67/93. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5202 — A Lunar Month Can Be 29 Days
The decision of the Prophet (saws) not to share the beds with his wives and to stay away
وَيُذْكَرُ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ حَيْدَةَ رَفْعُهُ: «غَيْرَ أَنْ لاَ تُهْجَرَ إِلاَّ فِي الْبَيْتِ». وَالأَوَّلُ أَصَحُّ.
Hadith About a Lunar Month Being Twenty-Nine Days
Sahih Bukhari : 5202
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5202
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ،. وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُقَاتِلٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ صَيْفِيٍّ، أَنَّ عِكْرِمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَلَفَ لاَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى بَعْضِ أَهْلِهِ شَهْرًا، فَلَمَّا مَضَى تِسْعَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ يَوْمًا غَدَا عَلَيْهِنَّ أَوْ رَاحَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ حَلَفْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَدْخُلَ عَلَيْهِنَّ شَهْرًا قَالَ " إِنَّ الشَّهْرَ يَكُونُ تِسْعَةً وَعِشْرِينَ يَوْمًا ".
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) took an oath that he would not enter upon some of his wives for one month. But when twenty nine days had elapsed, he went to them in the morning or evening. It was said to him, "O Allah's Prophet! You had taken an oath that you would not enter upon them for one month." He replied, "The month can be of twenty nine days."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5202In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 136USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 130
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5202
This hadith about a lunar month being twenty-nine days is narrated by Umm Salama. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) took an oath that he would not enter upon some of his wives for one month. When twenty-nine days had passed, he went to them in the morning or evening. Someone asked about the oath, because people may have expected thirty full days. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) replied that a month can be twenty-nine days. The wording is careful: “can be” means the month is not always thirty. The hadith teaches a clear calendar point through a real event. It also shows that the companions asked when they needed clarity, and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) answered simply.
What we learn from this hadith
- A month may be complete at twenty-nine days.
- People should ask when they need clarity.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave a direct answer without making the matter hard.
- The report should be understood through the wording it gives.
