64/56. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4324 — Guarding Modesty at Home
The Ghazwa of At-Taif
قَالَهُ مُوسَى بْنُ عُقَبْةَ.
Hadith About Modesty and Protecting Women's Privacy
Sahih Bukhari : 4324
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4324
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، سَمِعَ سُفْيَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّهَا أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَعِنْدِي مُخَنَّثٌ فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ الطَّائِفَ غَدًا فَعَلَيْكَ بِابْنَةِ غَيْلاَنَ، فَإِنَّهَا تُقْبِلُ بِأَرْبَعٍ وَتُدْبِرُ بِثَمَانٍ. وَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَدْخُلَنَّ هَؤُلاَءِ عَلَيْكُنَّ ". قَالَ ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ وَقَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ الْمُخَنَّثُ هِيتٌ. حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودٌ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ عَنْ هِشَامٍ بِهَذَا، وَزَادَ وَهْوَ مُحَاصِرٌ الطَّائِفَ يَوْمَئِذٍ.
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) came to me while there was an effeminate man sitting with me, and I heard him (i.e. the effeminate man) saying to `Abdullah bin Abi Umaiya, "O `Abdullah! See if Allah should make you conquer Ta'if tomorrow, then take the daughter of Ghailan (in marriage) as (she is so beautiful and fat that) she shows four folds of flesh when facing you, and eight when she turns her back."The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "These (effeminate men) should never enter upon you (O women!)." Ibn Juraij said, "That effeminate man was called Hit." Narrated Hisham: The above narration and added extra, that at that time, the Prophet, was besieging Taif.
[1] When she turns her back, the ends of the four folds appear on both sides, and that is what is meant by the eight folds at her back.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4324In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 354USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 613
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4324
This Hadith about modesty shows how speech can affect access and boundaries in the home. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم entered upon Umm Salama while an effeminate man was present. The man described a woman in a detailed physical way to Abdullah bin Abi Umaiya. After hearing this, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that such men should not enter upon the women. The point in the text is not a general discussion about every person, but a direct response to what was said in that setting. The man had shown awareness of women's physical details and spoke about them. So the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم protected privacy and closed the door to harmful looking and talk. This Hadith teaches careful speech, modesty, and respect for the private space of women.
What we learn from this hadith
- Speech about a woman's body should not be treated casually.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم set a boundary after hearing inappropriate detailed talk.
- Privacy in the home should be protected.
- Access to women was restricted when the situation showed a risk to modesty.
