68/15. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5282 — Mughith Walking Behind Barira
A female slave, whose husband is a slave, has the option to keep him or leave him (when she is manumitted).
Barira and Mughith Hadith: A Scene from Madinah
Sahih Bukhari : 5282
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5282
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كَانَ زَوْجُ بَرِيرَةَ عَبْدًا أَسْوَدَ يُقَالُ لَهُ مُغِيثٌ، عَبْدًا لِبَنِي فُلاَنٍ، كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ يَطُوفُ وَرَاءَهَا فِي سِكَكِ الْمَدِينَةِ.
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Barira's husband was a black slave called Mughith, the slave of Bani so-and-so-- as if I am seeing him now, walking behind her along the streets of Medina.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5282In-book reference : Book 68, Hadith 31USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 63, Hadith 205
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5282
This Barira and Mughith hadith gives another report from Ibn Abbas about Barira's husband. It says that her husband was a black slave called Mughith, a slave of Bani so-and-so. Ibn Abbas describes the scene so strongly that he says it is as if he is seeing Mughith walking behind Barira in the streets of Medina. The narration is mainly descriptive. It gives his name, his status, and his movement behind her. It does not include the later conversation found in another narration, so the explanation should not treat it as if every detail is present here. The report is useful for anyone searching for the Mughith slave hadith or the identity of Barira's husband.
What we learn from this hadith
- Mughith is named and described in the narration.
- Ibn Abbas reports the scene with a strong memory of what he saw.
- The text teaches us to stay close to the actual wording of a Hadith.
