas and one nash. She said: Do you know what is al-nash? I said: No. She said: It is half of uqiya, and it amounts to five hundred dirhams, and that was the dower given by Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) to his wives.

Book 8: Number 3319: Anas b. Malik reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) saw the trace of yellowness on ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Auf and said: What is this? Thereupon he said: Allah’s Messenger, I have married a woman for a date stone’s weight of gold. He said: God bless you! Hold a wedding feast, even if only with a sheep.

Book 8: Number 3320: Anas b. Malik (Allah be pleasedwith him) reported that ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Auf (Allah be pleased with him) married during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) for a nawat weight of gold and the messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said to him: Give a feast even with a sheep.

Book 8: Number 3321: Anas b. Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported that ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Auf (Allah be pleased with  him)  married  a  woman  for  a  date stone’s  weight  of  gold  and  Allah’s  Apostle  (may  peace  be upon him) said to him: Hold a wedding feast, even if only with a sheep.

Book 8: Number 3322: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Humaid with the same chain of transmitters except (with this minor alteration of words) that ‘Abd al-Rahman said:” I married a woman.”

Book 8: Number 3323: Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Auf (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) saw the signs of the happiness of wedding in me, and I said: I have married a woman of the Ansar. He said: How much Mahr have you paid? I said: For a date stone weight of gold. And in the hadith transmitted by Ishaq (it is): (nawat weight) of gold.

Book 8: Number 3324: Anas b. Malik reported that ‘Abd al-Rahman married a woman for a datestone weight of gold. Shu’ba has narrattd this hadith with the same chain of transmitters except for (this alteration) that he said that a person from among the sons of ‘Abd al Rahman said:” from gold”.

Book 8: Number 3325: Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) set out on an expedition to Khaibar and we observed our morning prayer in early hours of the dawn. The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) then mounted and so did Abu Talha ride, and I was seating myself behind Abu Talha. Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) moved in the narrow street of Khaibar (and we rode so close to each other in the street) that my knee touched the leg of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him). (A part of the) lower garment of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) slipped from his leg and I could see the whiteness of the leg of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him). As he entered the habitation he called: Allah o Akbar (Allah is the Greatest). Khaibar is ruined. And when we get down in the valley of a people evil is the morning of the warned ones. He repeated it thrice. In the meanwhile the people went out for their work, and said: By Allah, Muhammad  (has  come).  Abd  al-‘Aziz  or  some  of  our  companions  said:  Muhammad  and  the  army (have come). He said: We took it (the territory of Khaibar) by force, and there were gathered the prisoners of war. There came Dihya and he said: Messenger of Allah, bestow upon me a girl ont of the prisones. He said: Go and get any girl. He made a choice for Safiyya daughter of Huyayy (b. Akhtab). There came a person to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and said: Apostle of Allah, you have bestowed Safiyya bint Huyayy, the chief of Quraiza and al-Nadir, upon Dihya and she is worthy of you only. He said: Call him along with her. So he came along with her. When Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) saw her he said: Take any other woman from among the prisoners. He (the narrator) said: He (the Holy Prophet) then granted her emancipation and married her. Thabit said to him: Abu Hamza, how much dower did he (the Holy Prophet) give to her? He said: He granted her freedom and then married her. On the way Umm Sulaim embellished her and then sent her to him (the Holy Prophet) at night. Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) appeared as a bridegroom in the morning. He (the Holy Prophet) said: He who has anything (to eat) should bring that. Then the cloth was spread. A person came with cheese, another came with dates, and still another came with refined butter, and they prepared hais and that was the wedding feast of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him)

Book 8: Number 3326: This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters on the authority of Anas that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) emancipated Safiyya, and her emancipation was treated as her wedding gift, and in the hadith transmitted by Mu’adh on the authority of his father (the words are):” He (the Holy Prophet) married Safiyya and bestowed her emancipation as her wedding gift.”

Book 8: Number 3327: Abu Musa reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said about one who emancipated a slave woman, and then married her, that for him there are two rewards.

Book 8: Number 3328: Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was sitting behind Abu Talha on the Day of Khaibar and my feet touched the foot of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and we came (to the people of Khaibar) when the sun had risen and they had driven out their cattle, and had themselves come out with their axes, large baskets and hatchets, and they said: (Here come) Muhammad and the army. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Khaibar is ruined. Verily when we get down in the valley of a people, evil is the morning of the warned ones (al-Qur’an, xxxvii. 177). Allah, the Majestic and the Glorious, defeated them (the inhabitants of Khaibar), and there fell to the lot of Dihya a beautiful girl, and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) got her in exchange of seven heads, and then entrusted her to Umm Sulaim so that she might embellish her and prepare her (for marriage) with him. He (the narrator) said: He had been under the impression that he had said that so that she might spend her period of ‘Iddah in her (Umm Sulaim’s) house. (The woman) was Safiyya daughter of Huyayy. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) arranged the wedding feast consisting of dates, cheese, and refined butter, and pits were dug and tiers were set in them dining cloths, and there was brought cheese and refined butter, and these were placed there. And the people ate to their fill, and they said: We do not know whether he (the Holy Prophet) had married her (as a free woman), or as a slave woman. They said: If he (the Holy Prophet) would make her wear the veil, then she would be a (free married) woman, and if he would not make her wear the veil, then she should be a slave woman. When he intended to ride, he made her wear the veil and she sat on the hind part of the camel; so they came to know that he had married her. As they approached Medina, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) drove (his ride) quickly and so we did. ‘Adba’ (the name of Allah’s Apostle’s camel) stumbled and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) fell down and she (Radrat Safiyya: also fell down. He (the Holy Prophet) stood up and covered her. woman looked towards her and said: May Allah keep away the Jewess! He (the narrator) said: I said: Aba Hamza, did Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) really fall down? He said: Yes, by Allah, he in fact fell down. Anas said: I also saw the wedding feast of Zainab, and he (the Holy Prophet) served bread and meat to the people, and made them eat to their heart’s content, and he (the Holy Prophet) sent me to call people, and as he was free (from the ceremony) he stood up and I followed him. Two persons were left and they were busy in talking and did not get out (of the apartment). He (the Holy Prophet) then proceeded towards (the apartments of) his wives. He greeted with as Salamu ‘alaikum to every one of them and said: Members of the household, how are you? They said: Messenger of Allah, we are in good state ‘How do you find your family? He would say: In good state. When he was free from (this work of exchanging greetings) he came back, and I also came back along with him. And as he reached the door, (he found) that the two men were still busy in talking. And when they saw him having returned, they stood up and went out; and by Allah! I do not know whether I had informed him, or there was a revelation to him (to the affect) that they had gone. He (the Holy Prophet) then came back and I also returned along with him, and as he put his step on the threshold of his door he hung a curtain between me and him, and (it was on this occasion) that Allah revealed this verse: (” O you who believe), do not enter the houses of the Prophet unless permission is given to ‘you” (xxxiii. 53).

Book 8: Number 3329: Anas, (Allah be pleased with him) reported: Safiyya (Allah be pleased with her) fell to the lot of Dihya in the spoils of war, and they praised her in the presence of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: We have not seen the like of her among the captives of war. He sent (a messenger) to Dihya and he gave him whatever he demanded. He then sent her to my mother and asked her to embellish her. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) then got out of Khaibar until when he was on the other side of it, he halted, and a tent was pitched for him. When it was morning Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He who has surplus of provision with him should bring that to us. Some persons would bring the surplus of dates, and the other surplus of mush of barley until there became a heap of bals. They began to eat the hais and began to drink out of the pond which had the water of rainfall in it and which was situated by their side. Anas said that that constituted the wedding feast of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). He (further) said: We proceeded until we saw the walls of Medina, and we were delighted. We made our mounts run quickly and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) also made his mount run quickly. And Safiyya (Allah be pleased with her) was at his back, and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had seated her behind him. The camel of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) stumbled and he (the Holy Prophet) fell down and she also fell down. And none among the people was seeing him and her, until Allah’s Messeuger (may peace be upon him) stood up and he covered her, and we came to him and he said: We have received no injury. We entered Medina and there came out the young ladies of the household. They saw her (hadrat Safiyya) and blamed her for falling down.

Book 8: Number 3330: Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the ‘Iddah of Zainab was over, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to Zaid to make a mention to her about him. Zaid went on until he came to her and she was fermenting her flour. He (Zaid) said: As I saw her I felt in my heart an idea of her greatness so much so that I could not see towards her (simply for the fact) that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had made a mention of her. So I turned my back towards her. and I turned upon my heels, and said: Zainab, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) has sent (me) with a message to you. She said: I do not do anything until I solicit the will of my Lord. So she stood at her place of worship and the (verse of) the Qur’an (pertaining to her marriage) were revealed, and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came to her without permission. He (the narrator) said: I saw that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) served us bread and meat until it was broad day light and the people went away, but some persons who were busy in conversation stayed on in the house after the meal. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) also went out and I also followed him, and he began to visit the apartments of his wives greeting them (with the words): As Salamu ‘alaikum, and they would say: Allah’s Messenger, how did you find your family (hadrat Zainab)? He (the narrator) stated: I do not know whether I had informed him that the people had gone out or he (the Holy Prophet) informed me (about that). He moved on until he entered the apartment, and I also went and wanted to enter (the apartment) along with him, but he threw a curtain between me and him, as (the verfes pertaining to seclusion) had been revealed, and people were instructed in what they had been instructed. Ibn Rafii had made this addition in his narration:” O you who believe, enter not the houses of the Prophet unless permission is given to you for a meal, not waiting for its cooking being finished…” to the words”… Allah forbears not from the truth.”

Book 8: Number 3331: Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I did not see Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) giving a wedding feast (on the marriage) of any one (of his wives) as he did in the case of (his marriage with) Zainab, for then he sacrificed a goat (on this occasion).

Book 8: Number 3332: Anas b. Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave no better wedding feast than the one he did (on the occasion of his marriage with) Zainab. Thabit al-Bunani (one of the narrators) said: What did he serve in the wedding feast? He (Anas) said: He fed them bread and meat (so lavishly) that they (the guests) abandoned it (of their own accord after having taken them to their hearts’ content).

Book 8: Number 3333: Anas b. Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported: When Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) married Zainab bint jahsh, he invited people (to the wedding feast) and they ate food. They then sat there and entered into conversation. He (the Holy Prophet) made a stir as if he was preparing to stand up, but (the persons busy in talking) did not stand up. When he (the Holy Prophet) saw it, he stood up and when he did so, some other persons stood up. ‘Asim and Abd al-A’la in their narrations made this addition: Three (persons) sat there, and Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) came there to enter (the apartment) but he found the people sitting there. Then they stood up and went away. He said: Then I came and informed Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) that they had gone away. He (the Holy Prophet) then came there until he entered (the apartment). I also went and was about to enter, when he hung a curtain between me and him (and it was on this occasion that) Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, revealed this verse:” O you who believe, enter not the houses of the Prophet unless permission is given to you for a meal, not waiting for its cooking being finished to the (words)” Surely this is serious in the sight of Allah” (xxxiii. 53).

Book 8: Number 3334: Anas b. Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was the best informed among the people pertaining to Hijab (veil and seclusion). Ubayy b. Ka’b used to ask me about it. Anas (Allah be pleased with him) thus narrated: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) got up in the morning as a bridegroom of Zainab bint jahsh (Allah be pleased witt her) as he had married her at Medina. He invited people to the wedding feast after the day had well risen. There sat Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and there kept sitting along with him some persons after the people had stood up (for departure) ; then Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) stood up and walked on and I also walked along with him until he reached the door of the apartment of ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her). He then thought that they (those who had been sitting there after meal) had gone away. So he returned and I also returned with him, but they were still sitting at their places. So he returned for the second time and I also returned until he reached the apartment of ‘A’isha. He again returned and I also returned and they had (by that time) stood up, and he hung a curtain between me and him (at the door of the apartment of Hadrat Zainab, where he had to stay), and Allah revealed the verse pertaining to veil.

Book 8: Number 3335: Anas b. Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) contracted marriage and he went to his wife. My mother Umm Sulaim prepared hais and placed it in an earthen vessel and said: Anas, take it to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and say: My mother has sent that to you and she offers greetings to you, and says that it is a humble gift for you on our behalf, Messenger of Allah. So I went along with it to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: My mother offers you salutations, and says that it is a humble gift for you on our behalf. He said: Place it here, and then said: Go and invite on my behalf so and so and anyone whom you meet, and he even named some persons. He (Anas) said: I invited whom he had named and whom I met. I (one of the narrators) said: I said to Anas: How many (persons) were there? He (Anas) said: They were about three hundred persons. Then Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) (said to me): Anas, bring that earthen vessel. They (the guests) then began to enter until the courtyard and the apartment were fully packed. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Make a circle of ten (guests), and every person should eat from that nearest to him. They began to eat, until they ate to their fill. A group went out (after eating the food), and another group came in until all of them had eaten. He (the Holy Prophet) said to me: Anas, lift it (the earthen vessel), so I lifted it, but I could not assess whether it had more (food) when I placed it (before Allah’s Messenger) or when I lifted it (after the people had been served out of it). A group among them (the guests) began to talk in the house of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was sitting and his wife had been sitting with her face turned towards the wall. It was troublesome for Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), so Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) went out and greeted his wives. He then returned. When they (the guests) saw that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had returned they thought that it (their overstay) was something troublesome for him. He (the narrator) said: They hastened towards the door and all of them went out. And there came Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and he hung a curtain and went in, and I was sitting in his apartment and he did not stay but for a short while. He then came to me and these verses were revealed. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came out and recited them to the people:” O you who believe, enter not the houses of the Prophet unless permission is given to you for a meal, not waiting for its cooking being finished but when you are invited, enter, and when you have taken food, disperse not seeking to listen to talk. Surely this gives the Prophet trouble”, to the end of verse (xxxiii.  53). (Al-Ja’d said that Anas [b.  Malik] stated:  I am the first amongst the people to hear these verses), and henceforth the wives of the Apostle (may peace be upon him) began to observe seclusion (al-hijab).

Book 8: Number 3336: Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported: When Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) contracted marriage with Zainab (Allah be pleased with bet), Umm Sulaim sent him hats in a vessel of stone as a gift. Anas stated that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to him: Go and invite on my behalf all the Muslims whom you meet. So I invited on his behalf everyone whom I met. They entered (his house) and they ate and went out. And Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had kept his hand on the food, and he invoked blessing on that, and said whatever Allah wished him to say, and none whom I met was left uninvited. They ate to their fill and went out, but a group among them remained there and was engaged in lengthy discussion. Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) felt shy of saying them anything. So he went out and left them in his house and Allah the Great and Majestic revealed this verse:”  you who believe, enter not the houses of the Prophet unless permission is given to you for a meal, not waiting for its cooking being finished.” Qatada (instead of using the word Ghaira Nazirina) used the word Ghaira Mutahayyinina (i. e. not waiting for the time of the food). But when you are invited, enter…” up to this verse. This is purer for your hearts and their hearts.

Book 8: Number 3337: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When any one of you is invited to a feast, he should attend it.

Book 8: Number 3338: Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: When any one of you is invited to a feast, he should accept. ‘Ubaidallah took this feast to be a wedding feast.

Book 8: Number 3339: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) having said this: When any one of you is invited to a wedding feast, he should accept that.

Book 8: Number 3340: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Messenger (may be upon him) having said this: Accept the feast, when you are invited.

Book 8: Number 3341: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: When any one of you invites his brother, he (the latter) should accept his wedding feast, or any other like it.

Book 8: Number 3342: Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleated with them) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) having said: He who is invited to a wedding feast or like it, he should accept it.

Book 8: Number 3343: “Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Come to the feast, when you are invited.

Book 8: Number 3344: Nafil reported: I heard Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them) narrating that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Accept the feast when you are invited to it. And Abdullah (b. Umar) used to come to the feast, whether it was a wedding feast or other than that, and he would come there even in the state of fasting.

Book 8: Number 3345: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) having said: When you are invited to a feast (even though it is) the leg of the sheep, you should accept it.

Book 8: Number 3346: Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace he upon him) said: When any one of you is invited to a feast, he should accept it. He may eat if he likes, or he may abandon (eating) if he likes. Ibn Mathanni did not make mention of the word” feast”.

Book 8: Number 3347: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Abd Zubair with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 8: Number 3348: Abu Haraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: If any one of you is invited, he should accept (the invitation). In case he is fasting, he should pray (in order to bless the inmates of the house), and if he is not fasting he should eat.

Book 8: Number 3349: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) used to say: The worst kind of food is the wedding feast to which the rich are invited and the poor are ignored. He who does not come to the feast, he in fact disobeys Allah and His Messenger (may peace be upon him).

Book 8: Number 3350: Sufyan reported: I said to Zuhri: Abu Bakr, what does this hadith mean:” The worst kind of food is at a wedding feast of the rich”? He laughed and said: The food served in the feast given by the rich is not worst (in itself). Sufyan said: My father was rich, so I felt disturbed when I heard this hadith, so I asked Zuhri who said: I heard from ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Alraj that he heard Abu Huraira (Allah he pleased with him) say: The worst kind of food is that served at the wedding feast. The rest of the hadith is the same.

Book 8: Number 3351: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) through another chain of transmitters.

Book 8: Number 3352: A hadith like this has been narrated by Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) through another chain of transmitters.

Book 8: Number 3353: Abu Haraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying. The worst kind of food is at the wedding feast from which one who comes is turned away, and he who refuses it is invited, and he who did not accept the invitation disobeyed Allah and His Messenger (may peace be upon him).

