67/101. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5213 — Seven Days for a Virgin, Three for a Matron
Marrying a virgin while already having a matron wife
Hadith About Seven Days for a Virgin Wife and Three Days for a Matron
Sahih Bukhari : 5213
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5213
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ وَلَوْ شِئْتُ أَنْ أَقُولَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَكِنْ قَالَ السُّنَّةُ إِذَا تَزَوَّجَ الْبِكْرَ أَقَامَ عِنْدَهَا سَبْعًا، وَإِذَا تَزَوَّجَ الثَّيِّبَ أَقَامَ عِنْدَهَا ثَلاَثًا.
Anas Narrated from:
The tradition, (of the Prophet) is that if someone marries a virgin and he has already a matron wife (with him), then he should stay with the virgin for seven days; and if someone marries a matron (and he has already a virgin wife with him) then he should stay with her for three days.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5213In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 146USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 140
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5213
This hadith about seven days for a virgin wife and three days for a matron gives a clear rule of the Prophet’s tradition as reported by Anas. If a man marries a virgin while he already has a matron wife, he stays with the new virgin wife for seven days. If he marries a matron while he already has a virgin wife, he stays with the new matron wife for three days. The text is about time given at the start of a new marriage when there is already another wife. It is not a general talk about the value of one wife over another. The focus is the set number of days in this specific family arrangement.
What we learn from this hadith
- A new virgin wife is given seven days in this stated case.
- A new matron wife is given three days in this stated case.
- The report is about a specific turn arrangement after marriage.
- The numbers should be taken from the wording of the narration.
