67/61. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5159 — Safiyya’s Marriage and Simple Walima
Consummation of marriage during a journey
Hadith About Safiyya’s Marriage and a Simple Walima
Sahih Bukhari : 5159
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5159
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ أَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَ خَيْبَرَ وَالْمَدِينَةِ ثَلاَثًا يُبْنَى عَلَيْهِ بِصَفِيَّةَ بِنْتِ حُيَىٍّ فَدَعَوْتُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَى وَلِيمَتِهِ، فَمَا كَانَ فِيهَا مِنْ خُبْزٍ وَلاَ لَحْمٍ، أَمَرَ بِالأَنْطَاعِ فَأُلْقِيَ فِيهَا مِنَ التَّمْرِ وَالأَقِطِ وَالسَّمْنِ فَكَانَتْ وَلِيمَتَهُ، فَقَالَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ إِحْدَى أُمَّهَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَوْ مِمَّا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُهُ فَقَالُوا إِنْ حَجَبَهَا فَهْىَ مِنْ أُمَّهَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَحْجُبْهَا فَهْىَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُهُ فَلَمَّا ارْتَحَلَ وَطَّى لَهَا خَلْفَهُ وَمَدَّ الْحِجَابَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ النَّاسِ.
Anas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) stayed for three days at a place between Khaibar and Medina, and there he consummated his marriage with Safiyya bint Huyay. I invited the Muslims to a banquet which included neither meat nor bread. The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered for the leather dining sheets to be spread, and then dates, dried yogurt and butter were provided over it, and that was the Walima (banquet) of the Prophet.The Muslims asked whether Safiyya would be considered as his wife or as a slave girl of what his right hands possessed. Then they said, "If the Prophet (ﷺ) screens her from the people, then she Is the Prophet's wife but if he does not screen her, then she is a slave girl." So when the Prophet (ﷺ) proceeded, he made a place for her (on the camel) behind him and screened her from people.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5159In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 94USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 89
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5159
This Hadith describes the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم marriage to Safiyya bint Huyay during a journey between Khaibar and Medina. Anas says the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stayed there for three days and consummated the marriage. He invited the Muslims to a Walima that had no bread or meat. Dates, dried yogurt, and butter were placed on leather dining sheets, and that was the wedding banquet. The Muslims then wondered whether Safiyya was a wife or from what the right hand possessed. They said that if she was screened from the people, she was one of the Mothers of the Believers. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم traveled, he seated her behind him and screened her.
What we learn from this hadith
- A Walima can be simple and still serve as a wedding banquet.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم invited Muslims to share food after the marriage.
- The text shows dates, dried yogurt, and butter being used for the meal.
- Screening Safiyya from the people showed her status as his wife in this narration.