Book 8: Number 3354: ‘A’isha (Allah he pleased with her) reported: There came the wife of Rifa’a to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and said: I was married to Rifa’a but he divorced me, making may divorce irrevocable. Afterwards I married Abd al-Rahman b. al-Zubair, but all he possesses is like the fringe of a garment (i. e. he is sexually weak). Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) smiled, and said: Do you wish to return to Rifa’a. (You) cannot (do it) until you have tasted his sweetness and he (‘Abd al-Rahman) has tasted your sweetness. Abu Bakr was at that time near him (the Holy Prophet) and Khalid (b. Sa’id) was at the door waiting for the permission to be granted to him to enter), He (Khalid) said; Abu Bakr, do you hear what she is saying loudly in the presence of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him)?

Book 8: Number 3355: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her), the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), reported that Rifa’a al-Quraid (Allah be pleased with him) divorced his wife, making her divorce irrevocable. Afterwards she married Abd al-Rahman b. al-Zubair (Allah be pleased with him), She came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him and said to Allah’s messenger (may peace be upon him) that she had been the wife of Rifa’a (Allah be pleased with him) and he had divorced her by three pronouncements and afterwards she married ‘Abd al-Rahman b. al-Zubair. By Allah, all he possesses is like the fringe of a garment, and she took hold of the fringe of her garment. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) laughed and said: Perhaps you wish to return to Rifa’a, (but you) cannot (do it) until he has tasted your sweetness and you have tasted his sweetness. Abu Bakr al-siddiq (Allah be pleased with him) was sitting at that time with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and Khalid b. Sa’id b. al-‘As (Allah be pleased with him) was sitting at the door of his apartment and he was not permitted to (enter the room), and Kbalid called loudly saying: Abu Bakr, why don’t you scold her for what she is saying loudly in the presence of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him)?

Book 8: Number 3356: ‘A’isha (Allah bjpl’eased with her) reported that Rifa’a al Qurazi divorced his wife and afterwards Abd al-Rahman b. al-Zubair married her. She came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace he upon him) and said: Messenger of Allah, Rifa’a has divorced me by three pronouncements. (The rest of the hadith is the same.)

Book 8: Number 3357: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was asked about a woman whom a man married and then divorced her, and then she married (another) person, and she was divorced before sexual intercourse with her, whether it was lawful for her first husband (to marry her in this state). He (the Holy Prophet) said: No, until he has tasted her sweetness.

Book 8: Number 3358: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 8: Number 3359: ‘A’Asha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: A person divorced his wife by three pronouncements; then another person married her and he also divorced her without having sexual intercourse with her. Then the first husband of her intended to remarry her. It was about such a case that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was asked, whereupon he said: No, until the second one has tasted her sweetness as the first one had tasted.

Book 8: Number 3360: A hadith like this has been narrated on the same chain of transmitters by ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her).

Book 8: Number 3361: Ibn” Abbas (Allah be pleased with thern) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: If anyone amongst you intends to go to his wife he should say: In the name of Allah,0 Allah protect us against Satan and keep away the Satan from the one that you have bestowed upon us, and if He has ordained a male child for them, Satan will never be able to do any harm to him.

Book 8: Number 3362: This hadith is narrated through another chain of transmitters and there is no mention of (the words)” Bismillah” (In the name of Allah) in it.

Book 8: Number 3363: Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) declared that the Jews used to say: When a man has intercourse with his wife through the vagina but being on her back. the child will have squint, so the verse came down:” Your wives are your tilth; go then unto your tilth as you may desire” (ii. 223)

Book 8: Number 3364: Jabir (b. Abdullah) (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Jews used to say that when one comes to one’s wife through the vagina, but being on her back, and she becomes pregnant, the child has a squint. So the verse came down:” Your wives are your ti’Ith; go then unto your tilth, as you may desire.”

Book 8: Number 3365: This hadith has been reported on the authority of Jabir through another chain of transmitters, but in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Zuhri there is an addition (of these words):” If he likes he may (have intercourse) being on the back or in front of her, but it should be through one opening (vagina).”

Book 8: Number 3366: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: When a woman spends the night away from the bed of her husband, the angels curse her until morning. This hadith has been narrated through the same chain of transmitters (with a slight variation):” He said: Until she comes back.”

Book 8: Number 3367: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: By Him in Whose Hand is my life, when a man calls his wife to his bed, and she does not respond, the One Who is in the heaven is displeased with her until he (her husband) is pleased with her.

Book 8: Number 3368: Abu Huraira (Allah he pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may, peace be upon him) as saying: When a man invites his wife to his bed and she does not come, and he (the husband) spends the sight being angry with her, the angels curse her until morning.

Book 8: Number 3369: Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah he pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upoin him) said: The most wicked among the people in the eye of Allah on the Day of judgment is the men who goes to his wife and she comes to him, and then he divulges her secret.

Book 8: Number 3370: Abu Sirma al-Khudri (Allah he pleased with him ) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The most important of the trusts in the sight of Allah on the Day of judgment is that a man goes to his wife and she goes to him (and the breach of this trust is) that he should divulge her secret Ibn Numair narrates this hadith with a slight change of wording.

Book 8: Number 3371: Abu Sirma said to Abu Sa’id al Khadri (Allah he pleased with him):  Abu Sa’id, did you hear Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) mentioning al-‘azl? He said: Yes, and added: We went out with  Allah’s  Messenger  (may  peace  be  upon  him)  on  the  expedition  to  the  Bi’l Mustaliq  and  took captive some excellent Arab women; and we desired them, for we were suffering from the absence of our wives, (but at the same time) we also desired ransom for them. So we decided to have sexual intercourse with them but by observing ‘azl (Withdrawing the male sexual organ before emission of semen to avoid conception). But we said: We are doing an act whereas Allah’s Messenger is amongst us; why not ask him? So we asked Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and he said: It does not matter if you do not do it, for every soul that is to be born up to the Day of Resurrection will be born.

Book 8: Number 3372: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Habban with the same chain of transmitters (but with this alteration) that he said:” Allah has ordained whom he has to create until the Day of judgment.”

Book 8: Number 3373: Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We took women captives, and we wanted to do ‘azl with them. We then asked Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) about it, and he said to us: Verily you do it, verily you do it, verily you do it, but the soul which has to be born until the Day of judgment must be born.

Book 8: Number 3374: Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) (was asked if he had heard it himself), to which he said: Yes. (I heard) Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: There is no harm if you do not practise it, for it (the birth of the child) is something ordained (by Allah).

Book 8: Number 3375: This hadith is reported on the authority of Abu Sa’id with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation (of words).

Book 8: Number 3376: Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) was asked about ‘azl, whereupon he said: There is no harm if you do not do that, for it (the birth of the child) is something ordained. Muhammad (one of the narrators) said: (The words) La ‘alaykum (there is no harm) implies its Prohibition.

Book 8: Number 3377: Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that mention was made of ‘azl in the presence of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) whereupon he said: Why do you practise it? They said: There is a man whose wife has to suckle the child, and if that person has a sexual intercourse with her (she may conceive) which he does not like, and there is another person who has a slave girl and he has a sexual intercourse with her, but he does not like her to have conception so that she may not become Umm Walad, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: There is no harm if you do not do that, for that (the birth of the child) is something preordained. Ibn ‘Aun said: I made a mention of this hadith to Hasan, and he said: By Allah, (it seems) as if there is upbraiding in it (for ‘azl).

Book 8: Number 3378: Ibn ‘Aun reported: I reported to Muhammad on the authority of Ibrahim the hadith reported by ‘Abd al-Rahmann b. Bishr (the hadith concerning ‘azl), whereupon he said: That (hadith) Abd al- Rahman b. Bishr had narrated to me (also).

Book 8: Number 3379: Ma’bad b. Sirin said to Abu Sa’id (Allah be pleased with him): Did you hear Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) making a mention of something in regard to al-‘azl? Thereupon he said: Yes. The rest (of the hadith is the same)

Book 8: Number 3380: Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: Mention was made about al-‘azl in the presence of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), whereupon he said: Why any one of you practises it? (He did not say: One of you should not do it), for there is no created soul, whose creator is not Allah.

 Book 8: Number 3381: Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was asked about ‘azl, whereupon he said: The child does not come from all the liquid (sermen) and when Allah intends to create anything nothing can prevent it (from coming into existence).

Book 8: Number 3382: A hadith like this has been transmitted by Abu Sa’id from Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him).

Book 8: Number 3383: Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: I have a slave girl who is our servant and she carries water for us and I have intercourse with her, but I do not want her to conceive. He said: Practise ‘azl, if you so like, but what is decreed for her will come to her. The person stayed back (for some time) and then came and said: The girl has become pregnant, whereupon he said: I told you what was decreed for her would come to her.

Book 8: Number 3384: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported that a person asked Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) saying: I have a slave girl and I practise ‘azl with her, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: This cannot prevent that which Allah has decreed. The person then came (after some time) and said: Messenger of Allah, the slave girl about whom I talked to you has conceived, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: I am the servant of Allah and His Messenger.

Book 8: Number 3385: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported: A person came to Allah’s Apostle (the rest of the hadith is the same).

Book 8: Number 3386: Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We used to practise ‘azl while the Qur’an was revealed (during the days when the Holy Prophet was alive).

Book 8: Number 3387: Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We used to practise ‘azl during the life of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him).

Book 8: Number 3388: Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We used to practise ‘azl during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). This (the news of this practise) reached Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), and he did not forbid us.

Book 8: Number 3389: Abu Darda’ (Allah be pleased with him) related from the Prophet of Allah (may peace be upon him) that he came upon a woman who was in the advanced stage of pregnancy at the door of a tent. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Perhaps he (the man accompanying her) intends to cohabit with her. They said: Yes. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: I have decided to curse him with such a curse as may go along with him to his grave. How can he own him (the child to be born) and that is not lawful for him, and how can he take him as a servant for that is not lawful for him?

Book 8: Number 3390: A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of Shu’ba.

Book 8: Number 3391: Judaima daughter of Wahb al-Asadiyya (Allah be pleased with her) reported that she heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) assaying: I intended to prohibit cohabitation with a suckling woman until I considered that the Romans and the Persians do it without any injury being caused to their children  thereby.  (Imam  Muslim  said:  Khalaf  reported  it  from  Judamat  al-‘Asadiyya,  but  the correct wording is what has been stated by Yahya.)

Book 8: Number 3392: Judama daughter of Wahb, sister of Ukkasha (Allah be pleased with her). reported: I went to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) along with some persons and he was saying: I intended to prohibit cohabitation with the suckling women, but I considered the Greeks and Persians, and saw that they suckle their children and this thing (cohabitation) does not do any harm to them (to the suckling women). Then they asked him about ‘azl, whereupon he said. That is the secret (way of) burying alive, and Ubaidullah has made this addition in the hadith transmitted by al-Muqri and that is:” When the one buried alive is asked.”

Book 8: Number 3393: Judama bint Wahb al-Asadiyya (Allah be pleased with her) reported: I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) saying this. The rest of the hadith is the same concerning ‘azl and ghila (cohabitating with a suckling woman), but with a slight variation of words.

Book 8: Number 3394: Sa’d b. Abu Waqqas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that a person came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: I do ‘azi with my wife. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Why do you do that? The person said: I fear harm to her child or her children. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (way peace be upon him) said: If that were harmful it would harm the Persians and the Greeks.

Book 8: Number 3395: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported tha Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was with her and she heard the voice of a person seeking permission to enter the house of Hafsa. ‘A’isha (Allah he pleased with her) said: Allah’s Messenger, he is the person who seeks permission to enter your house, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: I think he is so and so (uncle of Hafsa by reason of fosterage). ‘A’isha said: Messenger of Allah, if so and so (her uncle by reason of fosterage) were alive, could he enter my house? Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Yes. Fosterage makes unlawful what consanguinity makes unlawful.

 Book 8: Number 3396: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Fosterage makes unlawful what consanguinity makes unlawful.

Book 8: Number 3397: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Aflah, the brother of Abu’l Qu’ais, who was her uncle by reason of fosterage, came, and asked her permission (to enter the house) after seclusicin was instituted. I refused to admit him. When Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came, I Informed him what I had done. He commanded me to grant him permission (as the brother of her foster father was also her uncle).

Book 8: Number 3398: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: There came to me Aflah b. Abu Qulais, my uncle by reason of fosterage; the rest of the hadith is the same (but with this) addition:” I (‘A’isha) said (to the Holy Prophet): It was the woman who suckled me and not the man, whereupon he (Allah’s Messenger) said: May your hands or your right hand be besmeared with dust (you were mistaken).”

Book 8: Number 3399: ‘A’isha  (Allah  be  pleased  with  her)  reported  that  there  came  Aflah  the  brother,  of  Abu’l Qu’ais, who sought her permission (to enter) after seclusion was instituted, and AbuQu’ais was the father of ‘A’isha by reason of fosterage. ‘A’isha said: By Allah, I would not permit Aflah unless I have solicited the opinion of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) for Abu Qulais has not suckled me, but his wife has given me suck. ‘A’isha’ (Allah be pleased with her) said: When Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) entered, I said: Allah’s Messenger, Aflah is the brother of Abu’l Qulais; he came to me to seek my permission for entering (the houst). I did not like the idea of granting him permission until I had solicited your opinion. Thereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Grant him permission. ‘Urwa said it was on account of this that ‘A’isha used to say. What is unlawful by reason of consanguinity is unlawful by reason of fosterage.

Book 8: Number 3400: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters (that ‘A’isha said): There came Aflah, the brother of Abu’l Qulais (Allah be pleased with him), and sought permission from her, the rest of the hadith is the same (except for the words that the Holy Prophet) said:” He is your uncle. Let your hand be besmeared with dust. Abu’l Qulais was the husband of the woman who had suckled ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her).

Book 8: Number 3401: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: My foster uncle came to me and sought permission (to enter the house), but I refused him permission until I had solicited the opinion of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). When Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came, I said to him: My foster uncle sought my permission to (enter the house), but I did not permit him, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: You better admit your uncle (into the house). I (‘A’isha) said: It was the woman who suckled me and not the man. (But he) said: He is your uncle, admit him.

Book 8: Number 3402: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters (and the words are):” The brother of Abu’l Qu’ais sought permission from her (‘A’isha) (to enter the house). The rest is the same.

Book 8: Number 3403: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of words.

Book 8: Number 3404: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: My foster uncle Abu’l Ja’d (kunya of Aflah) sought permission from me, which I refused. (Hisham said to me that Abu’l Ja’d was in fact Abu’l Qu’ais). When Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) came, I (‘A’isha) informed him about it. He said: Why did you not permit him? Let your right hand or hand be besmeared with dust.

Book 8: Number 3405: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that her foster uncle whose name was Aflah sought permission from her (to enter the house) but she observed seclusion from him, and informed Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) who said to her: Don’t observe veil from him for he is Mahram (one with whom marriage cannot be contracted) on account of fosterage as one is Mahram on account of consanguinity.

Book 8: Number 3406: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Aflah b. Qu’ais sought permission from me (to enter the house), but I refused to grant him the permission, and he sent me (the message saying): I am your uncle (in the sense) that the wife of my brother has suckled you, (but still) I refused to grant him permission. There came the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and I made a mention of it to him, and he said: He can enter (your house), for he is your uncle.

Book 8: Number 3407: ‘Ali (Allah be pleased with him) reported having said this: Messenger of Allah, why is it that you select (your wife) from among the Quraish, but you ignore us (the nearest of the kin)? Thereupon he said: Have you anything for me (a suitable match for me)? I said; Yes, the daughter of Hamza, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: She is not lawful for me, for she is the daughter of my brother by reason of fosterage.

Book 8: Number 3408: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of A’mash with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 8: Number 3409: Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported: It was proposed that he (the Holy Prophet) be married to the daughter of Hamza, whereupon he said: She is not lawful for me for she is the daughter of my foster brother, and that is unlawful by reason of fosterage what is unlawful by reason of genealogy.

Book 8: Number 3410: A hadith like this is narrated on the authority of Hammam, Sa’id, Bishr b ‘Umar, but with a small variation of words.

Book 8: Number 3411: Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with her), the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), said: It was said to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him): Is not the daughter of Hamza a suitable match for you? Or it was said: Why don’t you propose to marry the daughter of Hamza, the son of Abd al-Muttalib? Thereupon he said: Hamza is my brother by reason of fosterage.

Book 8: Number 3412: Umm Habiba, the daughter of AbuSufyan, reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to me and I said to him: Have you any inclination towards my the daughter of Abu Sufyan? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Then what should I do? I said: Marry her. He said: Do you like that? I said: I am not the exclusive (wife) of yours; I, therefore, wish to join my sister in good. He, said: She is not lawful for me. I said: I have been informed that you have given the proposal of marriage to Durrah daughter of Abu Salama He raid: You mean the daughter of Umm Salama? I said: Yes. He said: Even if she had not been my step daughter brought up under my guardianship, she would not have been lawful for me, for she is the daughter of my foster brother (Hamza), for Thuwaiba had suckled me and her father. So do not give me the proposal of the marriage of your daughters and sisters. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 8: Number 3413: Umm Habiba, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), reported that she said to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him): Messenger of Allah, marry my sister ‘Azza, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Do you like it? She said: Yes, Messenger of Allah, I am not the exclusive wife of yours, and I wish that the person who joins me in good should be my sister. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: That is not lawful for me. I said: Messenger of Allah, we discussed that You intend to marry Durrah bint Abu Salama. He (the Holy Prophet) said: You mean the daughter of Abu Salama? She said: Yes, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may. peace be upon him) said: Even if she were not the step daughter of mine, brought up under my guardianship, she would not have been lawful for me, for she is the daughter of my foster brother. Thuwaiba gave me suck and to Abu Salama (also), so do not offer to me your daughters and sisters.

Book 8: Number 3414: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her), Suwaid and Zubair reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: One suckling or two do not make (marriage) unlawful.

Book 8: Number 3415: Umm al-Fadl reported: A bedouin came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) when he was in my house and said: Allah’s Apostle, I have had a wife and I married another besides her, and my first wife claimed that she had suckled once or twice my newly married wife, thereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: One suckling or two do not make the (marriage) unlawful.

