65/65.2. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4910 — Delivery Ends Pregnant Iddah
"... And for those who are pregnant (whether they are divorced or their husbands are dead), their 'Idda (prescribed period) is until they lay down their burdens, and whoever keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, He will make his matter easy for him." (V.65:4)
Hadith About Subai’a and the Iddah of a Pregnant Woman
Sahih Bukhari : 4910
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4910
وَقَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ وَأَبُو النُّعْمَانِ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ كُنْتُ فِي حَلْقَةٍ فِيهَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى وَكَانَ أَصْحَابُهُ يُعَظِّمُونَهُ، فَذَكَرَ آخِرَ الأَجَلَيْنِ فَحَدَّثْتُ بِحَدِيثِ سُبَيْعَةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ قَالَ فَضَمَّزَ لِي بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِهِ. قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ فَفَطِنْتُ لَهُ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي إِذًا لَجَرِيءٌ إِنْ كَذَبْتُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ وَهْوَ فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْكُوفَةِ. فَاسْتَحْيَا وَقَالَ لَكِنَّ عَمَّهُ لَمْ يَقُلْ ذَاكَ. فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا عَطِيَّةَ مَالِكَ بْنَ عَامِرٍ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَذَهَبَ يُحَدِّثُنِي حَدِيثَ سُبَيْعَةَ فَقُلْتُ هَلْ سَمِعْتَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فِيهَا شَيْئًا فَقَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ أَتَجْعَلُونَ عَلَيْهَا التَّغْلِيظَ وَلاَ تَجْعَلُونَ عَلَيْهَا الرُّخْصَةَ. لَنَزَلَتْ سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ الْقُصْرَى بَعْدَ الطُّولَى {وَأُولاَتُ الأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَنْ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ}.
Abu Salama Narrated from:
A man came to Ibn `Abbas while Abu Huraira was sitting with him and said, "Give me your verdict regarding a lady who delivered a baby forty days after the death of her husband." Ibn `Abbas said, "This indicates the end of one of the two prescribed periods." I said "For those who are pregnant, their prescribed period is until they deliver their burdens." Abu Huraira said, I agree with my cousin (Abu Salama)."Then Ibn `Abbas sent his slave, Kuraib to Um Salama to ask her (regarding this matter). She replied. "The husband of Subai'a al Aslamiya was killed while she was pregnant, and she delivered a baby forty days after his death. Then her hand was asked in marriage and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) married her (to somebody). Abu As-Sanabil was one of those who asked for her hand in marriage".
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4910In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 430USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 60, Hadith 432
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4910
This Hadith about the iddah of a pregnant woman highlights a discussion among learned people. Muhammad mentioned the narration of Subai’a bint al-Harith when the topic of the longer of two waiting periods came up. Some people reacted, so he clarified that he was not lying about Abdullah bin Utba. He then asked Abu Atiyya Malik bin Amir. Abu Atiyya reported that Abdullah objected to making the matter harder while not allowing the concession. He mentioned the verse that pregnant women’s term is until they deliver. The Hadith teaches careful learning. It also shows that when a ruling is discussed, people should seek clear reports and not only rely on assumptions.
What we learn from this hadith
- Religious questions should be checked through reliable reports.
- The narration points to ease where the text gives a concession.
- The verse about pregnant women was used as proof in the discussion.
