68/8. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5267 — Honey, Maghafir, and Surah Tahrim
"O Prophet! Why do you forbid that which Allah has allowed to you...?
Honey Incident Hadith and the Meaning of Surah Tahrim
Sahih Bukhari : 5267
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5267
حَدَّثَنِي الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ صَبَّاحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ زَعَمَ عَطَاءٌ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عُبَيْدَ بْنَ عُمَيْرٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَمْكُثُ عِنْدَ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ جَحْشٍ، وَيَشْرَبُ عِنْدَهَا عَسَلاً، فَتَوَاصَيْتُ أَنَا وَحَفْصَةُ أَنَّ أَيَّتَنَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلْتَقُلْ إِنِّي أَجِدُ مِنْكَ رِيحَ مَغَافِيرَ، أَكَلْتَ مَغَافِيرَ فَدَخَلَ عَلَى إِحْدَاهُمَا فَقَالَتْ لَهُ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ " لاَ بَلْ شَرِبْتُ عَسَلاً عِنْدَ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ جَحْشٍ وَلَنْ أَعُودَ لَهُ ". فَنَزَلَتْ {يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكَ} إِلَى {إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ} لِعَائِشَةَ وَحَفْصَةَ {وَإِذْ أَسَرَّ النَّبِيُّ إِلَى بَعْضِ أَزْوَاجِهِ} لِقَوْلِهِ " بَلْ شَرِبْتُ عَسَلاً ".
`Ubaid bin `Umar Narrated from:
I heard `Aisha saying, "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to stay for a long while with Zanab bint Jahsh and drink honey at her house. So Hafsa and I decided that if the Prophet (ﷺ) came to anyone of us, she should say him, "I detect the smell of Maghafir (a nasty smelling gum) in you. Have you eaten Maghafir?' " So the Prophet (ﷺ) visited one of them and she said to him similarly.The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Never mind, I have taken some honey at the house of Zainab bint Jahsh, but I shall never drink of it anymore." So there was revealed:'O Prophet ! Why do you ban (for you) that which Allah has made lawful for you . . . If you two (wives of Prophet) turn in repentance to Allah,' (66.1-4)addressing Aisha and Hafsa.'When the Prophet (ﷺ) disclosed a matter in confidence to some of his wives.' (66.3)namely his saying: But I have taken some honey."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5267In-book reference : Book 68, Hadith 17USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 63, Hadith 192
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5267
This Hadith explains the well-known honey incident connected to the opening verses of Surah Tahrim. ʿAisha said that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to stay with Zainab bint Jahsh and drink honey there. ʿAisha and Hafsa agreed to say that they noticed the smell of Maghafir. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was told this, he said he had only drunk honey, but he would not drink it again. Then the verses were revealed: O Prophet, why do you ban what Allah has made lawful for you, and the address to the two wives to repent. The Hadith teaches that lawful things should not be forbidden because of pressure or a household plan.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained that he had drunk honey, not eaten Maghafir.
- The revelation addressed the act of banning what Allah had made lawful.
- ʿAisha and Hafsa were directly addressed in the verses mentioned in the report.
- Household actions can have moral weight when they lead to unfair pressure.