Book 8: Number 3416: Umm Fadl (Allah be pleased with her) reported that a person from Banu ‘Amir b. Sa’sa said: Allah’s Apostle, does one suckling make the (marriage) unlawful? He said: No.

Book 8: Number 3417: Umm Fadl (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Being suckled once or twice, or one suckling or two, do not make marriage unlawful.

Book 8: Number 3418: In the narration transmitted on the authority of Ibn Bishr there is a mention of two sucklings and Ibn Abu Shaiba has narrated it with a small variation of wording.

Book 8: Number 3419: Umm Fadl (Allah be pleased with her) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be’apon him) having said this: One or two sucklings do not make (the marriage) unlawful.

Book 8: Number 3420: Umm Fadl (Allah be pleased with her) reported that a person asked Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him): Does one suckling make (the marriage) unlawful? He said: No.

Book 8: Number 3421: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with, her) reported that it had been revealed in the Holy Qur’an that ten clear sucklings make the marriage unlawful, then it was abrogated (and substituted) by five sucklings and Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) died and it was before that time (found) in the Holy Qur’an (and recited by the Muslims).

Book 8: Number 3422: ‘Amra reported that she beard ‘A’isha (Allah he pleased with her) discussing fosterage which (makes marriage) unlawful; and she (‘A’isha) said: There was revealed in the Holy Qur’an ten clear sucklings, and then five clear (sucklings).

Book 8: Number 3423: Ahadith like this is transmitted by ‘A’isha through another chain of narrators.

Book 8: Number 3424: ‘ A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Sahla bint Suhail came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and said: Messenger of Allah, I see on the face of Abu Hudhaifa (signs of disgust) on entering of Salim (who is an ally) into (our house), whereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Suckle him. She said: How can I suckle him as he is a grown up man? Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) smiled and said: I already know that he is a young man ‘Amr has made this addition in his narration that he participated in the Battle of Badr and in the narration of Ibn ‘Umar (the words are): Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) laughed.

Book 8: Number 3425: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hadhaifa, lived with him and his family in their house. She (i. e. the daughter of Suhail came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and said: Salim has attained (purbety) as men attain, and he understands what they understand, and he enters our house freely, I, however, perceive that something (rankles) in the heart of Abu Hudhaifa, whereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said to her: Suckle him and you would become unlawful for him, and (the rankling) which Abu Hudhaifa feels in his heart will disappear. She returned and said: So I suckled him, and what (was there) in the heart of Abu Hudhaifa disappeared.

Book 8: Number 3426: Ibn Abu Mulaika reported that al-Qasim b. Muhammad b. Abu Bakr had narrated to him that ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Sahla bint Suhail b. ‘Amr came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and said: Messenger of Allah, Salim (the freed slave of Abu Hudhaifa) is living with us in our house, and he has attained (puberty) as men attain it and has acquired knowledge (of the sex problems) as men acquire, whereupon he said: Suckle him so that he may become unlawful (in regard to marriage) for you He (Ibn Abu Mulaika) said: I refrained from (narrating this hadith) for a year or so on account of fear. I then met al-Qasim and said to him: You narrated to me a hadith which I did not narrate (to anyone) afterwards. He said: What is that? I informed him, whereupon he said: Narrate it on my authority that ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) had narrated that to me.

Book 8: Number 3427: Umm Salama said to ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her): A young boy who is at the threshold of puberty comes to you. I, however, do not like that he should come to me, whereupon ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) said: Don’t you see in Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) a model for you? She also said: The wife of Abu Hudhaifa said: Messenger of Allah, Salim comes to me and now he is a (grown up) person, and there is something that (rankles) in the mind of Abu Hudhaifa about him, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Suckle him (so that he may become your foster child), and thus he may be able to come to you (freely).

Book 8: Number 3428: Zainab daughter of Abu Salama reported: I heard Umm Salama, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon himy, saying to ‘A’isha: By Allah, I do not like to be seen by a young boy who has passed the period of fosterage, whereupon she (‘A’isha) said: Why is it so? Sahla daughter of Suhail came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Allah’s Messenger, I swear by Allah that I see in the face of Abu Hudhaifa (the signs of disgust) on account of entering of Salim (in the house), whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Suckle him. She (Sahla bint Suhail) said: He has a heard. But he (again) said: Suckle him, and it would remove what is there (expression of disgust) on the face of Abu Hudhaifa. She said: (I did that) and, by Allah, I did not see (any sign of disgust) on the face of Abu Hadhaifa.

Book 8: Number 3429: Umm Salama, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), used to say that all wives of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) disclaimed the idea that one with this type of fosterage (having been suckled after the proper period) should come to them. and said to ‘A’isha: By Allah, we do not find this but a sort of concession given by Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) only for Salim, and no one was going to be allowed to enter (our houses) with this type of fosterage and we do not subscribe to this view.

Book 8: Number 3430: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) visited me when a man was sitting near me, and he seemed to disapprove of that. And I saw signs of anger on his face and I said: Messenger of Allah, he is my brother by forsterage, whereupon he said: Consider who your brothers are because of fosterage since fosterage is through hunger (i. e. in infancy).

Book 8: Number 3431: This hadith is narrated on the authority of Abd al-Ahwas with another chain of transmitters and a slight variation of words.

Book 8: Number 3432: Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah her pleased with him) reported that at the Battle of Hanain Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) sent an army to Autas and encountered the enemy and fought with them. Having overcome them and taken them captives, the Companions of Allah’s Messenger (may peace te upon him) seemed to refrain from having intercourse with captive women because of their husbands being polytheists. Then Allah, Most High, sent down regarding that:” And women already married, except those whom your right hands possess (iv. 24)” (i. e. they were lawful for them when their ‘Idda period came to an end).

Book 8: Number 3433: Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) sent a small army. The rest of the hadith is the same except this that he said: Except what your right hands possess out of them are lawful for you; and he did not mention” when their ‘idda period comes to an end”. This hadith has been reported on the authority of AbuSa’id (al-Khudri) (Allah be pleased with him) through another chain of transmitters and the words are: They took captives (women) on the day of Autas who had their husbands. They were afraid (to have sexual intercourse with them) when this verse was revealed:” And women already married except those whom you right hands posses” (iv. 24)

Book 8: Number 3434: Qatada reported a hadith like this with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 8: Number 3435: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Sa’d b. Abu Waqqas and Abd b. Zam’a (Allah be pleased with them) disputed with each other over a young boy. Sa’d said: Messenger of Allah, he is the son of my brother ‘Utba b. Abu Waqqas as he made it explicit that he was his son. Look at his resemblance. Abd b. Zam’a said Messenger of Allah, he is my brother as he was born on the bed of my father from his slave girl. Allah’s Messenger (way peace he upon him) looked at his resemblance and found a clear resemblance with ‘Utba. (But) he said: He is yours  ‘Abd (b. Zam’a), for the child is to be attributed to one on whose bed it is born, and stoning for a fornicator. Sauda bint Zam’a, O you should observe veil from him. So he did not see Sauda at all. Muhammad b. Rumh did not make a mention (of the words):” O Abd.”

Book 8: Number 3436: A hadith like this is narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Uyaiyna and Ma’mar (and the words are): The child is attributed to him on whose bed he is born; but they did not mention this:” For a fornicator there is stoning.”

Book 8: Number 3437: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The child is to be attributed to one on whose bed he is born, and for a fornicator there is stoning.

Book 8: Number 3438: A hadith like this is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira.

Book 8: Number 3439: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) visited me looking pleased as if his face was glistening and said: Did you see that Mujazziz cast a glance at Zaid b. Haritha and Usama b. Zaid, and (then) said: Some (of the features) of their feet are found in the others?

Book 8: Number 3440: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: One day Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) visited me looking pleased and he said: ‘A’isha, don’t you see Mujazziz al-Mudliji? (He) entered (my house) and saw Usama and Zaid with a rug over them covering their heads, but their feet appeared, and (he) said: These feet are related to one another.

Book 8: Number 3441: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: A physiognomist visited (our house) and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was present, and Usama b. Zaid and Zaid b. Haritha were both lying asleep, and he (the physiognomist), said: These feet are related to one another. Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) was pleased to hear this, and he was happy and informed ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) about it.

Book 8: Number 3442: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri and Yunus said: Mujazziz was a physiognomist.

Book 8: Number 3443: ‘Abd al-Malik b. Abu Bakr b. Abd al-Rahman b. al-Harith b. Hisham reported on the authority of his father from Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with her) that when Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) married Umm Salama, he stayed with her for three nights, and said: There is no lack of estimation on the part of your husband for you. If you wish I can stay with you for a week, but in case I stay with you for a week, then I shall have to stay for a week with all my wives.

Book 8: Number 3444: Ibn Abu Bakr b. Abd al-Rahman reported that when Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) married Umm Salama and she stayed with him (during the night), and it was dawn, he (the Holy Prophet) said to her: There is no lack of estimation for you on the part of your husband. So if you desire I can spend a week with you, and if you like I may spend three (nights). and then I will visit you in turn. She said: Spend three (nights).

Book 8: Number 3445: Abu Bakr b. ‘Abd al-Rahman reported that when Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) married Umm Salama and he visited her, and when he intended to come out, she caught hold of his cloth. whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: If you so desire, I can extend the time (of my stay) with you, but then I shall have to calculate the time (that I stay with you and shall have to spend the same time with other wives). For the virgin woman, (her husband has to stay with her) for a week, and for the woman previously married it is three days.

Book 8: Number 3446: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Humaid.

Book 8: Number 3447: Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) married her, and he (the narrator) made mention of so many things in this connection (and one of them was this) that he said: If you desire that I spend a week with you, I shall have to spend a week with my (other) wives, and if spend a week with you, I shall have to spend a week with my (other) wives.

Book 8: Number 3448: Anas b. Malik reported: When anyone who has already a wife marries virgin, he should stay with her for seven nights (and then turn to his other wife), but when anyone having a virgin with him (as his wife) marries a woman who has been previously married he should stay with her for three nights. Khalid (one of the narrators) said. If I were to say that it could be directly traced to the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him). I would have told the truth, but he (Hadrat Anas) said: Such is the tradition.

Book 8: Number 3449: Abu Qilaba reported on the authority of Anas: It is the Sunnph to stay with a virgin (after having married her) for a week. Khalid (one of the narrators) said: If wish I can say that it can be traced up to the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him).

Book 8: Number 3450: Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) had nine wives. So when he divided (his stay) with them, the turn of the first wife did not come but on the ninth (day). They (all the wives) used to gather every night in the house of one where he had to come (and stay that night). It was (the night when he had to stay) in the house of ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her), when Zainab came there. He (the Holy Prophet) stretched his hand towards her (Zainab), whereupon she (‘A’isha) said: It is Zainab. Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) withdrew his hand. There was an altercation between the two until their voices became loud (and it was at that time) when Iqama was pronounced for prayer. There happened to come Abu Bakr and he heard their voices and said: Messenger of Allah, (kindly) come for prayer, and throw dust in their months. So the Prophet (may peace be upon him) went out. ‘A’isha said: When Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) would finish his prayer there would also come Abu Bakr and he would do as he does (on such occasions, i. e. reprimanding). When Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) had finished his prayer, there came to her Abu Bakr. and spoke to her (‘A’isha) in stern words and said: Do you behave like this?

Book 8: Number 3451: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Never did I find any woman more loving to me than Sauda bint Zam’a. I wished I could be exactly like her who was passionate. As she became old, she had made over her day (which she had to spend) with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) to ‘A’isha. She said: I have made over my day with you to ‘A’isha. So Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) allotted two days to ‘A’isha, her own day (when it was her turn) and that of Sauda.

Book 8: Number 3452: A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of narrators (and the words are): When Sauda became old (the rest of the hadith is the same) and in the narration of Sharik there is an addition (of these words:” She was the first woman whom he (Allah’s Apostle) married after me.”

Book 8: Number 3453: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: I felt jealous of the women who offered themselves to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Then when Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this:” You may defer any one of them you wish, and take to yourself any you wish; and if you desire any you have set aside (no sin is chargeable to you)” (xxxiii. 51), I (‘A’isha.) said: It seems to me that your Lord hastens to satisfy your desire.

Book 8: Number 3454: Hisham reported on the authority of his father that ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) used to say: Does the woman not feel shy of offering herself to a man? Then Allah the Exalted and Glorious revealed this verse:” You may defer any of them you wish and take to yourself any you wish.” I (‘A’isha said): It seems to me that your Lord hastens to satisfy your desire.

Book 8: Number 3455: ‘Ata related that when they were with Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) at the funeral of Maimuna In Sarif, Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) said: This is the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) ; so when you lift her bier, do not shake her or disturb her, but be gentle, for Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had nine wives, with eight of whom he shared his time, but to one of them, he did not allot a share. ‘Ati said: The one to whom he did not allot a share of time was Safiyya, daughter of Huyayy b. Akhtab.

Book 8: Number 3456: Ibn Juraij narrated a hadith with the same chain of transmitters, and she (Hadrat Maimuna) was the last of them to die at Medina.

Book 8: Number 3457: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: A woman may be married for four reasons: for her property, her status. her beauty and her religion, so try to get one who is religious, may your hand be besmeared with dust.

Book 8: Number 3458: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported: I married a woman during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be. upon him). I met the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him), whereupon he said: Jabir, have you married? I said: Yes. He said: A virgin or one previously married? I said: With due previously married, whereupon he said: Why did you not marry a virgin with whom you could sport? I said: Allah’s Messenger, I have sisters; I was afraid that she might intervene between me and them, whereupon he said: Well and good, if it is so. A woman is married for four reasons, for her religion, her property, her status, her beauty, so you should choose one with religion. May your hands cleave to dust.

Book 8: Number 3459: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported: I married a woman, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to me: Have you married? I said: Yes. He said: Is it a virgin or a previously married one (widow or divorced)? I said: With a previously married one, whereupon he said: Where had you been (away) from the amusements of virgins? Shu’ba said: I made a mention of it to ‘Amr b. Dinar and he said: I too heard from Jabir making mention of that (that Allah’s Apostle) said: Why didn’t you marry a girl, so that you might sport with her and she might sport with you?

Book 8: Number 3460: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported: ‘Abdullah died and he left (behind him) nine or seven daughters. I married a woman who had been previously married. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to me: Jabir, have you married? I said: Yes. He (again) said: A virgin or one previously married? I said: Messenger of Allah, with one who was previously married, whereupon he said: Why didn’t you marry a young girl so that you could sport with her and she could sport with you, or you could amuse with her and she could amuse with you? I said to him: ‘Abdullah died (he fell as martyr in Uhud) and left nine or seven daughters behind him; I, therefore, did not approve of the idea that I should bring a (girl) like them, but I preferred to bring a woman who should look after them and teach them good manners, whereupon he (Allah’s Messenger) said: May Allah bless you, or he supplicated (for the) good (to be) conferred on me (by Allah).

Book 8: Number 3461: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to me: Jabir, have you married? The rest of the hadith is the same up to (the words):” The woman would look after them and comb them.” He (Allah’s Messenger), said: You did well. But no mention is made of the subsequent portion.

Book 8: Number 3462: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported: We were with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) in an expedition. When we returned I urged my camel to move quickly as it was slow. There met me a rider from behind me and he goaded it with an iron tipped stick which he had with him. My camel moved forward like the best that you have ever seen. As I turned (my face) I found him to be Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) He said: Jabir, what hastens you? I said: Messenger of Allah, I am newly wedded. whereupon he said: Is it a virgin that you have married or one previously married? I said: With one previously married. He said: Why not a young girl so that you could play with her and she could play with you? Then when we arrived at and were about to enter Medina he said: Wait, so that we may enter by night (i. e. in the evening) in order that the woman with dishevelled hair may comb it, and the woman whose husband had been away may get herself clean; and when you enter (then you have the) enjoyment (of tho wife’s company).

Book 8: Number 3463: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I went out with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) on an expedition, but my camel delayed me. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came to me and said to me: Jabir, I said: Yes. Allah’s Messenger, (here I am at your beck and call) He said: What is the matter with you? I said: My camel has delayed me and is tired, so I have lagged behind. He (the Holy Prophet) got down and goaded it with a crooked stick and then said: Mount it. So I mounted and (to my great surprise) I saw it (moving so quickly that) I had to restrain it (from going ahead of) Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). He (the Holy Prophet) (in the course of journey said to me): Have you married? I said: Yes. He (again) said: Is it with a virgin or one previously married? I said. With one previously married, whereupon he (again) said: Why not with a young girl with whom you could sport and she could have sported with you? I said: I have sisters, so I preferred to marry a woman who could keep them together (as one family). who could comb them and look after them. He said: You are about to go (to your house), and there you have the enjoyment (of the wife’s company). He again said: Do you want to sell your camel? I said: Yes. So he bought it from me for one u’qiya (of silver), Then Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) arrived (at Medina) and I arrived in the evening. I went to the mosque and found him at the door of the mosque, and said: Is it now that you have arrived? I said: Yes, He said: Leave your camel, and enter (the mosque) and offer two rak’ahs. So I entered and offered two rak’ahs of prayer, and then returned. He (the Holy Prophet) then commanded Bilal to weigh out one ‘uqiya (of silver) tor me. Bilal weighed that out for me (lowering the scale of) balance. So I proceeded and as I turned my back he said: Call for me, Jabir. So I was called back, and I said (to myself): He would return me the camel, and nothing was more displeasing to me than this (that after having received the price I should also get the camel). He said: Take your camel and keep its price with you, (also).

