64/38. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4213 — Walimah and Veil
Ghazwa of Khaibar
Safiya Walimah and Veil Hadith
Sahih Bukhari : 4213
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4213
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي حُمَيْدٌ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَنَسًا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ أَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَ خَيْبَرَ وَالْمَدِينَةِ ثَلاَثَ لَيَالٍ يُبْنَى عَلَيْهِ بِصَفِيَّةَ، فَدَعَوْتُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَى وَلِيمَتِهِ، وَمَا كَانَ فِيهَا مِنْ خُبْزٍ وَلاَ لَحْمٍ، وَمَا كَانَ فِيهَا إِلاَّ أَنْ أَمَرَ بِلاَلاً بِالأَنْطَاعِ فَبُسِطَتْ، فَأَلْقَى عَلَيْهَا التَّمْرَ وَالأَقِطَ وَالسَّمْنَ، فَقَالَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ إِحْدَى أُمَّهَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُهُ قَالُوا إِنْ حَجَبَهَا فَهْىَ إِحْدَى أُمَّهَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَحْجُبْهَا فَهْىَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُهُ. فَلَمَّا ارْتَحَلَ وَطَّأَ لَهَا خَلْفَهُ، وَمَدَّ الْحِجَابَ.
Anas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) stayed for three rights between Khaibar and Medina and was married to Safiya. I invited the Muslim to h s marriage banquet and there wa neither meat nor bread in that banquet but the Prophet ordered Bilal to spread the leather mats on which dates, dried yogurt and butter were put.The Muslims said amongst themselves, "Will she (i.e. Safiya) be one of the mothers of the believers, (i.e. one of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) ) or just (a lady captive) of what his right-hand possesses" Some of them said, "If the Prophet (ﷺ) makes her observe the veil, then she will be one of the mothers of the believers (i.e. one of the Prophet's wives), and if he does not make her observe the veil, then she will be his lady slave." So when he departed, he made a place for her behind him (on his and made her observe the veil.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4213In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 253USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 524
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4213
This hadith gives more detail about the Prophet's marriage to Safiya between Khaibar and Madinah. Anas says the Prophet stayed three nights and that he invited the Muslims to the walimah. There was no bread or meat in the banquet. Instead, leather mats were spread and dates, dried yogurt, and butter were placed on them. The Muslims wondered whether Safiya would be one of the Mothers of the Believers or a lady captive. They understood that if the Prophet made her observe the veil, she would be one of the Mothers of the Believers. When he departed, he made a place for her behind him and drew the veil. The hadith is rich in simple marriage details.
What we learn from this hadith
- The walimah was simple, with dates, dried yogurt, and butter mentioned in the report.
- The Muslims discussed Safiya's status based on whether the veil would be observed.
- The Prophet made a place for Safiya behind him when departing.
- The veil showed her status in the way the companions understood it.
