67/116. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5237 — Women Going Out for Needs
The going out of women for their needs
Women Are Allowed to Go Out for Their Needs: Hadith Explanation
Sahih Bukhari : 5237
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5237
حَدَّثَنَا فَرْوَةُ بْنُ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ خَرَجَتْ سَوْدَةُ بِنْتُ زَمْعَةَ لَيْلاً فَرَآهَا عُمَرُ فَعَرَفَهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّكِ وَاللَّهِ يَا سَوْدَةُ مَا تَخْفَيْنَ عَلَيْنَا، فَرَجَعَتْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ لَهُ، وَهْوَ فِي حُجْرَتِي يَتَعَشَّى، وَإِنَّ فِي يَدِهِ لَعَرْقًا، فَأُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ فَرُفِعَ عَنْهُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ " قَدْ أَذِنَ لَكُنَّ أَنْ تَخْرُجْنَ لِحَوَائِجِكُنَّ ".
A'isha Narrated from:
Once Sa`da bint Zam`a went out at night for some need, and `Umar saw her, and recognizing her, he said (to her), "By Allah, O Sa`da! You cannot hide yourself from us." So she returned to the Prophet (ﷺ) and mentioned that to him while he was sitting in my dwelling taking his supper and holding a bone covered with meat in his hand. Then the Divine Inspiration was revealed to him and when that state was over, he (the Prophet (ﷺ) was saying: "O women! You have been allowed by Allah to go out for your needs."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5237In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 170USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 164
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5237
This hadith tells the incident of Sawda bint Zam'a going out at night for a need. Umar saw her, recognized her, and said that she could not hide herself from them. Sawda returned to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and told him what had happened while he was in Aisha's dwelling eating supper. Then revelation came to him. After that state ended, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "O women! You have been allowed by Allah to go out for your needs." This hadith about women going out for needs gives a clear teaching from the wording itself. Women were allowed to go out for their needs. The narration does not list every type of need, so the explanation should stay close to the text and avoid adding extra details.
What we learn from this hadith
- Sawda went out at night for a need.
- The matter was brought to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) stated that women were allowed to go out for their needs.
- The hadith should be understood according to the specific wording given.