Book 8: Number 3464: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported: We were with Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) in a journey, and I was riding a camel meant for carrying water and it lagged behind all persons. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) hit it or goaded it (I think) with something he had with him. And after it (it moved so quickly) that it went ahead of all persons and it struggled with me (to move faster than I permitted It) and I had to restrain it. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Do you sell it at such and such (price)? May Allah grant you pardon. I said: Allah’s Apostle, it is yours. He (again) said: Do you sell it at such and such (price)? May Allah grant you pardon. ‘ I said: Allah’s Apostle, it is yours. He said to me: Have you married after the death of your father? I said: Yes. He (again) said: With one previously married or a virgin? I said: With one previously married. He said: Why didn’t you marry a virgin who might amuse you and you might amuse her, and she might sport with you and you might sport with her? Abu Nadra said: That was the common phrase which the Muslims spoke:” You do such and such (thing) and Allah may grant you pardon.”

Book 8: Number 3465: ‘Abdullah b. Amr reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman.

Book 8: Number 3466: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Woman is like a rib. When you attempt to straighten it, you would break it. And if you leave her alone you would benefit by her, and crookedness will remain in her. A hadith like this is reported by another chain of narrators

Book 8: Number 3467: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: Woman has been created from a rib and will in no way be straightened for you; so if you wish to benefit by her, benefit by her while crookedness remains in her. And if you attempt to straighten her, you will break her, and breaking her is divorcing her.

Book 8: Number 3468: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who believes in Allah and the Hereafter, if he witnesses any matter he should talk in good terms about it or keep quiet. Act kindly towards woman, for woman is created from a rib, and the most crooked part of the rib is its top. If you attempt to straighten it, you will break it, and if you leave it, its crookedness will remain there. So act kindly towards women.

Book 8: Number 3469: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: A believing man should not hate a believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics, he will be pleased with another.

Book 8: Number 3470: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him).

Book 8: Number 3471: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Had it not been for Eve, woman would have never acted unfaithfully towards her husband.

Book 8: Number 3472: Hammam b. Munabbih said: These are some of the ahadith which Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrated to us from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and one of these (this one): Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Had it not been for Bani Isra’il, food would not have become stale, and meal would not have gone bad; and had it not been for Eve, a woman would never have acted unfaithfully toward her husband.

The Arabic word for divorce is talaq which means” freeing or undoing the knot” (Imam Raghib). In the terminology of the jurists. Talaq signifies the dissolution of marriage, or the annulment of its legality by the pronouncement of certain words.

Divorce is of three kinds: the Ahsan, or most laudable, the Hasan, or laudable, and the Bid’a or irregular.

Talaq Ahsan or the most laudable divorce is where the husband repudiates his wife by making one pronouncement within the term of Tahr (purity. when the woman is not passing through the period of menses) during which he has not had sexual intercourse with her, and she is left to observe her ‘Idda.

Talaq Hasan or laudable divorce is where a husband repudiates an enjoyed wife by three sentences of divorce, in three Tuhrs.

Talaq Bid’a or irregular divorce is where a husband repudiates his wife by three divorces at once. According to the majority of the jurists, the Talaq holds good, but it is against the spirit of the Shari’ah, and, therefore, the man who follows this course in divorce is an offender in the eye of Islamic Law.

The right of woman in demanding the dissolution of marriage is known as Khula’ (meaning, literally, the putting off or taking off a thing). It is a kind of facility provided to the wife in securing Talaq from her husband by returning a part or full amount of the bridal gift.

We have described before that, according to Islam, marriage is a civil contract; yet the rights and responsibilities consequent upon it are of such importance to the welfare of humanity that a high degree of sanctity is attached to it. But, in spite of the sacredness of the character of the marriage tie, Islam recognises the eternity of divorce in cases when marital relations are poisoned to a degree which makes a peaceful home life impossible. But Islam does not believe in unlimited opportunities for divorce on frivolous and flimsy grounds, because any undue increase in that facilities for divorce would destroy the stability of family life. Therefore, while allowing divorce even on genuine grounds, Islam has taken great care to introduce checks designed to limit the use of available facilities. The French legists Planiol and Ripert have explicitly emphasised Islam’s point of view in regard to divorce in these words:” Divorce is a mischief. However, it is a measure that cannot be avoided for the welfare of the community, because it is the only remedy for another harm which may be wore dangerous The prohibition of divorce, whatever harm it may imply, is like the prohibition of surgery, because the surgeon is compelled to amputate some of the limbs of the patient’s body. However, there is no danger whatsoever, in legislating for divorce (in accordance with the practice established by Islam) since it is not divorce that spoils married life and dissolves its sacred tie, but the misunderstanding that arises between the married couple and hinders the strengthening of this (union by marriage) and demolished it. Divorce alone puts an end to the hatred that may occur between the husband and his wife before it is aggravated and becomes an intolerable mischief to society” (quoted by Hasan Ibrihim Hasan, Islam, Religious, Political. Social and Economic Study, p. 274).

Book 9: Number 3473: Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that he divorced his wife while she was menstruating during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). ‘Umar b. Khattib (Allah be pleased with him) asked Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) about it, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Command him (‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar) to take her back (and keep her) and pronounce divorce when she is purified and she again enters the period of menstruation and she is again purified (after passing the period of menses), and then if he so desires he may keep her and if he desires divorce her (finally) before touching her (without having an intercourse with her), for that is the period of waiting (‘ldda) which God, the Exalted and Glorious, has commanded for the divorce of women.

Book 9: Number 3474: Abdullah (b. ‘Umar) reported that he divorced a wife of his with the pronouncement of one divorce during the period of menstruation. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded him to take her back and keep her until she was purified, and then she entered the period of menses in his (house) for the second time. And he should wait until she was purified of her menses. And then if he would decide to divorce her, he should do so when she was purified before having a sexual intercourse with her; for that was the ‘Idda which Allah had commanded for the divorce of women. Ibn Rumh in his narration made this addition: When ‘Abdullah was asked about it, he said to one of them: If you have divorced your wife with one pronouncement or two (then you can take her back), for Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded me to do it; but if you have divorced her with three pronouncements, then she is forbidden for you until she married another husband, and you disobeyed Allah in regard to the divorce of your wife what He had commanded you. (Muslim said: The word” one divorce” used by Laith is good.)

Book 9: Number 3475: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported: I divorced my wife during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) when she was in the state of menses. ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) made a mention of it to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), whereupon he said: Command him to take her back and leave her (in that state) until she is purified. Then (let her) enter the period of second menses, and when she is purified, then divorce her (finally) before having a sexual intercourse with her, or retain her (finally). That is the ‘Idda (the prescribed period) which Allah commanded (to be kept in view) while divorcing the women. ‘Ubaidullah reported: I said to Nafi’: What became of that divorce (pronounced within ‘Idda)? He said: It was as one which she counted.

Book 9: Number 3476: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of ‘Ubaidullah, but he made no mention of the words of Ubaidullah that he said to Nafi’.

Book 9: Number 3477: Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that he divorced his wife during the period of menses. ‘Umar (Allah be, pleas’ed with him) asked Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), and he commanded him (‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar) to have her back and then allow her respite until she enters the period of the second menses, and then allow her respite until she is purified, then divorce her (finally) before touching her (having a sexual intercourse with her), for that is the prescribed period which Allah commanded (to be kept in view) for divorcing the women. When Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) was asked about the person who divorces his wife in the state of menses, he said: If you pronounced one divorce or two, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had commanded him to take her back, and then allow her respite until she enters the period of the second menses, and then allow her respite until she is purified, and then divorce her (finally) before touching her (having a sexual intercourse with her) ; and if you have pronounced (three divorces at one and the same time) you have in fact disobeyed your Lord with regard to what He commanded you about divorcing your wife. But she is however (finally separated from you).

Book 9: Number 3478: Abdullah b. ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported: I divorced my wife while she was in the state of menses. ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) made mention of it to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and he was enraged and he said: Command him to take her back until she enters the second ensuing menses other than the one in which he divorced her and in case he deems proper to divorce her, he should pronounce divorce (finally) before touching her (in the period) when she is purified of her menses, and that is the prescribed period in regard to divorce as Allah has commanded. ‘Abdullah made a pronouncement of one divorce and it was counted in case of divorce. ‘Abdullah took her back as Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had commanded him. A hadith like this was reported on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of narrators. Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them), however, said: I took her back, and counted this pronouncement of divorce (as valid) with which I divorced her.

Book 9: Number 3479: Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that he divorced his wife while she was in the state of menses. ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) made mention of it to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and he said: Command him to take her back, then divorce her when she is pure or she is pregnant.

Book 9: Number 3480: Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that he divorced his wife while she was in her menses. ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) asked Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) about that, and he said: Command him to take her back until she is pure and then she enters the second menses and then becomes pure. Then either divorce her (finally) or retain her.

Book 9: Number 3481: Ibn Sirin reported: One who was blameless (as a narrator) narrated to me for twenty years that Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) pronounced three divorces to his wife while she was in the state of menses. He was commanded to take her back. I neither blamed them (the narrators) nor recognised the hadith (to be perfectly genuine) until I met Abu Ghallab Yunus b. Jubair al-Bahili and he was very authentic, and he narrated to me that he had asked Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with there) and he narrated it to him that he made one pronouncement of divorce to his wife as she was in the state of menses, but he was commanded to take her back. I said: Was it counted (as one pronouncement)? He said: Why not, was I helpless or foolish?

Book 9: Number 3482: A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of Ayyub with a slight variation of words.

Book 9: Number 3483: Ayyub reported a hadith like this with the same chain of narrators and he said: Umar (Allah be pleased with him) asked Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) about it and he commanded him that he should take her back until she is divorced in the state of purity without having a sexual intercourse with her, and said: Divorce her in the beginning of her ‘Idda or her ‘Idda commences.

Book 9: Number 3484: Yunus b. Jubair reported: I said to Ibn’Umar (Allah be pleased with them): A person divorced his wife while she was in the state of menses, whereupon he said: Do you know ‘Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them), for he divorced his wife in the state of menses. ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and asked him, and he (the Holy Prophet) commanded him that he should take her back, and she started her ‘Idda. I said to him: When a person divorces his wife, and she is in the state of menses, should that pronouncement of divorce be counted? He said: Why not, was he hopless or foolish?

Book 9: Number 3485: Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported: I divorced my wife while she was in the state of menses. ‘Umar (Allah he pleased wish him) came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and made mention of that to him, whereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) told that be should take her back, and when she is pure he may divorce her. if he would so wish. I (one of the narrators) said to Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them): Did you count (this pronouncement of divorce) in her case? He said: What (after all) prevents him from doing so? Do you find him (Ibn Umar) either helpless or foolish?

Book 9: Number 3486: Anas b. Sirin reported: I asked Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) about the woman whom he had divorced. He said: I divorced her while she was in the state of menses. It was mentioned to ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) and he then made a mention of that to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), whereupon he said: Command him to take her back and when the period of menses is over, then (he may divorce her in the state of her purity. He (Ibn Umar) said: So I took her back, then divorced her in her purity. I (the narrator) said: Did you count that divorce which you pronounced in the state of menses? He said: Why should I not have counted that? Was I helpless or foolish?

Book 9: Number 3487: Anas b. Sirin reported that he had heard Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) as saying. I divorced my wife while she was in the state of menses. ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and informed him about it, whereupon he (Allah’s Apostle) said: Command him to take her back and when she is pure, then divorce her. I said to Ibn ‘Umar Allah be pleased with them): Did you count that pronouncement of divorce? He said: Why not? This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu’ba with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation in wording.

Book 9: Number 3488: Ibn Tawus narrated on the authority of his father that Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) was asked about the person who divorced his wife in the state of menses, whereupon he said: Do you know ‘Abdullah b. Umar? He said: Yes. He said: It was he who divorced his wife jn the state of menses and ‘Umar went to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and gave him this information. And he commanded him that he should take her back; and he (Abu Tawus) said: I did not hear any addition to this (hadith) from my father.

Book 9: Number 3489: Abu Zubair reported that he heard ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Aiman (the freed slave of ‘Azza) say that he asked Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) and Abu Zubair heard: What is your opinion about the person who divorced his wife in the state of menses? Thereupon he said: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) divorced his wife during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) while she was in the state of menses. Upon this Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) told him to take her back and so he took her back and he (further) said: When she is pure, then either divorce her or retain her. Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) said that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) then recited this verse:” O Apostle, when you divorce women, divorce them at the commencement of their prescribed period” (Ixv 1).

Book 9: Number 3490: A hadith like this is reported on the same authority (but with this difference that the narrator) ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Aiman (was mentioned) as the freed slave of ‘Urwa (Imam Muslim said: He made a mistake who said that it was ‘Urwa; it was in fact the freed slave of ‘Azza.)

Book 9: Number 3491: Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the (pronouncement) of three divorces during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and that of Abu Bakr and two years of the caliphate of Umar (Allah be pleased with him) (was treated) as one. But Umar b. Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) said: Verily the people have begun to hasten in the matter in which they are required to observe respite. So if we had imposed this upon them, and he imposed it upon them.

Book 9: Number 3492: Abu Sahba’ said toIbn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them): Do you know that three (divorces) were treated as one during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), and that of Abu Bakr, and during three (years) of the caliphate of Umar (Allah be pleased with him)? Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) said: Yes.

Book 9: Number 3493: Abu al-Sahba’ said to Ibn ‘Abbas: Enlighten us with your information whether the three divorces (pronounced at one and the same time) were not treated as one during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr. He said: It was in fact so, but when during the caliphate of ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) people began to pronounce divorce frequently, he allowed them to do so (to treat pronouncements of three divorces in a single breath as one).

Book 9: Number 3494: Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported about (declaring of one’s woman) unlawful as an oath which must be atoned, and Ibn ‘Abbas said: Verily, there is in the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) a model pattern for you.

Book 9: Number 3495: Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported: When a man declares his wife unlawful for himself that is an oath which must be atoned, and he said: There is in the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) a noble pattern for you.

Book 9: Number 3496: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) narrated that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) used to spend time with Zainab daughter of Jahsh and drank honey at her house. She (‘A’isha further) said: I and Hafsa agreed that one whom Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) would visit first should say: I notice that you have an odour of the Maghafir (gum of mimosa). He (the Holy Prophet) visited one of them and she said to him like this, whereupon he said: I have taken honey in the house of Zainab bint Jabsh and I will never do it again. It was at this (that the following verse was revealed): ‘Why do you hold to be forbidden what Allah has made lawful for you… (up to). If you both (‘A’isha and Hafsa) turn to Allah” up to:” And when the Holy Prophet confided an information to one of his wives” (lxvi. 3). This refers to his saying: But I have taken honey.

Book 9: Number 3497: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) liked sweet (dish) and honey. After saying the afternoon prayer he used to visit his wives going close to them. So he went to Hafsa and stayed with her more than what was his usual stay. I (‘A’isha) asked about that. It was said to me: A woman of her family had sent her a small vessel of honey as a gift, and she gave to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) from that a drink. I said: By Allah, we would also contrive a device for him. I mentioned that to Sauda, and said: When he (Allah’s Apostle) would visit you and draw close to you, say to him: Allah’s Messenger, have you taken maghafir? And he would’say to you: No. Then say to him: What is this odour? And Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) felt it very much that unpleasant odour should emit from him. So he would say to you: Hafsa has given me a drink of honey. Then you should say to him: The honeybees might have sucked ‘Urfut, and I would also say the same to him and. Safiyya, you should also say this. So when he (the Holy Prophet) came to Sauda, she said: By Him besides whom there is no god, it was under compulsion that I had decided to state that which you told me when he would be at a little distance at the door. So when Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came near, she said: Messenger of Allah, did you eat Maghafir? He said: No. She (again) said: Then what is this odour? He said: Hafsa gave me honey to drink. She said: The honeybee might have sucked ‘Urfut. When he came to me I told him like this. He then visited Safiyya and she also said to him like this. When he (again) visited Hafsa, she said: Messenger of Allah, should I not give you that (drink)? He said: I do not need that. Sauda said: Hallowed be Allah, by Him we have (contrived) to make that (honey) unlawful for him. I said to her: Keep quiet. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of ‘Urwa with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 9: Number 3498: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was commanded to give option to his wives, he started it from me saying: I am going to mention to you a matter which you should not (decide) in haste until you have consulted your parents. She said that he already knew that my parents would never allow me to seek separation from him She said: Then he said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: Prophet, say to thy wives: If you desire this world’s life and its adornment, then come, I will give you a provision and allow you to depart a goodly departing; and if you desire Allah and His Messenger and the abode of the Hereafter, then Allah has prepared for the doers of good among you a great reward She is reported to have said: About what should I consult my parents, for I desire Allah and His Messenger and the abode of the Hereafter? She (‘A’isha) said: Then all the wives of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) did as I had done.

Book 9: Number 3499: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) sought our permission when he had a (turn to spend) a day with (one of his wives) amongst us (whereas he wanted to visit his other wives too). It was after this that this verse was revealed:” Thou mayest put off whom thou pleasest of them, and take for thee whom thou pleasest” (xxxiii. 5). Mu’adha said to her: What did you say to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) when he sought your permission? She said: I used to say: If it had the option in this I would not have (allowed anyone) to have precedence over me.

Book 9: Number 3500: ‘A’isha reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave us the option (to get divorce) but we did not deem it as divorce.

Book 9: Number 3501: Masruq reported: I do not mind if I give option to my wife (to get divorce) once, hundred times, or thousand times after (knowing it) that she has chosen me (and would never seek divorce). I asked ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) (about it) and she said: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave us the option, but did it imply divorce? (It was in fact not a divorce; it is effective when women actually avail themselves of it.)

Book 9: Number 3502: ‘A’isha reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave option to his wives, but it was not a divorce.

Book 9: Number 3503: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave us the option (to get divorce) and we chose him and he did not count it a divorce.

Book 9: Number 3504: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave us the option (to get divorce), but me made a choice of him and he did not count anything (as divorce) in regard to us.

Book 9: Number 3505: A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of ‘A’isha through another chain of narrators.

