67/1. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5064 — Justice for Orphan Girls in Marriage
Awakening the desire for marriage
لِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: {فَانْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ}.
Hadith About Orphan Girls, Mahr, and Justice in Marriage
Sahih Bukhari : 5064
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5064
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، سَمِعَ حَسَّانَ بْنَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ عَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى {وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَنْ لاَ تُقْسِطُوا فِي الْيَتَامَى فَانْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَى وَثُلاَثَ وَرُبَاعَ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَنْ لاَ تَعْدِلُوا فَوَاحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَنْ لاَ تَعُولُوا}. قَالَتْ يَا ابْنَ أُخْتِي، الْيَتِيمَةُ تَكُونُ فِي حَجْرِ وَلِيِّهَا، فَيَرْغَبُ فِي مَالِهَا وَجَمَالِهَا، يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَهَا بِأَدْنَى مِنْ سُنَّةِ صَدَاقِهَا، فَنُهُوا أَنْ يَنْكِحُوهُنَّ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُقْسِطُوا لَهُنَّ فَيُكْمِلُوا الصَّدَاقَ، وَأُمِرُوا بِنِكَاحِ مَنْ سِوَاهُنَّ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ.
`Urwa Narrated from:
Narrated 'Urwa: that he asked `Aisha about the Statement of Allah:'If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (the captives) that your right hands possess. That will be nearer to prevent you from doing injustice.' (4.3)`Aisha said, "O my nephew! (This Verse has been revealed in connection with) an orphan girl under the guardianship of her guardian who is attracted by her wealth and beauty and intends to marry her with a Mahr less than what other women of her standard deserve. So they (such guardians) have been forbidden to marry them unless they do justice to them and give them their full Mahr, and they are ordered to marry other women instead of them."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5064In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 2USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 2
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5064
This Hadith explains the verse about dealing justly with orphan girls. Aisha رضي الله عنها said it refers to an orphan girl under a guardian's care. The guardian may be attracted to her wealth and beauty and may want to marry her while giving less mahr than women of her standing deserve. The teaching is direct: such guardians were forbidden to marry them unless they dealt justly and gave the full mahr. They were told to marry other women instead if they could not do that. This hadith about orphan girls and mahr centers on fairness, not desire. It protects a vulnerable girl from being treated unfairly by someone who has power over her.
What we learn from this hadith
- A guardian must not use his position to reduce an orphan girl's mahr.
- Marriage must include justice when the woman is under one's care.
- Attraction to wealth or beauty is not a reason to deny fair rights.
- If justice cannot be given, the text points to marrying someone else instead.
