68/8. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5266 — Declaring Wife Unlawful Is Not Divorce
"O Prophet! Why do you forbid that which Allah has allowed to you...?
Hadith About Saying Wife Is Unlawful and Divorce
Sahih Bukhari : 5266
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5266
حَدَّثَنِي الْحَسَنُ بْنُ صَبَّاحٍ، سَمِعَ الرَّبِيعَ بْنَ نَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ يَعْلَى بْنِ حَكِيمٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، يَقُولُ إِذَا حَرَّمَ امْرَأَتَهُ لَيْسَ بِشَىْءٍ. وَقَالَ {لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ}
Sa`id bin Jubair Narrated from:
Narrated Sa`id bin Jubair: that he heard Ibn `Abbas saying, "If a man makes his wife unlawful for him, it does not mean that she is divorced." He added, "Indeed in the Messenger of Allah, you have a good example to follow."
[1] By saying to her, "You are unlawful for me."Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5266In-book reference : Book 68, Hadith 16USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 63, Hadith 191
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5266
This Hadith deals with words that may sound serious in marriage. Saʿid bin Jubair reported that Ibn ʿAbbas said if a man makes his wife unlawful for himself, that does not mean she is divorced. He then mentioned the verse that in the Messenger of Allah there is a good example to follow. The main topic is divorce words and whether a statement counts as talaq. The text does not give every detail of the legal ruling, so the explanation should stay with what is stated: this specific wording was not treated by Ibn ʿAbbas as divorce. The Hadith teaches care in judging words.
What we learn from this hadith
- Declaring one's wife unlawful was not treated by Ibn ʿAbbas as divorce in this report.
- The report points to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم as the example to follow.
- Not every strong phrase automatically has the effect people may assume.
- Marriage-related words should be judged with knowledge, not guesswork.