Book 9: Number 3506: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported: Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) came and sought permission to see Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). He found people sitting at his door and none amongst them had been granted permission, but it was granted to Abu Bakr and he went in. Then came ‘Umar and he sought permission and it was granted to him, and he found Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) sitting sad and silent with his wives around him. He (Hadrat ‘Umar) said: I would say something which would make the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) laugh, so he said: Messenger of Allah, I wish you had seen (the treatment meted out to) the daughter of Khadija when you asked me some money, and I got up and slapped her on her neck. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) laughed and said: They are around me as you see, asking for extra money. Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) then got up went to ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) and slapped her on the neck, and ‘Umar stood up before Hafsa and slapped her saying: You ask Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) which he does not possess. They said: By Allah, we do not ask Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) for anything he does not possess. Then he withdrew from them for a month or for twenty nine days. Then this verse was revealed to him:” Prophet: Say to thy wives… for a mighty reward” (xxxiii. 28). He then went first to ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) and said: I want to propound something to you, ‘A’isha, but wish no hasty reply before you consult your parents. She said: Messenger of Allah, what is that? He (the Holy Prophet) recited to her the verse, whereupon she said: Is it about you that I should consult my parents, Messenger of Allah? Nay, I choose Allah, His Messenger, and the Last Abode; but I ask you not to tell any of your wives what I have said He replied: Not one of them will ask me without my informing her. God did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He has sent me to teach and make things easy.

Book 9: Number 3507: ‘Umar b. al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) reported: When Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) kept himself away from his wives, I entered the mosque, and found people striking the ground with pebbles and saying: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) has divorced his wives, and that was before they were commanded to observe seclusion ‘Umar said to himself: I must find this (actual position) today. So I went to ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) and said (to her): Daughter of Abu Bakr, have you gone to the extent of giving trouble to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him)? Thereupon she said: Son of Khattab, you have nothing to do with me, and I have nothing to do with you. You should look to your own receptacle. He (‘Umar) said: I visited Hafsa daughter of ‘Umar, and said to her: Hafsa, the (news) has reached me that you cause Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) trouble. You know that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) does not love you, and had I not been (your father) he would have divorced you. (On hearing this) she wept bitterly. I said to her: Where is Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him)? She said: He is in the attic room. I went in and found Rabah, the servant of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), sitting on the thresholds of the window dangling his feet on the hollow wood of the date palm with the help of which Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) climbed (to the apartment) and came down. I cried:  Rabah, seek permission for me from Allah’s Messenger (way peace be upon him). Rabah cast a glance at the apartment and then looked toward me but said nothing. I again said: Rabah, seek permission for me from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). Rabah looked towards the apartment and then cast a glance at me, but said nothing. I then raised my voice and said:  Rabah, seek permission for me from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). I think that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) is under the impression that I have come for the sake of Hafsa. By Allah, if Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) would command me to strike her neck, I would certainly strike her neck. I raised my voice and he pointed me to climb up (and get into his apartment). I visited Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and he was lying on a mat. I sat down and he drew up his lower garment over him and he had nothing (else) over him, and that the mat had left its marks on his sides. I looked with my eyes in the store room of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). I found only a handful of barley equal to one sa’ and an equal quantity of the leaves of Mimosa Flava placed in the nook of the cell, and a semi tanned leather bag hanging (in one side), and I was moved to tears (on seeing this extremely austere living of the Holy Piophet), and he said: Ibn Khattab, what wakes you weep?

I said: Apostle of Allah, why should I not shed tears? This mat has left its marks on your sides and I do not see in your store room (except these few things) that I have seen; Ceasar and Closroes are leading their lives in plenty whereas you are Allah’s Messenger. His chosen one, and that is your store! He said: Ibn Khattab, aren’t you satisfied that for us (there should be the prosperity) of the Hereafter, and for them (there should be the prosperity of) this world? I said: Yes. And as I had entered I had seen the signs of anger on his face, and I therefore, said: Messenger of Allah, what trouble do you feel from your wives, and if youhave divorced them, verily Allah is with you, His angels, Gabriel, Mika’il, I and Abu Bakr and the believers are with you. And seldom I talked and (which I uttered on that day) I hoped that Allah would testify to my words that I uttered. And so the verse of option (Ayat al-Takhyir) was revealed. Maybe his Lord, if he divorce you, will give him in your place wives better than you…” (Ixv. 5). And if you back up one another against him, then surely Allah is his Patron, and Gabriel and the righteous believers, and the angels after that are the aidera (lvi. 4). And it was ‘A’isha, daughter of Abu Bakr, and Hafsa who had prevailed upon all the wives of Allah’s Prophet (way peace be upon him) for (pressing them for more money). I said: Messenger of Allah, have you divorced them? He said: No. I said: Messenger of Allah, I entered the mosque and found the Muslims playing with pebbles (absorbed in thought) and saying: Allah’s Messenger has divorced his wives. Should I get down and inform there that you have not divorced them? He said: Yes, if you so like. And I went on talking to him until I (found) the signs of anger disappeared on his face and (his seriousness was changed to a happy mood and as a result thereof) his face had the natural tranquillity upon it and he laughed and his teeth were the most charming (among the teeth) of all people. Then Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) climbed down and I also climbed down and catching hold of the wood of the palm tree and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came down (with such ease) as if he was walking on the ground, not touching anything with his hand (to get support). I said: Messenger of Allah, you remained in your apartment for twenty nine days. He said: (At times) the month consists of twenty nine days. I stood at the door of the mosque and I called out at the top of my voice: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) has not divorced his wives (and it was on this occasion that this) verse was revealed:” And if any matter pertaining to peace or alarm comes within their ken, they broadcast it; whereas, if they would refer it to the Apostle and those who have been entrusted with authority amongst them, those of them who are engaged in obtaining intelligence would indeed know (what to do with) it” (iv 83). And it was I who understood this matter, and Allah revealed the verse pertaining to option (given to the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him in regard to the retaining or divorcing of his wives).

Book 9: Number 3508: Abdullah b. Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I intended to ask ‘Umar b. al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) about a verse, but I waited for one year to ask him out of his fear, until he went out for Pilgrimage and I also accompanied him. As he came back and we were on the way he stepped aside towards an Arak tree to ease himself. I waited for him until he was free. I then walked along with him and said: Commander of the Faithful, who are the two among the wives of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) who backed up one another (in their demand for extra money)? He said: They were Hafsa and ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with them). I said to him: It is for one year that I intended to ask you about this matter but I could not date so on account of the awe for you. He said: Don’t do that. If you think that I have any knowledge, do ask me about that. And if I were to know that, I would inform you. He (the narrator) stated that ‘Umar had said: By Allah, during the days of ignorance we had no regard for women until Allah the Exalted revealed about them what He has revealed, and appointed (turn) for them what he appointed. He said: It so happened that I was thinking about some matter that my wife said: I wish you had done that and that. I said to her: It does not concern you and you should not feel disturbed in a matter which I intend to do. She said to me: How strange is it that you, O son of Khattab, do not like anyone to retort upon you, whereas your daughter retorts upon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upou him) until he spends the day in vexation. ‘Umar said: I took hold of my cloak, then came out of my house until I visited Hafsa and said to her: O daughter, (I heard) that you retort upon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) until he spends the day in vexation, whereupon Hafsa said: By Allah, we do retort upon him. I said: You should bear in mind, my daughter, that I warn you against the punishment of Allah and the wrath of His Messenger (may peace be upon him). You may not be misled by one whose beauty has fascinated her, and the love of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) for her. I (‘Umar) then visited Umm Salama because of my relationship with her and I talked to her. Umm Salama said to me: Umar b. al-Khattab, how strange is it that you meddle with every matter so much so that you are anxious to interfere between Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and his wives, and this perturbed me so much that I refrained from saying what I had to say, so I came out of her apartment, and I had a friend from the Anar.

When I had been absent (from the company of the Holy Prophet) he used to bring me the news and when he had been absent I used to bring him the news, and at that time we dreaded a king of Ghassan. It was mentioned to us that he intended to attack us, and our minds were haunted by him. My friend, the Ansari, came to me, and he knocked at the door and said: Open it, open it. I said: Has the Ghassani come? He said: (The matter is) more serious than that. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) has separated himself from his wives. I said: Let the nose of Hafsa and ‘A’isha be besmeared with dust. I then took hold of my cloth and went out until I came and found Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) in his attic to which he climbed by means of a ladder made of date palm, and the servant of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) who was black had been sitting at the end of the ladder. I said: This is Umar. So permission was granted to me. I narrated this news to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and as I narrated the news concerning Umm Salama, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) smiled. He was lying on the mat and there was nothing between him and that (mat), and under his head there was a pillow made of leather and it was stuffed with plam fibres and at his feet were lying a heap of sant tree (acacia niloctica, meant for dyeing) and near his head there was hanging a hide. And I saw the marks of the maton the side of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and so I wept. He said: What makes you weep? I said: Messenger of Allah, the Khusrau and the Ceasars (spendd their lives in) the midst of (luxuries), whereas you being Allah’s Messenger (are leading your life in this poverty). Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Don’t you like that they should have riches of their world, and you have the Hereafter.

Book 9: Number 3509: Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) said: I came along with Umar until we reached Marr al- Zahran (the name of a place), and the rest of the hadith is the same as narrated by Sulaiman b. Bilal (except with) the variation (of words) that I said: (What) about these two women? He said: They were Hafsa and Umm Salama. And he made this addition: I came to the apartments and in every apartment there was (the noise) of weeping. And this addition was also made: And he (the Holy Prophet) had taken an oath of remaining away from them for a month, and when twenty nine days had passed, he visited them.

Book 9: Number 3510: Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) is reported to have said: I intended to ask Umar about those two ladies who had pressed for (worldly riches) during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him), and I kept waiting for one year, but found no suitable opportunity with him until I happened to accompany him to Mecca. And as he reached Marr al Zahran he went away to answer the call of nature, and he said (to me): Bring me a jug of water, and I took that to him. After having answered the call of nature, as he came back, I began to pour water (over his hands and feet), and I remembered (this event of separation of Allah’s Apostle [may peace be upon him] from his wives). So I said to him: Commander of the Faithful, who are the two ladies (who had pressed the Holy Prophet [may peace be upon him] for providing comforts of life) and I had not yet finished my talk when he said: They were ‘A’isha and Hafsa.

Book 9: Number 3511: Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported. I had always been anxious to ask ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) about the two ladies amongst the wives of Allah’s Prophet (may peace be upon Lim) about whom Allah, the Exalted, said:” If you both turn in repentance to Allah, then indeed your hearts are inclined (to this)” (Ixvi. 4), until ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) set out for Hajj and I also went along with him. And as we were going along a path, ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with hiyn) went aside and I also went aside with him with a jug (of water). He answered the call of nature, and then came to me and I poured water over his hands and he performed ablution I said: Commander of the Faithful, who are the two ladies amongst the wives of Allah’s Prophet (may peace be upon him) about whom Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, said: ‘If you both turn to Allah in repentance, then indeed your heart are inclined to it”? ‘Umar (Allah he pleased with him) said: How strange is it for you, Ibn ‘Abbas! (Zuhri said: By Allah, he disliked what he asked about, but did not keep it a secret.) He (‘Umar) said: They are Hafsa and ‘A’isha; and he then began to narrate the hadith and said: We were such people among the Quraish who dominated women, and as we reached Medina we found there people who were dominated by their women, and our women began to learn (the habits) of their women. He further said: And my house was situated in the suburb of Aledina in the tribe of Banu Umayya b. Zaid. One day I became angry with my wife and she retorted upon me. I did not like that she should retort upon me. She said: You disapprove of my retorting upon you By Allah, the wives of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) retort upon him, and one of them detaches herself from him for the day until the night. So I (‘Umar) went out and visited Hafsa and said: Do you retort upon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him)? She said: Yes. I said; Does any one of you detach herself from him from the day to the night? She said: Yes. He said: She who did like it amongst you in fact failed and incurred loss. Does everyone amongst you not fear the wrath of Allah upon her due to the wrath of His Messenger (may peace be upon him), and (as a result thereof) she may perish? So do not retort upon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and do not ask him for anything, but ask me that which you desire, (and the frank behaviour) of your companion may not mislead you, if she is more graceful and is dearer to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) than you (meaning ‘A’isha) (Allah be pleased with her).

He (Hadrat ‘Umar further) said: I had a compalaion from the Ansar and, we used to remain in the company of the Messenger (may peace be upon him) turn by turn. He remained there for a day while I remained there on the other day, and he brought me the news about the revelation and other (matter), and I brought him (the news) like this. And we discussed that the Ghassanids were shoeing the horses in order to attack us. Id y companion once attended (the Apostle). and then came to me at night and knocked at my door and called me, and I came out to him, and he said: A matter of great importance has happened. I said: What is that? Have the Ghassanids come? He said: No, but even more serious and more significant than that: the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) has divorced his wives. I said: Hafsa has failed and has incurred loss. and I feared that it would happen. When it was dawn I observed the dawn prayer and dressed myself, and then came there (in the house of the Holy Prophet) and visited Hafsa, and she was weeping. I said: Has Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) divorced you (all)? She said: I do not know. He has, however, separated himself in his attic. I came to a black servant and said to him: Seek permission for ‘Umar. He went in and then came to me and said: I made mention of you to him, but he kept quiet. I then went to the pulpit and sat there, and there was a group of people sitting by it and some of then were weeping. I sat there for some time, until I was overpowered (by that very idea) which was in my mind. I then came back to the boy and said to him: Seek permission for Umar. He went in and came to me and said: I made mention of you to him but he kept quiet. I was about to turn back when the boy called me and said: Go in; permission has been granted to you. I went in and greeted Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and he was reclining against the couch of mat and it had left its marks upon his side. I said: Messenger of Allah, have you divorced your wives? He raised his head towards me and said: No. I said: Allah is the Greatest. Messenger of Allah, I wish if you had seen how we the people of Quraish had domination over women but when we came to Medina we found people whom their women dominated. So our women began to learn from their women. One dily I became angry with my wife and she began to retort upon me. I did not approve that she should retort upon me. She said: You do not like that I should retort upon you, but, by Allah. the wives of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) retort upon him and any one of them separates herself from him for a day until night. I said: He who did that amongst them in fact failed and incurred loss. Does any of them feel sate from the wrath of Allahupon her due to the wrath of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and she has certainly perished. Allah’s Messtnger (may peace be upon him) smiled, I said: Messenger of Allah, I visited Hafsa and said: (The behaviour) of your companion (‘A’isha) may not mislead you, If she is more graceful than you and is dearer to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) than you.

Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) smiled for the second time. I said: Allah’s Messenger, way I talk to you about agreeable things? He said: Yes. I sat down and lifted my head (to see things) in the house and, by Allah, I did not see anything significant besides three hides. I said: Messenger of Allah, supplicate the Lord that He should make (life) prosperous for your Ummah as He has made plentiful for the people of Persia and Rome (in spite of the fact) that they do no, worship Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, whereupon he (Allah’s Messenger) sat up an I then said: Ibn Khattab, do you doubt that they are a nation whom their nice things have been given immediately in the life of this world. I said: Allah’s Messenger! seek pardon for me. And he (Allah’s Messenger) had taken an oath that he would not visit them for a month due to extreme annoyance with them until Allah showed His displeasure to him (Allah’s Messenger). Zuhri said: ‘Urwa informed me that ‘A’Isha (Allah be pleased with her) said: When twenty nine nights were over, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) visited me, and he began (his visit) with me. I said: Messenger of Allah, you had taken an oath that you would not visit us for a month, while you have visited after I have counted only twenty nine (nights). Thereupon he said: The month may also be of twenty nine (days). He then said: ‘A’isha, I am going to talk to you about a matter, and you should not be hasty in it (and do not give your final decision) until you have consulted your parents. He then recited this verse to me:” O Prophet, say to your wives” till he reached” mighty reward” (xxxiii. 28). ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) said: By Allah, he knew that my parents would not allow me to separate from him. I said: Is there any need to consult my parents in this matter? I in fact choose Allah and His Messenger (may peace be upon him) and the abode in the Hereafter. Ma’mar said: Ayyub reported to me that ‘A’isha said: Don’t inform your wives that I have chosen you, whereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Verily Allah has sent me as a conveyer of message, and He has not sent me as a source of hardship (to others). Qatada said:” Saghat qulubukum” means” Your hearts have inclined.”

Book 9: Number 3512: Fatima bint Qais reported that Abu ‘Amr b. Hafs divorced her absolutely when he was away from home, and he sent his agent to her with some barley. She was displeased with him and when he said: I swear by Allah that you have no claim on us. she went to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and mentioned that to him. He said: There is no maintenance due to you from him, and he commanded her to spend the ‘Idda in the house of Umm Sharik, but then said: That is a woman whom my companions visit. So better spend this period in the house of Ibn Umm Maktum, for he is a blind man and yon can put off your garments. And when the ‘Idda is over, inform me. She said: When my period of ‘Idda was over, I mentioned to him that Mu’awiya b. Abu Sufyan and Jahm had sent proposal of marriage to me, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: As for Abu Jahm, he does not put down his staff from his shoulder, and as for Mu’awiya, he is a poor man having no property; marry Usama b. Zaid. I objected to him, but he again said: Marry Usama; so I married him. Allah blessed there in and I was envied (by others).

Book 9: Number 3513: Fatima bint Qais reported that her husband divorced her during the life time of Allah’s Prophet (may peace be upon him) and gave her a meagre maintenance allowance. When she saw that, she said: By Allah, I will inform Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and if maintenance allowance is due to me then I will accept that which will suffice me, and if it is not due to me, I will not accept anything from him. She said: I made a mention of that to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and he said: There is neither maintenance allowance for you nor lodging.

