67/114. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5235 — Guarding Privacy and Modesty
Effeminate men should not enter upon women
Hadith About Guarding Women's Privacy and Modesty
Sahih Bukhari : 5235
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5235
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ عِنْدَهَا وَفِي الْبَيْتِ مُخَنَّثٌ، فَقَالَ الْمُخَنَّثُ لأَخِي أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ إِنْ فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ الطَّائِفَ غَدًا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى ابْنَةِ غَيْلاَنَ، فَإِنَّهَا تُقْبِلُ بِأَرْبَعٍ وَتُدْبِرُ بِثَمَانٍ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَدْخُلَنَّ هَذَا عَلَيْكُنَّ ".
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
While the Prophet (ﷺ) was with her, there was an effeminate man in the house. The effeminate man said to Um Salama's brother, `Abdullah bin Abi Umaiyya, "If Allah should make you conquer Ta'if tomorrow, I recommend that you take the daughter of Ghailan (in marriage) for (she is so fat) that she shows four folds of flesh when facing you and eight when she turns her back." Thereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) said (to us), "This (effeminate man) should not enter upon you (anymore).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5235In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 168USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 162
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5235
This hadith teaches care around privacy and modesty. Umm Salama narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was with her while an effeminate man was in the house. That man described the body of the daughter of Ghailan to Umm Salama's brother and suggested her for marriage if Ta'if was conquered. After hearing this description, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that this man should not enter upon the women anymore. The hadith about guarding women's privacy shows that entry into private spaces is not simply based on appearance or social comfort. When someone's speech shows awareness of women's physical details in a way that affects privacy, access can be restricted. The lesson is to protect modesty and prevent unsafe or improper exposure.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) protected the privacy of women in the home.
- A person's speech can show whether access to private spaces is safe.
- Describing a woman's body in that way led to a restriction.
- Modesty includes guarding who enters upon women.
