68/21. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5291 — Ila and Divorce Declaration
"Those who take an oath, not to have sexual relations with their wives, must wait four months."
Ila Four Months Hadith: Divorce Needs Declaration
Sahih Bukhari : 5291
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5291
وَقَالَ لِي إِسْمَاعِيلُ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، إِذَا مَضَتْ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ يُوقَفُ حَتَّى يُطَلِّقَ، وَلاَ يَقَعُ عَلَيْهِ الطَّلاَقُ حَتَّى يُطَلِّقَ. وَيُذْكَرُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيٍّ وَأَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ وَعَائِشَةَ وَاثْنَىْ عَشَرَ رَجُلاً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
When the period of four months has expired, the husband should be put in prison so that he should divorce his wife, but the divorce does not occur unless the husband himself declares it. This has been mentioned by `Uthman, `Ali, Abu Ad-Darda, `Aisha and twelve other companions of the Prophet (ﷺ).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5291In-book reference : Book 68, Hadith 40USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 63, Hadith 213
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5291
This ila four months hadith gives an added statement from Ibn Umar. He said that when four months have passed, the husband is held until he divorces his wife, but the divorce does not occur unless the husband himself declares it. The report also says this was mentioned from Uthman, Ali, Abu Ad-Darda, Aisha, and twelve other companions of the Prophet. The wording is focused on the end of the ila period and the need for an actual divorce declaration. It does not say that divorce happens automatically when the four months end. For readers searching for ila and divorce in Islam, this narration should be explained exactly as it is: the period ends, pressure is applied, but the divorce occurs by declaration.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration mentions four months in connection with ila.
- It states that divorce does not occur until the husband declares it.
- The report names several companions as having mentioned this position.
- The text does not describe automatic divorce at the end of the period.
