67/98. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5211 — Drawing Lots Among Wives
To draw lots among the wives for a journey
Hadith About Drawing Lots Among Wives for a Journey
Sahih Bukhari : 5211
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5211
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ أَيْمَنَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا خَرَجَ أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَ نِسَائِهِ، فَطَارَتِ الْقُرْعَةُ لِعَائِشَةَ وَحَفْصَةَ، وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا كَانَ بِاللَّيْلِ سَارَ مَعَ عَائِشَةَ يَتَحَدَّثُ، فَقَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ أَلاَ تَرْكَبِينَ اللَّيْلَةَ بَعِيرِي وَأَرْكَبُ بَعِيرَكِ تَنْظُرِينَ وَأَنْظُرُ، فَقَالَتْ بَلَى فَرَكِبَتْ فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى جَمَلِ عَائِشَةَ وَعَلَيْهِ حَفْصَةُ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ سَارَ حَتَّى نَزَلُوا وَافْتَقَدَتْهُ عَائِشَةُ، فَلَمَّا نَزَلُوا جَعَلَتْ رِجْلَيْهَا بَيْنَ الإِذْخِرِ وَتَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ سَلِّطْ عَلَىَّ عَقْرَبًا أَوْ حَيَّةً تَلْدَغُنِي، وَلاَ أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقُولَ لَهُ شَيْئًا.
Al-Qasim Narrated from:
Aisha said that whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) intended to go on a journey, he drew lots among his wives (so as to take one of them along with him). During one of his journeys the lot fell on `Aisha and Hafsa. When night fell the Prophet (ﷺ) would ride beside `Aisha and talk with her.One night Hafsa said to `Aisha, "Won't you ride my camel tonight and I ride yours, so that you may see (me) and I see (you) (in new situation)?" `Aisha said, "Yes, (I agree.)" So `Aisha rode, and then the Prophet (ﷺ) came towards `Aisha's camel on which Hafsa was riding. He greeted Hafsa and then proceeded (beside her) till they dismounted (on the way). `Aisha missed him, and so, when they dismounted, she put her legs in the Idhkhir and said, "O Lord (Allah)! Send a scorpion or a snake to bite me for I am not to blame him (the Prophet (ﷺ)).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5211In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 144USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 138
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5211
This hadith about drawing lots among wives shows a clear practice before travel. Aisha says that when the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) wanted to go on a journey, he drew lots among his wives. On this journey the lot fell to Aisha and Hafsa. At night the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would ride beside Aisha and talk with her. Hafsa then suggested that she and Aisha exchange camels for the night. Aisha agreed, and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) came to the camel he thought was Aisha’s, greeted Hafsa, and rode beside her. Aisha later missed him and expressed her pain in strong words, while saying she could not blame him. The hadith is about fairness in selection, human feelings, and a specific journey event.
What we learn from this hadith
- Drawing lots was used to choose fairly for a journey.
- The report shows normal human feelings within family life.
- Aisha did not blame the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for what happened.
- Small choices can affect feelings, so fairness and honesty matter.
