69/12. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5367 — Marriage with Family Responsibility
A lady should help her husband in looking after his children
Hadith About Marriage and Caring for Sisters
Sahih Bukhari : 5367
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5367
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ هَلَكَ أَبِي وَتَرَكَ سَبْعَ بَنَاتٍ أَوْ تِسْعَ بَنَاتٍ فَتَزَوَّجْتُ امْرَأَةً ثَيِّبًا فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " تَزَوَّجْتَ يَا جَابِرُ ". فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ. فَقَالَ " بِكْرًا أَمْ ثَيِّبًا ". قُلْتُ بَلْ ثَيِّبًا. قَالَ " فَهَلاَّ جَارِيَةً تُلاَعِبُهَا وَتُلاَعِبُكَ، وَتُضَاحِكُهَا وَتُضَاحِكُكَ ". قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ هَلَكَ وَتَرَكَ بَنَاتٍ، وَإِنِّي كَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَجِيئَهُنَّ بِمِثْلِهِنَّ، فَتَزَوَّجْتُ امْرَأَةً تَقُومُ عَلَيْهِنَّ وَتُصْلِحُهُنَّ. فَقَالَ " بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ ". أَوْ قَالَ خَيْرًا.
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
My father died and left seven or nine girls and I married a matron. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, "O Jabir! Have you married?" I said, "Yes." He said, "A virgin or a matron?" I replied, "A matron." he said, "Why not a virgin, so that you might play with her and she with you, and you might amuse her and she amuse you." I said, " `Abdullah (my father) died and left girls, and I dislike to marry a girl like them, so I married a lady (matron) so that she may look after them." On that he said, "May Allah bless you," or "That is good."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5367In-book reference : Book 69, Hadith 17USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 64, Hadith 280
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5367
This Hadith shows Jabir’s thoughtful reason for marriage. After his father died, he had seven or nine girls in the family. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked whether he had married a virgin or a matron. Jabir explained that he chose a matron because he did not want to bring a young girl like them, and he wanted someone who could look after and improve their situation. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then said words of blessing or approval. The Hadith about marriage in Islam shows that marriage can include family responsibility, not only personal comfort. Jabir’s choice was shaped by care for the girls left after his father’s death.
What we learn from this hadith
- Jabir considered his sisters’ situation when choosing marriage.
- Marriage decisions can include care for wider family needs.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم listened to Jabir’s reason.
- Jabir received a good response after explaining his intention.
