64/35. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4161 — Caring for Widows and Children
The Ghazwa of Al-Hudaibiya
وَقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {لَقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ} .
Hadith About Caring for Widows: Umar's Generous Support
Sahih Bukhari : 4161
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4161
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ خَرَجْتُ مَعَ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ إِلَى السُّوقِ، فَلَحِقَتْ عُمَرَ امْرَأَةٌ شَابَّةٌ فَقَالَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هَلَكَ زَوْجِي وَتَرَكَ صِبْيَةً صِغَارًا، وَاللَّهِ مَا يُنْضِجُونَ كُرَاعًا، وَلاَ لَهُمْ زَرْعٌ وَلاَ ضَرْعٌ، وَخَشِيتُ أَنْ تَأْكُلَهُمُ الضَّبُعُ، وَأَنَا بِنْتُ خُفَافِ بْنِ إِيمَاءَ الْغِفَارِيِّ، وَقَدْ شَهِدَ أَبِي الْحُدَيْبِيَةَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَوَقَفَ مَعَهَا عُمَرُ، وَلَمْ يَمْضِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِنَسَبٍ قَرِيبٍ. ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى بَعِيرٍ ظَهِيرٍ كَانَ مَرْبُوطًا فِي الدَّارِ، فَحَمَلَ عَلَيْهِ غِرَارَتَيْنِ مَلأَهُمَا طَعَامًا، وَحَمَلَ بَيْنَهُمَا نَفَقَةً وَثِيَابًا، ثُمَّ نَاوَلَهَا بِخِطَامِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ اقْتَادِيهِ فَلَنْ يَفْنَى حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِخَيْرٍ. فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَكْثَرْتَ لَهَا. قَالَ عُمَرُ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ، وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَرَى أَبَا هَذِهِ وَأَخَاهَا قَدْ حَاصَرَا حِصْنًا زَمَانًا، فَافْتَتَحَاهُ، ثُمَّ أَصْبَحْنَا نَسْتَفِيءُ سُهْمَانَهُمَا فِيهِ.
Aslam Narrated from:
Once I went with `Umar bin Al-Khattab to the market. A young woman followed `Umar and said, "O chief of the believers! My husband has died, leaving little children. By Allah, they have not even a sheep's trotter to cook; they have no farms or animals. I am afraid that they may die because of hunger, and I am the daughter of Khufaf bin Ima Al-Ghafari, and my father witnessed the Pledge of allegiance) of Al-Hudaibiya with the Prophet.'`Umar stopped and did not proceed, and said, "I welcome my near relative." Then he went towards a strong camel which was tied in the house, and carried on to it, two sacks he had loaded with food grains and put between them money and clothes and gave her its rope to hold and said, "Lead it, and this provision will not finish till Allah gives you a good supply."A man said, "O chief of the believers! You have given her too much." "`Umar said disapprovingly. "May your mother be bereaved of you! By Allah, I have seen her father and brother besieging a fort for a long time and conquering it, and then we were discussing what their shares they would have from that war booty."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4160, 4161In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 203USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 479
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4161
This hadith about caring for widows repeats the report of a young woman who came to Umar bin Al-Khattab with a painful need. She said her husband had died and left little children with no food, no crops, and no animals. Umar did not pass by her. He stopped and treated her with respect. He gave her a strong camel loaded with two sacks of food, money, and clothes. His words also gave comfort, as he hoped this provision would last until Allah brought them better supply. The report shows direct help, not empty words. It also shows that Umar valued the family of those who had served at Al-Hudaibiya.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person in authority should not ignore the voice of a needy widow.
- Real help should match the size of the hardship.
- Children without a provider deserve serious care and attention.
- Good service done by a family may be honored later with kindness.
