67/112. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5232 — Avoiding Unsafe Seclusion
A man should not stay with a woman in seclusion
Beware of Entering Upon Women: Hadith About In-Laws
Sahih Bukhari : 5232
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5232
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْخَيْرِ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِيَّاكُمْ وَالدُّخُولَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ ". فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَرَأَيْتَ الْحَمْوَ. قَالَ " الْحَمْوُ الْمَوْتُ ".
`Uqba bin 'Amir Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Beware of entering upon the ladies." A man from the Ansar said, "Allah's Apostle! What about Al-Hamu the in-laws of the wife (the brothers of her husband or his nephews etc.)?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: The in-laws of the wife are death itself.
[1] It is mainly the brothers of the husband or the in-laws of the wife who are meant here and these are only those who could have married that woman if she had not been married.(2) The stay of a relative of a married woman in seclusion with her may cause great disadvantage and lead to illegal sexual intercourse that would ruin the family. Therefore the Prophet ﷺ compared the brother-in-law of a wife to death if he stays in seclusion with her.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5232In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 165USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 159
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5232
This hadith gives a direct warning about private access to women. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "Beware of entering upon the ladies." A man from the Ansar then asked about Al-Hamu, meaning the husband's male relatives such as his brothers or nephews. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) replied, "The in-laws of the wife are death itself." The wording is strong, so the lesson is also serious. This hadith about entering upon women warns against situations that can lead to harm, suspicion, or sin. It does not ask people to be rude to relatives. Rather, it teaches careful boundaries. The special warning about in-laws shows that familiarity can make people less careful, so a believer should guard modesty and avoid unsafe private situations.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) warned against entering upon women in an unsafe way.
- The warning includes close male in-laws from the husband's side.
- Familiarity with relatives should not remove proper boundaries.
- The hadith teaches caution in situations that may lead to harm.