Book 9: Number 3514: Fatima bint Qais reported that her husband al-Makhzulmi divorced her and refused to pay her maintenance allowance. So she came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace he upon him) and informed him, whereupon he said: There is no maintenance allowance for you, and you better go to the house of Ibn Umm Maktum and live with him for he is a blind man and you can put off your clothes in his house (i. e. you shall not face much difficulty in observing purdah there).

Book 9: Number 3515: Abu Salama reported that Fatima bint Qais, the sister of al-Dahhak b. Qais informed him that Abu Hafs b. Mughira al-Makhzumi divorced her three times and then he proceeded on to the Yemen. The members of his family said to her: There is no maintenance allowance due to you from us. Khalid b. Walid along with a group of persons visited Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) in the house of Maimuna and they said: Abu Hafs has divorced his wife with three pronouncements; is there any maintenance allowance due to her? Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: No maintenance allowance is due to her, but she is required to spend the ‘Idda; and he sent her the message that she should not be hasty in making a decision about herself and commanded her to move to the house of Umm Sharik, and then sent her the message that as the first immigrants (frequently) visit the house of Umm Sharik, she should better go to the house of Ibn Umm Maktum, the blind, (and further said: In case you put off your head dress, he (Ibn Umm Makhtum) will not see you. So she went to his house, and when the ‘Idda was over, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) married her to Usama b. Zaid b. Haritha.

Book 9: Number 3516: Fatima bint Qais reported: I had been married to a person from Banu Makhzum and he divorced me with irrevocable divorce. I sent a message to his family asking for maintenance allowance, and the rest of the hadith has been transmitted with a slight change of words.

Book 9: Number 3517: Fatima bint Qais (Allah be pleased with her) reported that she had been married to Abu ‘Amr b. Hafs b. al-Mughira and he divorced her with three pronouncements. She stated that she went to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) asking him about abandoning that house. He commanded her to move to the house of Ibn Umm Maktum, the blind. Marwan refused to testify the divorced woman abandoning her house (before the ‘Idda was over). ‘Urwa said that ‘A’isha objected to (the words of) Fatima bint Qais. This hadith has been transmitted through another chain of narrators.

Book 9: Number 3518: ‘Ubaidullah b. ‘Abdullah b. ‘Utba reported that ‘Amr b. Hafs b. al-Mughira set out along with ‘Ali b. Abi Talib (Allah be pleased with him) to the Yemen and sent to his wife the one pronouncement of divorce which was still left from the (irrevocable) divorce; and he commanded al-Harith b. Hisham and ‘Ayyash b. Abu Rabi’a to give her maintenance allowance. They said to her: By Allah, there is no maintenance allowance for you, except in case you are pregnant. She came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace he upon him) and mentioned their opinion to him, whereupon he said: There is no maintenance allowance for you. Then she sought permission to move (to another place), and he (the Holy Prophet) permitted her. She said: Allah’s Messenger, where (should I go)? He said: To the house of Ibn Umm Maktum and, as he is blind, she could put off her garmeqts in his presence and he would not see her. And when her ‘Idda was over. Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) married her to Usama b. Zaid. Marwan (the governor of Medina) sent Qabisa b. Dhuwaib in order to ask her about this hadith, and she narrated it to him, whereupon Marwan said: We have not heard this hadith but from a woman. We would adopt a safe (path) where we found the people. Fatima said that when these words of, Marwan were conveyed to her. There is between me and you the word of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic: Do” not turn them out” of their houses. She asserted: This is in regard to the revocable divorce what new (turn can the event take) after three pronouncements (separation between irrevocable). Why do you say there is no maintenance allowance for her if she is not pregnant? Then on what ground do you restrain her?

Book 9: Number 3519: Sha’bi reported: I visited Fatima bint Qais and asked her about the verdict of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) about (board and lodging during the ‘Idda) and she said that her husband divorced her with an irrevocable divorce. She (further. said): I contended with him before Allah’s Messerger (may peace be upon him) about lodging and maintenance allowance, and she said: He did not provide me with any lodging or maintenance allowance, and he commanded me to spend the ‘Idda in the house of Ibn Umm Maktum.

Book 9: Number 3520: A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of Hushaim through another chain of narrators.

Book 9: Number 3521: Sha’bi reported: We visited Fitima hint Qais and she served us fresh dates and a drink of barley flour, and I asked where should a woman who has been divorced by three pronouncements, spend the period of her ‘Idda. She said: My husband divorced me with three pronouncements, and Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) permitted me to spend my ‘Idda period in my family (with my parents).

Book 9: Number 3522: Fatima bint Qais (Allah be pleased with her) reported from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) that there is no lodging and maintenance allowance for a woman who has been given irrevocable divorce.

Book 9: Number 3523: Fatima bint Qais (Allah be pleased with her) reported: My husband divorced me with three pronouncements. I decided to move (from his house to another place). So I came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and he said: Move to the house of your cousin ‘Amr b. Umm Maktum and spend your period of ‘Idda there.

Book 9: Number 3524: Abu Ishaq reported: I was with al-Aswad b. Yazid sitting in the great mosque, and there was with us al-Sha’bi, and he narrated the narration of Fatima bint Qais (Allah be pleased with her) that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) did not make any provision for lodging and maintenance allowance for her. Al-Aswad caught hold of some pebbles in his fist and he threw them towards him saying: Woe be to thee, you narrate like it, whereas Umar said: We cannot abandon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of our Apostle (may peace be upon him) for the words of a woman. We do not know whether she remembers that or she forgets. For her, there is a provision of lodging and maintenance allowance. Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, said:” Turn them not from their houses nor should they themselves go forth unless they commit an open indecency” (lxv. 1).

Book 9: Number 3525: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Ishaq with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 9: Number 3526: Fatima bint Qais (Allah be pleased with her) reported that her husband divorced her with three, pronouncements and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) made no provision for her lodging and maintenance allowance. She (further said): Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to me: When your period of ‘Idda is over, inform me. So I informed him. (By that time) Mu’awiya, Abu Jahm and Usama b. Zaid had given her the proposal of marriage. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: So far as Mu’awiya is concerned, he is a poor man without any property. So far as Abu Jahm is concerned, he is a great beater of women, but Usama b. Zaid… She pointed with her hand (that she did not approve of the idea of marrying) Usama. But Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Obedience to Allah and obedience to His Messenger is better for thee. She said: So I married him, and I became an object of envy.

Book 9: Number 3527: Fatima bint Qais (Allah be pleased with her) reported: My husband Abu ‘Amr b. Hafs b. al-Mughira sent ‘Ayyish b. Abu Rabi’a to me with a divorce, and he also sent through him five si’s of dates and five si’s of barley. I said: Is there no maintenance allowance for me but only this, and I cannot even spend my ‘Idda period in your house? He said: No. She said: I dressed myself and came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). He said: How many pronouncements of divorce have been made for you? I said: Three. He said what he (‘Ayyish b. Abu Rabi’a) had stated was true. There is no maintenance allowance for you. Spend ‘Idda period in the house of your cousin, Ibn Umm Maktum. He is blind and you can put off your garment in his presence. And when you have spent your Idda period,  you  inform  me.  She  said:  Mu’awiya  and  Abu’l Jahm  (Allah  be  pleased  with  them)  were among those who had given me the proposal of marriage. Thereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Mu’awiya is destitute and in poor condition and Abu’l Jahm is very harsh with women (or he beats women, or like that), you should take Usama b. Zaid (as your husband).

Book 9: Number 3528: Abu Bakr b. Abu’l Jahm reported: I and Abu Salama b ‘Abd al-Rahman came to fatima bint Qais (Al! ah be pleased with her) and asked her (about divorce, etc.). She said: I was the wife of Abu ‘Amr b. Hafs b. al-Mughira, and he set out to join the battle of Najran. The rest of the hadith is the same, but he made this addition:” She said: I married him and Allah hornoured me on account of Ibn Zaid and Allah favoured me because of him.”

Book 9: Number 3529: Abu Bakr reported: I and Abu Salama came to Fatima bint Qais (Allah be pleased with her) during the time of Ibn Zubair (Allah be pleased with him) and she narrated to us that her husband gave her an irrevocable divorce. (The rest of the hadith is the same.)

Book 9: Number 3530: Fatima bint Qais (Allah be pleased with her) reported: My husband divorced me with three pronouncements and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) made no provision for lodging and maintenance allowance.

Book 9: Number 3531: Hisham reported on the authority of his father that Yahya b. Sa’id b. al-‘As married the daughter of ‘Abd al-Rahman b. al-Hakam, and he divorced her and he turned her out from his house. ‘Urwa (Allah be pleased with him) criticised this (action) of theirs (the members of the family of her in laws). They said: Verily, Fatima too went out (of her in laws’ house). ‘Urwa said: I came to ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) and told her about it and she said: There is no good for Fatima bint Qais (Allah be pleased with her) in making mention of it.

Book 9: Number 3532: Fatima bint Qais (Allah be pleased with her) reported that she said: Allah’s Messenger, my husband has divorcee me with three pronouncements and I am afraid that I may be put to hardship, and so he commanded her and so she moved (to another house).

Book 9: Number 3533: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) said: It is no good for Fatima to make mention of it, i. e. her statement:” There is no lodging and maintenance allowance (for the divorced women).”

Book 9: Number 3534: Ibn al-Qasim narrated on the authority of his father that ‘Urwa b. Zubair (Allah be pleased with him) said to ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her): Didn’t you see that such and such daughter of al-Hakam was divorced by her husband with an irrevocable divorce, and she left (the house of her husband)? Thereupon ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) said: It was bad that she did. He (Urwa) said: Have you not heard the words of Fatima? Thereupon she said: There if no good for her in making mention of it.

Book 9: Number 3535: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported: My maternal aunt was divorced, and she intended to pluck her dates. A person scolded her for having come out (during the period of ‘Idda). She came to Allah’s Prophet (may peace be upon him.) and he said: Certainly you can pluck (dates) from your palm trees, for perhaps you may give charity or do an act of kindness.

Book 9: Number 3536: ‘Ubaidullah b. ‘Abdullah b. ‘Utba (b. Mas’ud) reported that his father wrote to Umar b. ‘Abdullah b al Arqam al-Zuhri that he would go to Subai’ah bint al-Hirith al-Aslamiyya (Allah be pleased with her) and ask her about a verdict from him which Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave her when she had asked that from him (in regard to the termination of ‘Idda at the birth of a child) ‘Umar b. Abdullah wrote to ‘Abdullah b. ‘Utba informing him that Subai’ah had told him that she had been married to Sa’d b. Khaula and he belonged to the tribe of Amir b. Lu’ayy, and was one of those who participated in the Battle of Badr, and he died in the Farewell Pilgrimage and she had been in the family way at that time. And much time had not elapsed that she gave birth to a child after his death and when she was free from the effects of childbirth she embellished herself for those who had to give proposals of marriage. Abd al-Sunabil b. Ba’kak (from Banu ‘Abd al-Dar) came to her and said: What is this that I see you embellished; perhaps you are inclined to marry, By Allah, you cannot marry unless four months and ten days (of ‘Idda are passed). When he said that. I dressed myself, and as it was evening I came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and asked him about it, and he gave me a religious verdict that I was allowed to marry when I had given birth to a child and asked me to marry if I so liked. Ibn Shihab said: I do not find any harm fur her in marrying when she has given birth to a child even when she is bleeding (after the birth of the child) except that her husband should not go near her until she is purified.

Book 9: Number 3537: Abu Salama b. ‘Abd al-Rahman and Ibn ‘Abbas. (Allah be pleased with them) got together in the house of Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) and began to discuss about the woman who gave birth to a child a few nights after the death of her husband. Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with then) ) said: Her ‘Idda is that period which is longer of the two (between four months and ten days and the birth of the child, whichever is longer). Abu Salama, however said: Her period of ‘Idda is over (with the birth of the child), and they were contending with each other over this issue, whereupon Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) said: I subscribe (to the view) held by my nephew (i. e. Abu Salama). They sent Kuraib (the freed slave of Ibn ‘Abbas) to Umm Salama to ask her about it. He came (back) to them and informed them that Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with her) said that Subai’ah al-Aslamiyya gave birth to a child after the death of her husband when the few flights (had hardly) passed and she made mention of that to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and he commanded her to marry.

Book 9: Number 3538: This hadith has been narated with the same chain of transrmitters except with a small change of words (and that is): They sent him to Umm Salama, but no mention was made of Kuraib.

Book 9: Number 3539: Zainab (bint Abu Salama) (Allah be pleased with her) reported: I went to Umm Habiba, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), when her father Abu Sufyan had died. Umm Habiba sent for a perfume having yellowness in it or something else like it, and she applied it to a girl and then rubbed it on her cheeks and then said: By Allah, I need no perfume but for the fact that I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) say on the pulpit:” It is not permissible for a woman believing in Allah and the Hereafter to mourn for the dead beyond three days, but (in case of the death) of the husband it is permissible for four months and ten days.” Zainab said: I then visited Zainab hint Jahsh (Allah be pleased with her) when her brother died and she sent for perfume and applied it and then said: By Allah, I don’t feel any need for the perfume but that I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) say on the pulpit:” It is not permissible for a woman believing in Allah and the Hereafbler to mourn the dead beyond three days except in case of her husband (for whom she can mourn) for four months and ten days.” Zainab (Allah be pleased with her) said: I heard my mother Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with her) as saying: A woman came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Allah’s Messenger. I have a daughter whose husband has died and there has developed some trouble in her eye; should we apply collyrium to it? Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: No (repeating it twice or thrice, saying only, NO” all the time). Then he said: It is only four mouths and ten days, whereas in the pre Islamic period none of you threw away the dung until one year had passed. Humaid said: I said to Zainab: What is this throwing of dung until a year is passed? Zainab said: When the husband of a woman died, she went into a hut and put on her worst clothes, and did not apply perfume or something like it until a year was over. Then an animal like a donkey, or a goat, or a bird was brought to her and she rubbed her hand over it, and it so happened that one on which she rubbed her hand died. She then came out of her house and she was given dung and she threw it and then she made use of anything like perfume or something else as she liked.

Book 9: Number 3540: Zainab bint Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with her) reported that a relative of Umm Habiba (Allah he pleased with her) died. She sent for a yellow (perfume) and applied that to her forearm and said: I, am doing it, for I have heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) saying: It is not permissible for a woman believing in Allah and the Hereafter to mourn beyond three days except the husband (for whom she can mourn) for four months and ten days, This hadith was narrated by Zainab from her mother and from Zainab, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), or from some other lady from among the wives of the Prophet (may peace be upon him).

Book 9: Number 3541: Zainab bint Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with her) reported on the authority of her mother that a woman lost her husband. (As her eyes were ailing) they (her kith and kin) entertained fear about her eyes, so they came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and sought permission for the use of collyrium, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: One among you used to spend one year in a dungeon dressed in worst clothes. (And at the end of this period) she threw dung at the dog which happened to pass that way and then she came out (of her ‘Idda). Can’t she (wait) even for four months and ten days?

 Book 9: Number 3542: Humaid b. Nafi’ narrated two traditions from Umm Salama dealing with collyrium and the other hadith from the wives of Allah’s Prophet (may peace be upon him) except with this that no mention was made of Zainab.

Book 9: Number 3543: Zainab bint Abu Salama reported: Umm Salama and Umm Habiba (Allah be pleased with them) were talking with each other (and saying) that a woman came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and mentioned to him that her daughter had lost her husband, and her eyes were sore and she wnted to use collyrium, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: One among you used to throw dung at the end of a year, and now (this abstinence from adornment) is only for four months and ten days.

Book 9: Number 3544: Zainab bint Abu Salama reported that when the news of the death of Abu Safyan came to Umm Habiba she sent for yellow (perfume) on the third day and rubbed it on her forearms and on her cheeks and said: I had in fact no need of it, but I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: It is not permissible for the women believing in Allah and the Hereafter to abstain from adornment beyond three days except (at the death of) husband (in which case she must abstain from adornment) for four months and ten days.

Book 9: Number 3545: Safiyya bint Abu ‘Ubaid reported on the authority of Hafsa or ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with thein) or from both of them that Allah’s Messenger (may peace he upon him) said: It is not permissible for a woman believing in Allah and the Hereafter (or believing in Allah and His Messenger) that she should observe mourning for the dead beyond three days except in case of her husband.

Book 9: Number 3546: A hadith like this is transmitted on the authority of Nafi’.

Book 9: Number 3547: Safiyya bint Abu ‘Ubaid reported that she heard Hafsa daughter of Umar (Allah be pleased with them), (and) wife of Allah’s Prophet (may peace be upon him), narrating a hadith like this from Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), and she made this addition:” She should abstain from adorning herself (in case of the death of her husband) for four months and ten days.”

Book 9: Number 3548: Safiyya bint Abu ‘Ubaid narrated this tradition of Allah’s Prophet (may peace be upon him) on the authority of some wives of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him)

Book 9: Number 3549: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: It is not permissible for a woman believing in Allah and the Hereafter to observe mourning on the dead for more than three (days), except in case of her husband.

Book 9: Number 3550: Umm ‘Atiyya (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had said: A woman must not observe mouriaing for one who had died for more than three (days) except for four months and ten days in the case of her husband. and she must not wear a dyed garment except one of the types made of dyed yarn, or apply collyrium, or touch perfume except a little perfume or incense, when she has been purified after her courses.

Book 9: Number 3551: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of narrators but with a slight variation of words.

Book 9: Number 3552: Umm ‘Atiyya (‘Allah be pleased with her) said: We were forbidden to observe mourning for the dead beyond three days except in the case of husband (where it is permissible) for four months and ten days, and (that during this period) we should neither use collyrium nor touch perfume, nor wear dyed clothes, but concession was given to a woman when one of us was purified of our courses to make use of a little incense or scent.

