67/122. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5245 — Thoughtful Return to Family
Seeking to beget children
Hadith About Returning From Travel: Give Your Family Time to Prepare
Sahih Bukhari : 5245
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5245
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، عَنْ هُشَيْمٍ، عَنْ سَيَّارٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَزْوَةٍ، فَلَمَّا قَفَلْنَا تَعَجَّلْتُ عَلَى بَعِيرٍ قَطُوفٍ فَلَحِقَنِي رَاكِبٌ مِنْ خَلْفِي، فَالْتَفَتُّ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَا يُعْجِلُكَ ". قُلْتُ إِنِّي حَدِيثُ عَهْدٍ بِعُرْسٍ. قَالَ " فَبِكْرًا تَزَوَّجْتَ أَمْ ثَيِّبًا ". قُلْتُ بَلْ ثَيِّبًا. قَالَ " فَهَلاَّ جَارِيَةً تُلاَعِبُهَا وَتُلاَعِبُكَ ". قَالَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا ذَهَبْنَا لِنَدْخُلَ فَقَالَ " أَمْهِلُوا حَتَّى تَدْخُلُوا لَيْلاً ـ أَىْ عِشَاءً ـ لِكَىْ تَمْتَشِطَ الشَّعِثَةُ وَتَسْتَحِدَّ الْمُغِيبَةُ ". قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنِي الثِّقَةُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ " الْكَيْسَ الْكَيْسَ يَا جَابِرُ ". يَعْنِي الْوَلَدَ.
Jabir Narrated from:
I was with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in a Ghazwa, and when we returned, I wanted to hurry, while riding a slow camel. A rider came behind me. I looked back and saw that the rider was Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). He said (to me), "What makes you in such a hurry?" I replied, "I am newly married." He said, "Did you marry a virgin or a matron?" I replied, "(Not a virgin but) a matron." He said, "Why didn't you marry a young girl with whom you could play and who could play with you?"Then when we approached (Medina) and were going to enter (it), the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Wait till you enter (your homes) at night (in the first part of the night) so that the ladies with unkempt hair may comb their hair, and those whose husbands have been absent (for a long time) may shave their pubic hair."(The sub-narrator, Hashim said: A reliable narrator told me that the Prophet (ﷺ) added in this Hadith: "(Seek to beget) children! Children, O Jabir!")
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5245In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 178USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 172
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5245
This hadith about returning from travel gives a warm lesson in marital care. Jabir was newly married and wanted to hurry home after a journey. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) spoke to him kindly and asked about his marriage. When they reached near Medina, the Prophet told the group to wait until early night before entering their homes. The reason is stated in the hadith: women with unkempt hair could comb their hair, and women whose husbands had been away could prepare themselves. This is a practical teaching about respect between spouses. It shows that family privacy, personal grooming, and emotional comfort matter. A return home should not become a sudden inspection. It should allow dignity.
What we learn from this hadith
- A husband should return in a way that respects his wife's dignity.
- Family members may need time to prepare after a long absence.
- The Prophet guided companions with kindness and personal care.
- Marriage includes playfulness, comfort, and thoughtful behavior.
