68/16. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5283 — The Prophet's Intercession for Mughith
The intercession of the Prophet (saws) for Barira's husband.
Hadith of Barira and Mughith: Intercession Without Force
Sahih Bukhari : 5283
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5283
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ زَوْجَ، بَرِيرَةَ كَانَ عَبْدًا يُقَالُ لَهُ مُغِيثٌ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ يَطُوفُ خَلْفَهَا يَبْكِي، وَدُمُوعُهُ تَسِيلُ عَلَى لِحْيَتِهِ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِعَبَّاسٍ " يَا عَبَّاسُ أَلاَ تَعْجَبُ مِنْ حُبِّ مُغِيثٍ بَرِيرَةَ، وَمِنْ بُغْضِ بَرِيرَةَ مُغِيثًا ". فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ رَاجَعْتِهِ ". قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تَأْمُرُنِي قَالَ " إِنَّمَا أَنَا أَشْفَعُ ". قَالَتْ لاَ حَاجَةَ لِي فِيهِ.
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Barira's husband was a slave called Mughith, as if I am seeing him now, going behind Barira and weeping with his tears flowing down his beard. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to `Abbas, "O `Abbas ! are you not astonished at the love of Mughith for Barira and the hatred of Barira for Mughith?" The Prophet (ﷺ) then said to Barira, "Why don't you return to him?" She said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Do you order me to do so?" He said, "No, I only intercede for him." She said, "I am not in need of him."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5283In-book reference : Book 68, Hadith 32USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 63, Hadith 206
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5283
The hadith of Barira and Mughith is a powerful narration about love, choice, and intercession. Ibn Abbas describes Mughith walking behind Barira while crying, with tears flowing down his beard. The Prophet noticed Mughith's love for Barira and Barira's dislike for Mughith. He then said to Barira, why not return to him. Barira asked a very clear question: was this an order? The Prophet answered that he was only interceding. Barira then said that she had no need of him. This narration is often searched as the Barira choice hadith because it shows a clear difference between a prophetic command and a request made as intercession. The text also shows that Barira's answer was respected.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet clearly distinguished between an order and intercession.
- Barira was allowed to ask whether the statement was a command.
- Mughith's love is shown, but Barira's choice is also clearly recorded.
- The narration teaches that emotional pain does not erase another person's stated choice.