Book 9: Number 3553: Sahl b. Sa’d al-Sa’idi reported that’Uwaimir al-‘Ajlani came to ‘Asim b. ‘Adi al-Ansari and said to him. Tell me about a person who finds a man with his wife; should he kill him, and be killed In retaliation; or how should he act? ‘Asim, ask for me (religious verdict about it) from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). So ‘Asim asked Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and he did not like this question and he disapproved of it so much that’Asim felt aggrieved at what he had heard from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). When ‘Asim came back to his family, ‘Uwaimir came to him and said: ‘Asim, what did Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) say to you? ‘Asim said to ‘Uwaimir: You did not bring something good. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) did not like this religious verdict that I sought from him. ‘Uwaimir said: By Allah, I will not rest until I have asked him about it. ‘Uwaimir proceeded until he came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as he was sitting amidst people, and said: Messenger of Allah, tell me about a person who found a man with his wife. Should he kill him, and then you would kill him, or how should he act? Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: (Verses) have been revealed concerning you and your wife; so go and bring her. Sahl said that they both invoked curses (and further said): I was along with people in the company of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). And when they had finished, Uwaimir said: Allah’s Messenger, I shall have told a lie against her if I keep her (now). So he divorced her with three pronouncements before Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had commanded him. Ibn Shihab said: Subsequently that was the practice of invokers of curses (al Mutala’inain)

Book 9: Number 3554: Sahl b. Sa’d reported.. ‘Uwaimir al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) from Banu’l ‘Ajlan came to ‘Asim b. ‘Adi (Allah be pleased with him) the remaining part of the hadith is the same and it was also reecorded in it:” And subsequebtly the separation became the practice of al-Mutala’inain.” And this addition was also made:” She was pregnant and her son was ascribed to her, and it became customary that such (a son) would inherit her and she would inherit him in the share prescribed by Allah for her.

Book 9: Number 3555: Ibn Shihab narrated about the invokers of curses and the practice of (li’an) based on the authority of Sahl b. Sa’d, of the tribe of Sa’ida. that a person from the Ansar came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and said: Allah’s Messenger, tell me about the person who found a man with his wife. The remaining part of the hadith is the same (but) with this addition: They invoked curses in the mosque and I was present there. And he narrated in the hadith: He divorced her with three pronouncements before Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded him (to get separation). He separated from her in the presence of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), whereupon he said: There is a separation between the invokers of curses.

Book 9: Number 3556: Sa’id b Jubair reported: I was asked about the invokers of curses during the reign of Mus’ab (b. Zubair) whether they could separate (themselves by this process). He said: I did not understand what to say. So I went to the house of Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) in Mecca. I said to his servant: Seek permission for Me. He said that he (Ibn ‘Umar) had been taking rest. He (Ibn ‘Umar) heard my voice. and said: Are you Ibn Jubair? I said: Yes. He’said: Come in. By Allah, it must be some (great) need which has brought you here at this Hour. So I got in and found him lying on a blanket reclining against a pillow stuffed with fibres of date palm. I said: O Abu’Abd al-Rahman, should there be separation between the invokers of curses? He said: Hallowed be Allah, yes, The first one who asked about it was so and so. he said: Messenger of Allah, tell me If one of us finds his wife committing adultery: what should he do? If he talks, that is something great, and if he keeps quiet that is also (something great) (which he cannot afford to do). Allah’s Prophet (may peace be upon him) kept quiet (or some time). After some time he (that very person) came to him (Allah’s Messenger) and said: I have been involved in that very cage about which I had asked you Allah the Exalted and Majestic then revealed (these) verses of Surah Nur:” Those who accuse their wives” (verse 6), and he (the Holy Prophet) recited them to him and admonished him, and exhorted him and informed him that the torment of the world is less painful than the torment of the Hereafter. He said: No, by Him Who sent you with Truth, I did not tell a lie against her. He (the Holy Prophet) then called her (the wife of that person who had accused her) and admonished her, and exhorted her, and informed her that the torment of this world is less painful than the torment of the Hereafter. She said: No, by Him Who sent thee with Truth, he is a liar. (it was) the man who started the swearing of oath and he swore in the name of Allah four times that he was among the truthful. and at the fifth turn he said: Let there be curse of Allah upon him if he were among the liars. Then the woman was called and she swore four times in the name of Allah that he (her husband) was among the liars, and at the fifth time (she said): Let there be curse upon her if he were among the truthful. He (the Holy Prophet) then effected separation between the two. A hadith like this is narrated by Ibn Numair with a slight variation of words.

Book 9: Number 3557: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) saying to the invokers of curse: Your account is with Allah. One of you must be a liar. You have now no right over this woman. He said: Messenger of Allah, what about my wealth (dower that I paid her at the time of marriage)? He said: You have no claim to wealth. If you tell the truth, it (dower) is the recompense for your having had the right to intercourse with her, and if you tell a lie against her, it is still more remote from you than she is. Zuhair said in his narration: Sufyan reported to us on the authority of ‘Amr that he had heard Sa’id b Jubair saying: I heard Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) saying that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had said it.

Book 9: Number 3558: Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) said that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) effected separation between the two members of Banu al-‘Ajlan, and said: Allah knows that one of you is a liar. Is there one to repent among you?

Book 9: Number 3559: Sa’id b. Jubair reported: I asked Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) about invoking curse (li’an), and he narrated Similarly from Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him).

Book 9: Number 3560: Sa’id b. Jubair reported that Mus’ab b. Zubair did not effect separation between the Mutala’inain (invokers of curses). Sa’id said: It was mentioned to ‘Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them) and he said: Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) effected separation between the two members of Banu al-‘Ajlan.

Book 9: Number 3561: Nafi’ reported on the authority of Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) that a person invoked curse on the wife during the lifetime of Allah s Messenger (may peace be upon him), so he effected separation between them and traced the lineage of the son to his mother.

Book 9: Number 3562: Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) asked a person from the Anger and his wife to invoke curse (upon one another in order to testify to their truthfulness), and then effected separation between them.

Book 9: Number 3563: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of ‘Ubaidulah with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 9: Number 3564: ‘Abdullah reported: We were on the night of Friday staying in the mosque when a person from the Ansar came there and said: If a person finds his woman along with a man, and he speaks about it, you would lash him, and if he kills, you will kill him, and if he keeps quiet he shall have to consume anger. By Allah, I will definitely ask about him from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). On the following day he came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and asked him thus: If a man were to find with his wife a man and if he were to talk about it, you would lash him; and if he killed, you would kill him, and if he were to keep quiet. he would consume anger, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Allah, solve (this problem), and he began to supplicate (before Him), and then the verses pertaining to li’an were revealed:” Those who accuse their wives and have no witnesses except themselves” (xxiv. 6). The person was then put to test according to these verses in the presence of the people. There came he and his wife in the presence of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and they invoked curses (in order to testify their claim). The man swore four times in the name of Allah that he was one of the truthful and then invoked curse for the fifth time saying: Let there be curse of Allah upon him if he were among the liars. Then she began to invoke curse. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to her: just wait (and curse after considering over it), but she refused and invoked curse and when she turned away, he (Allah’s Apostle) said: It seems that this woman shall give birth to a curly haired black child, And so she did gave birth to a curly haired black child.

Book 9: Number 3565: A hadith like this is narrated on the authority of A’mash.

Book 9: Number 3566: Muhammad (one of the narrators) reported: I asked Anas b. Malik (Allah be pleased with him) knowing that he had a knowledge of (the case of li’an). He said: Hilal b. Umayya (Allah be pleased with him) accused his wife with the charge of fornication with Sharik b. Sahma, the brother of al- Bara’b Malik from the side of his mother. And he was the first person who invoked curse (li’an) in Islam. He in fact invoked curse upon her. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: See to her if she gives birth to a white complexioned child having dark hair and bright eyes; he must be the son of Hilal b. Umayya; and if she gives birth to a child with dark eyelids, curly hair and lean shanks, he must be the offspring of Sharik b. Sahma. He said: I was informed that she gave birth to a child having dark eyelids, curly hair and lean shanks.

Book 9: Number 3567: Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported: Mention was made of li’an in the presence of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). And Asim b. ‘Adi passed a remark about it and then turned away, and a man of his tribe came to him complaining that he had found a man with his wife, whereupon ‘Asim said: I have been taken by my words. He took him to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and told him about the man whom he had found with his wife and this man was a lean, yellow coloured man with lank hair, and the person who was accused of committing adultery with her (his wife) had fleshy shanks, with wheat complexion and heavy bulk. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: O Allah, make (this case) manifest. And as she gave birth to a child, whose face resembled that person about whom her husband had made mention that he had found her with, and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be, upon him) had asked them to invoke curses. A person said to Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him): Is she (that woman) about whom Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upen him) (said):” If I were to stone anybody without evidence, I would have stoned her”? Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) said: No, it is not she. That woman was one who openly spread evil in society. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) through another chain of transmitters with the addition of these words: ‘With flesh, and curly tangled hair.”

Book 9: Number 3568: ‘Abdullah b Shaddad reported that mention was made about the invokers of curses before Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them). Ibn Shaddad said: Are these the two about whom Allah’s Apostle (clay peace be upon him) said.” If I were to stone one without evidence, I would have definitely stoned her”? Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) said: She is not this woman; but she is the one who (committed adultery) openly.

Book 9: Number 3569: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Sa’d b. ‘Ubada al-Ansari said: Messenger of Allah, tell the if a man finds his wife with another person, should he kill him? Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: No. Sa’d said: Why not? I swear by Him Who has honoured you with Truth. There upon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Listen to what your chief says.

Book 9: Number 3570: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Sa’d b. Ubada (Allah be pleased with him) said: Messenger of Allah, if I were to find with my wife a man, should I wait until I bring four witnesses? He said: Yes.

Book 9: Number 3571: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Sa’d b. Ubada (Allah be pleased with him) said: Messenger of Allah, if I were to find with my wife a man, should I not touch him before bringing four witnesses? Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Yes. He said: By no means. By Him Who has sent you with the Truth, I would hasten with my sword to him before that. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Listen to what your chief says. He is jealous of his honour, I am more jealous than he (is) and God is more jealous than I.

Book 9: Number 3572: AI-Mughira b. Shu’ba (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Sa’d b. ‘Ubada (Allah be pleased with him) said: If I were to see a man with my wife, I would have struck him with the sword, and not with the flat part (side) of it. When Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) heard of that, he said: Are you surprised at Sa’d’s jealousy of his honour? By Allah, I am more jealous of my honour than he, and Allah is more jealous than I. Because of His jealousy Allah has prohibited abomination, both open and secret And no person is more jealous of his honour than Allah, and no persons, is more fond of accepting an excuse than Allah, on account of which He has sent messengers, announcers of glad tidings and warners; and no one is more fond of praise than Allah on account of which Allah has promised Paradise.

Book 9: Number 3573: A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority, of ‘Abd al-Malik b. Umair with the same chain of narrators but with a slight change of words.

Book 9: Number 3574: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: There came a person to the Holy Prophet (may peace he upon him) ) from Banu Fazara and said: My wife has given birth to a child who is black, whereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Have you any camels? He said: Yes. He again said: What is this colour? He said: They are red. He said: Is there a dusky one among them? He said: Yes, there are dusky ones among them He said: How has it come about? He said: It is perhaps the strain to which it has reverted, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: It is perhaps the strain to which he (the child) has reverted.

Book 9: Number 3575: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters. In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Ma’mar, the (words are):” Messenger of Allah, my wife has given birth to a dark complexioned boy, and he at that time was intending to disown him.” And this addition has been made at the end of the hadith:” He (the Holy Prophet) did not permit him to disown him.”

Book 9: Number 3576: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: A desert Arab came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: My wife has given birth to a dark complexioned child and I have diowned him. Thereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Have you any camels? He said: Yes. He said: What is their colour? He said? They are red. He said: Is there anyone dusky among them? He said: Yes. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: How has it come about? He said: Messenger of Allah, it is perhaps due to the strain to which it has reverted, whereupon the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: It (the birth) of the black child may be due to the strain to which he (the child) might have reverted.

 Book 9: Number 3577: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) through another chain of transitters.

Book 9: Number 3578: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Messenger may peace be upon him) as saying: If anyone emancipates his share ina slave and has enough money to pay the full price for him, a fair price for the slave should be fixed, his partners given their shares, and the slave be thus emancipated, otherwise he is emancipated only to the extent of the first man’s share.

Book 9: Number 3579: This hadith has been reported on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar through another chain of transmitters.

Book 9: Number 3580: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The slave who is jointly owned by two persons, and is emancipated by one of them, (this one) has liability (upon him to secure complete freedom for that slave).

Book 9: Number 3581: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Prophet (may peace be upon him) as saying: If anyone emancipates a share in a slave, he is to be completely emancipated if he has money; but if he has none, the slave will be required to work to pay for his freedom, but must not be over burhened.

Book 9: Number 3582: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Sa’id b. Abu ‘Aruba with the same chain of transmitters but with the addition:” If he (one of the joint owners emancipating the slave) has not (enough) money (to secure freedom for the other half) a fair price for the slave should be fixed, and he will be required to work to pay for his freedom, but must not be overburdened.

Book 9: Number 3583: A hadith like this is reported on the authority of the same chain of transmitters but with a slight change of words.

Book 9: Number 3584: Ibn Umar reported that ‘A’isha decided to buy a slave girl and then set her free, but her masters said: We are prepared to sell her to you on the condition that her right of inheritance would vest with you. She (Hadrat A’isha) made a mention of that to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) whereupon he said: This should not stand in your way. The right of inheritance vests in one who emancipates.

Book 9: Number 3585: ‘A’isha (Allah be pjeased with her) reported that Barira came to her in order to seek her help in securing freedom, but she had (so far) paid nothing out of that sum stipulated in the contract. ‘A’isba said to her. Go to your family (who owns you), and if they like that I should pay the amount (of the contract) on your behalf (for purchasing your freedom), then I shall have the right in your inheritance. (If they accepted it) I am prepared (to make this payment). Barira made a mention of that to the (members of) her family, but they refused and said: If she (Hadrat ‘A’isha) wants to do good to You for the sake of Allah, she may do it, but the right of inheritance will be ours. She (Hadrat ‘A’isha) made a mention of that to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and he said to her: Buy her, and emancipate her, for the right of inheritance vests with one who emancipates (the slave). Allah’s Messenger, may peace be upon him) then stood up and said: What has happened to the people that they lay down conditions which are not (found) in the Book of Allah? And he who laid down a condition not found in the Book of Allah, that is not valid. even if it is laid down hundred times. The condition laid down by Allah is the most weighty and the most valid.

Book 9: Number 3586: ‘A’isha, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), reported: Barira came to me and said: ‘A’isha, I have entered into contract for securing freedom with my family (who owns me) for nine ‘uqiyas (of silver), one ‘uqiya every year The rest of the hadith is the same (but with this addition):” This (the problem of the right of inheritance) should not stand in your way. Buy her, and set her free. He said in a hadith: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) stood up among men, extolled Allah, praised Him, and then said:” for “

Book 9: Number 3587: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Barira came to me and said: My family (owners) have made contract with me (for granting freedom) for nine ‘uqiyas (of silver) payable in nine years, one ‘uqiya every year. Help me (in making this payment). I said to her: If your family so desires, I am prepared to make them the full payment in one instalment, and thus secure freedom for you, but the right of inheritance will vest in me, if I do so. She (Barira) made a mention of that to her family, but they refused (except) on the condition that the right of inheritance would vest in them. She came to me and made mention of if She (‘A’isha) said: I scolded her. She (Barira) said: By Allah, it is not possible (they will never agree to it). And as she was saying it, Allah’s messenger (may peace be upon him) heard, and he asked me, I informed him and he said: Buy her and emancipate her, and let the right of inheritance vest in them, for they cannot claim it (rightfully) since the right of inherritance vests with one who emancipates (the slave; therefore, these people have no right to lay such false claims). And I did so. She (‘A’isha) said: Then Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) delivered a sermon in the evening. He extolled Allah and praised Him with what He deserves, and then said afterwards,: What has happened to the people that they lay down conditions which are not found in the Book of Allah? And the condition which is not found in the Book of Allah is invalid, even if its Number is one hundred. The Book of Allah is more true (than any other deed) and the condition laid down by Allah is more binding (than any other condition). What has happened to the people among you that someone among you says:” Emancipate so and so, but the right of inheritance vests in me”? Verily, the right of inheritance vests in one who emancipates.

Book 9: Number 3588: Hisham b. ‘Urwa narrated a hadith like this with the same chain of transmitters except (with this change) that in the hadith transmitted on the authority of jartr (the words are): Her (Barira’s) husband was a slave, so Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave her the option (either to retain her matrimonial relation with her husband or sever it off). She opted to break off (and secure freedom for her even from the matrimonial alliance). And if he were free he would not have given her the option. In the hadith narrated on the authority (of this chain of transmitters) these words are not found: Amma ba’du.

Book 9: Number 3589: ‘Abd al-Rahman b. al. Qasim reported on the authority of his father: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) said: There were three issues which were clarified in case of Barira: her owners had decided to sell her on the condition that the right of her inheritance would vest with them. She (‘A’isha) said: I made a mention of that to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and he said: Buy her and emancipate her, for verily the right of inheritance vests with one who emancipates. She said that she emancipated (her) and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave her the option (either to retain her matrimonial alliance or break it after emancipation). She (taking advantage of the option) opted for herself (the severing of matrimonial alliance). ‘A’isha said: The people used to give her charity and she gave us that as gift. I made a mention of it to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him), whereupon he said: That is charity for her but gift for you, so take that.

Book 9: Number 3590: ‘A’isha (Allah’s be pleased with her) reported that she had bought Barira from the people of Ansar, but they laid down the condition that the right of inheritance (would vest in them), whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The right of inheritance vests with one who shows favour (who emancipates) and Allah’s Messenger (may peacebe upon him) gave her the choice (either to retain) her matrimonial alliance or break it). Her husband was a slave. She (Barira also) gave ‘A’isha some meat as gift. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: I wish you could prepare (cook) for us out of this meat. ‘A’isha said, It has been given as charity to Barira, whereupon he said: That is charity for her and gift for us.

Book 9: Number 3591: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: She wanted to buy Barira with a view to emancipating her. They (the sellers) laid down the condition that the right of inheritance would vest (with them). She (Hadrat ‘A’isha) made a mention of that to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), whereupon he said: Buy her and emancipate her for the right of inheritance vests with one who emancipates. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was given meat as gift. They (his Companions) said to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him): This was given as charity to Barira, whereupon he said: That is charity for her but gift for us. And she was given option (to retain her matrimonial alliance or to break it). Abd al-Rahman said: Her husband was a free man. Shu’ba said: I then asked him (one of the narrators) about Barira’s husband (whether he had been a free mart or a slave), whereupon he said: I do not know.

Book 9: Number 3592: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu’ba with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 9: Number 3593: ‘A’isha reported that the husband of Barira was a slave.

Book 9: Number 3594: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her). the wife of Allah’s Apostle (may Peace be upon him) said: Three are the Sunan (usages) (that we came to know in case of Bairara). She was given option in regard to her husband when she was emancipated. She was given meat as charity. Allah’s Messenger (way peace be upon him) visited me when an earthen pot with meat in it was placed on the fire. He asked for food and be was given bread with ordinary meat (usually cooked in the) house. Thereupon he (Allah’s Messenger) said: Don’t I see the earthen pot on fire with meat in it? They said: Yes. Allah’s Messenger, there is meat in it which was given as charity to Barira. We did not deem it advisable that we should give you that to eat, whereupon he said: It is charity for her, but it is gift for us. Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) also said: The right of inheritance vests with one who emancipates.

Book 9: Number 3595: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: ‘A’isha (Allah be pleated with her) thought of buying a slave girl and emancipating her, but her owners refused to (sell her but on the condition) that the right of inheritance would vest in them. She made a mention of that to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). whereupon he said: Let this (condition) not stand in your way for the right of inheritance vests with one who emancipates.

Book 9: Number 3596: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace he upon him) forbade the selling and making a gift of the right of inheritance of a slave. Imam Muslim said: All the persons depend upon Abdullah b. Dinar in regard to this hadith.

Book 9: Number 3597: This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with them) through another chain of transmitters but with this change that in tba hadith narrated by al-Thaqafi from Ubaidullah there is only a mention of selling (or right of inheritance, al-Wala’ ) but not that of making a gift.

Book 9: Number 3598: Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) made it obligatory for every tribe (the payment) of blood wit; he then also made it explicit that it is not permissible for a Muslim to make himself the ally (of the slave emancipated by another) Muslim without his permission. He (the narrator further added): I was informed that he (the Holy Prophet) cursed the one who did that (and it was recorded) in his Sahifa (in a document).

Book 9: Number 3599: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He who takes anyone as his ally without the consent of his previous master, there will be the curse of Allah and that of His angels upon him, and neither, any obligatory act of his nor the supererogatory one will be accepted (by Allah).

Book 9: Number 3600: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who took the freed slave as his ally without the consent of his previous master, there is upon him the curse of Allah and that of His angels and that of the whole mankind, and there will not be accepted from him his obligatory acts or supercrogatory acts on the Day of Resurrection. This hadith is narrated through the same chain of transmitters, but with a slight change of words.

Book 9: Number 3601: Ibrahim al-Taimi reported on the authority of his father: ‘Ali b. Abu Talib (Allah be pleased with him) addressed us and said: He who thinks that we (the members of the Prophet’s family) read anything else besides the Book of Allah and this Sahifa (and he said that Sahifa was tied to the scabbard of the sword) tells a lie. (This Sahifa) contains (problems) pertaining to the ages of the camels and (the recompense) of the injuries, and it also records the words of the Prophet (may peace be upon him): Medina is a sacred territory from ‘Ayr to Thaur (it is most probably Uhud). He who innovates (an act or practice) or gives protection to an innovator, there is a curse of Allah and that of His angels and that of the whole humanity upon him. Allah will not accdpt from him (as a recompense) any obligatory act or supererogatory act, and the responsibility of the Muslims is a joint responsibility; even the lowest in rank can undertake the responsibility (on behalf of others), and he who claims anyone else as his father besides his own father or makes one his ally other than the one (who freed him), there is a curse of Allah. that of His angels and that of the wholemankind upon him. Allah will not accept the obligatory act of the supererogatery act (as a recompense) from him.

Book 9: Number 3602: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: If anyone emancipates a Muslim slave, Allah will set free from Hell an organ of his body for every organ of his (slave’s) body.

Book 9: Number 3603: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who emancipates a slave, Allah will set free from Hell every limb (of his body) for every limb of his (slave’s) body, even his private parts.

Book 9: Number 3604: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who emancipates a believing slave. Allah will set free from Fire his every limb for every limb of his (slave’s), even his private parts for his.

Book 9: Number 3605: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: A Muslim who emancipates a Muslim (slave). Allah will save from Fire every limb of his for every limb (of the slave). Sa’id b. Marjana said: When I heard this hadith from Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him), I went away and made a mention of it to ‘Ali b. Husain and he at once emancipated the slave for which Ibn ja’far was prepared to pay ten thousand dirhams or one thousand dinars.

Book 9: Number 3606: Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: A son does not repay what he owes his father unless he buys him (the father) in case he is a slave and then emancipates him. In the narration transmitted by Ibn Abu Shaiba there is a slight change of words.

Book 9: Number 3607: A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Suhail with the same chain of transmitters.

FROM RIYADH AL SALIHEEN

Allah, the Exalted, says:
“… and live with them honourably”. (4:19)

“You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives even if it is your ardent desire, so do not incline too much to one of them (by giving her more of your time and provision) so as to leave the other hanging (i.e., neither divorced nor married). And if you do justice, and do all that is right, and fear Allah by keeping away from all that is wrong, then Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (4:129)

Hadith: 273.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Take my advice with regard to women: Act kindly towards women, for they were created from a rib, and the most crooked part of a rib is its uppermost. If you attempt to straighten it; you will break it, and if you leave it alone it will remain crooked; so act kindly toward women”. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In another narration of Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “A woman is like a rib, if you attempt to straighten it, you will break it; and if you benefit from her, you will do so while crookedness remains in her”.

In another narration of Muslim, Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: ‘Woman has been created from a rib and will in no way be straightened for you; so if you want to benefit from her, you will benefit from her while crookedness remains in her. If you attempt to straighten her, you will break her, and breaking her is divorcing her”.

Commentary: The words (Istawso bi’ nisa’) mean, take care of your wives. Whatever is the formation of the words of the Hadith, it stresses the importance of kind treatment to wives because woman is not only weaker than man by nature, but also less intelligent. On account of his being more intelligent and having greater patience, man should be more forgiving in his dealing with her. The secret of a pleasant family life lies in this advice of the Prophet (PBUH) with its emphasis on kind treatment to wives.

Hadith: 274.  `Abdullah bin Zam`ah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Prophet (PBUH) giving a speech when he mentioned the she-camel (of Prophet Salih) and the man who had killed her. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “When the most wicked man among them went forth (to kill the she-camel).’ (91:12) signifies that a distinguished, wicked and most powerful chief of the people jumped up to kill the she-camel.” Then he (PBUH) made mention of women and said, “Some of you beat your wives as if they were slaves, and then lie with them at the end of the day”. Then he (PBUH) admonished them against laughing at another’s passing of wind, saying, “Why does any of you laugh at another doing what he does himself” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: Although Islam has permitted man, in inevitable circumstances, to rebuke his wife, it has also suggested a very wise course for it. It has suggested that first of all he should advise and preach her, and if she does not mend her ways by these means, then he should stop sleeping with her, which is a great warning for the sensible wife. If she does not improve even by this method, then he may take recourse to slight beating, but in that he must avoid her head and face. He should take recourse to beating if he thinks that it would work, otherwise it is better to avoid it. But surprisingly enough some start the process of reformation with beating and that too with great ruthlessness which has not been permitted by Islam in any case. It is this aspect which the Prophet (PBUH) has highlighted in this Hadith. He has contended that when the wife is indispensable for man and it is very difficult for him to pass night without her then why should he beat her like a slave or bondmaid? He should try to understand that she, too, has feelings and her position is like one of the two wheels of the cart of life. If at all it comes to beating her then he must keep her true status in view before taking recourse to it. He should never loose sight of her importance in conjugal life.

Hadith: 275.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “A believer must not hate (his wife) believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics he will be pleased with another”. [Muslim].
Commentary: This Hadith also contains a very wise counsel for a happy married life. It tells us that every person has certain good qualities as well as some shortcomings. Man has been advised here to overlook the shortcomings that he does not like in his wife and appreciate her good qualities. Similarly, a woman is advised to ignore the shortcomings of her husband and admire his good qualities.

Hadith: 276.  `Amr bin Al-Ahwas Al-Jushami (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that he had heard the Prophet (PBUH) saying on his Farewell Pilgrimage, after praising and glorifying Allah and admonishing people, “Treat women kindly, they are like captives in your hands; you do not owe anything else from them. In case they are guilty of open indecency, then do not share their beds and beat them lightly but if they return to obedience, do not have recourse to anything else against them. You have rights over your wives and they have their rights over you. Your right is that they shall not permit anyone you dislike to enter your home, and their right is that you should treat them well in the matter of food and clothing”. [At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary:
1. Here again  we find justification for beating one’s wife in case of her persistence in default, but it is to be done in the manner prescribed in the Hadith quoted above.

2. It is the responsibility of the wife that during the absence of her husband, besides the guarding of her own chastity, and property of her husband, she should not let in anyone who is not liked by her husband, however closely related that person be to her.

3. It is the responsibility of the husband to provide, according to his means, good food and clothes to his wife.

Hadith: 277.  Mu`awiyah bin Haidah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked Messenger of Allah (PBUH): “What right can any wife demand of her husband?” He replied, “You should give her food when you eat, clothe her when you clothe yourself, not strike her on the face, and do not revile her or separate from her except in the house”. [Abu Dawud].
Commentary: If it comes to temporarily severing relation with a disobedient wife to set her right, it should be done within the house and the best course for it is that one suspends the practice of sleeping with her. Some people say that this suspension should be to the extent of sleeping with her only and one should not stop speaking to her because that will increase the rift between the two. But in case of special circumstances, one can separate from her by leaving his home, as was done by the Prophet (PBUH) by shifting to upper room of his house.

Hadith: 278.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “The believers who show the most perfect Faith are those who have the best behaviour, and the best of you are those who are the best to their wives”. [At-Tirmidhi].

Hadith: 279.  Iyas bin `Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Do not beat Allah’s bondwomen.” When `Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) came to Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and complained saying: “The women have become very daring towards their husbands,” He (PBUH) gave permission to beat them. Then many women went to the family of the Messenger of Allah (wives) complaining of their husbands, and he (the Prophet (PBUH)) said, “Many women have gone round Muhammad’s family complaining of their husbands. Those who do so, that is, those who take to beating their wives, are not the best among you”. [Abu Dawud].
Commentary: This Hadith tells us that those who take to beating their wives are not perfect people. The decency of manners warrants that one must refrain from beating, as is evident from the conduct of the Prophet (PBUH) who neither resorted to beating with his own hand any of his wives nor slaves nor any other. He would avenge those who transgressed the limits of Allah.

Hadith: 280.  `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “The world is but a (quick passing) enjoyment; and the best enjoyment of the world is a pious and virtuous woman”. [Muslim].
Commentary: This Hadith mentions the qualities of a virtuous woman. When her husband looks at her, she pleases him; when he orders her, she obeys him; and when he is absent, she guards herself (chastity) and the property of her husband.(Abu Dawud and Nasa’i).

This Hadith stresses the fact that if one wants success in this world and the Hereafter, he should select a pious wife. Rather than going after her beauty, lineage and wealth, one should give preference to her Faith over all other considerations. If he chooses a woman who is faithful to her Deen and strictly adheres to the Shari`ah, she would be a source of blessing for him in this life and the Hereafter.

Allah, the Exalted, says:
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore, the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g., their chastity and their husband’s property).” (4: 34)

Hadith: 281.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “When a man calls his wife to his bed, and she does not respond and he (the husband) spends the night angry with her, the angels curse her until morning”. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In another narration: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “When a woman spends the night away from the bed of her husband, the angels curse her until morning”. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In another narration: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “By Him in Whose Hand is my life, when a man calls his wife to his bed, and she does not respond, the One Who is above the heaven becomes displeased with her until he (her husband) becomes pleased with her”. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: This Hadith makes it abundantly clear that obedience of the husband is compulsory on the wife. If, in the absence of any lawful reason, she refuses to obey the orders of her husband, she will be liable to the Wrath and Curse of Allah until she returns to obedience. This Hadith has a stern warning for those women who do not care for the displeasure of their husbands because of their bad temperament, stubbornness and habit of dominating their husbands.

Hadith: 282.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “It is not lawful for a woman to observe (voluntary) fasting without the permission of her husband when he is at home; and she should not allow anyone to enter his house without his permission.”. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: It lays down a principle for a wife that performing Nawafil (voluntary acts of worship) at the cost of the husband rights is not permissible.

Hadith: 283.  Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “All of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects. The ruler is a guardian of his subjects, the man is a guardian of his family, the woman is a guardian and is responsible for her husband’s house and his offspring; and so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your subjects.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: This Hadith ordains every individual in society, whether he is a ruler or ruled citizen or even a woman who leads her life within the four walls of her house, to perform his duties within his own sphere. Not only that, every person has been made responsible to reform the state of affairs in his control and establish equity and justice because he will be held accountable for any negligence on his part in this respect.

Hadith: 284.  Abu `Ali Talq bin `Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “When a man calls his wife to satisfy his desire, she must go to him even if she is occupied with the oven”. [At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i].

Hadith: 285.  Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “If I were to order anyone to prostrate himself before another, I would have ordered a woman to prostrate herself before her husband”. [At-Tirmidhi]
Commentary: This Hadith also shows the unique importance of the wife’s obedience to her husband within her capacity and as long as he does not order her to disobey Allah.

Hadith: 286.  Umm Salamah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Any woman dies while her husband is pleased with her, she will enter Jannah”. [At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary: The distinction mentioned in this Hadith is for those women who abide by the duties and obligations entrusted to them by Islam and also endeavour to keep their husbands happy. Allah (SWT) will pardon their ordinary acts of omission and commission and admit them to Jannah.

Hadith: 287.  Mu`adh bin Jabal (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whenever a woman harms her husband in this world (that is without any due right), his wife among the (Houris in Jannah) says: `You must not harm him. May Allah destroy you! He is only a passing guest with you and is about to leave you to come to us”. [At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary: The Islamic Shari`ah commands men to treat their wives with kindness. In the same spirit it commands wives to be obedient to their husbands. She can hurt the feelings of her husband by using indecent language, immodest conduct, immoral actions and making unfair demands which are beyond his means. It is very common among women to tease and trouble their husbands by these three practices, except for pious women.

Hadith: 288. Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “I am not leaving behind me a more harmful trial for men than women”. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: According to this Hadith, women and their beauty are the greatest and most disastrous mischief for men. This fact can be easily verified by observation. Men are generally constrained to take to corruption and unfair means of income to fulfill undue demands of their wives. If women learn to lead a simple life, men will not need much to make money through unlawful means. Similarly, it is women who compel men to hold all kinds of meaningless customs and ceremonies on marriage parties and thereby violate Islamic injunctions, and incur more expenses. If women go by the Islamic injunctions, the marriages would become a greater source of happiness and pleasure.

Hadith: 1749. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “If a man calls his wife to his bed and she refuses, and thus he spends the night angry with her, the angels continue cursing her till the morning.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: It is incumbent on every women to respond to her husband’s invitation to his bed for sexual intercourse. It would be a different matter if she has a lawful reason for it, such as observing an obligatory act of worship, like fasting during the month of Ramadan, illness, menses, etc. In such events she would be obviously unable to comply with the wish of her husband. But in the absence of any lawful reason, she would be condemned by the angels. This is emphasized on women for the reason that a husband should not ignore his wife and turn to some other women. If a woman fails to satisfy the sexual urge of her husband, he can go astray. It is, therefore, necessary that she should not show any slackness in complying with her husband’s wishes.

Hadith: 1774. Zainab bint Abu Salamah (May Allah be pleased with them) said: I went to Umm Habibah (May Allah be pleased with her) the wife of the Prophet (PBUH), when her father Abu Sufyan bin Harb (May Allah be pleased with him) died. Umm Habibah (May Allah be pleased with her) sent for a yellow coloured perfume or something else like it, and she applied it to a slave-girl and then rubbed it on her own cheeks and said: “By Allah, I have no need for perfume, I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying from the pulpit, `It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for the dead beyond three days, except for the death of her husband; in which case the period of mourning is of four months and ten days.”’ Zainab said: I then visited Zainab, daughter of Jahsh (May Allah be pleased with her) when her brother died; she sent for perfume and applied it and then said: “Beware! By Allah, I don’t feel any need of perfume but I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying from the pulpit, `It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn the dead beyond three days except in case of her husband (for whom the period is) four months and ten days.”’ [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Commentary: The period of mourning the husband’s death is four months and ten days while ordinarily it is three days only (for others). The reasons behind mourning the dead husband is: Firstly, the purification of womb. Secondly, it is a mark of respect for the relation and love between husband and wife. The scent which was used in the two incidents reported in this Hadith occurred after the stipulated period of mourning in ordinary cases – that is three days. After the expiry of the mourning period, the woman is allowed to resume her routine. The Hadith mentions the man’s right over his wife after his death; it also shows the importance of conjugal ties in Islam.