75/16. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5665 — Illness and Expiation
To say "I am sick," or "Oh, my head!" or "My ailment has been aggravated"
وَقَوْلِ أَيُّوبَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ: {أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ}.
Hadith About Lice, Shaving the Head, and Expiation
Sahih Bukhari : 5665
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5665
حَدَّثَنَا قَبِيصَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ، وَأَيُّوبَ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ عُجْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه. مَرَّ بِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا أُوقِدُ تَحْتَ الْقِدْرِ فَقَالَ " أَيُؤْذِيكَ هَوَامُّ رَأْسِكَ ". قُلْتُ نَعَمْ. فَدَعَا الْحَلاَّقَ فَحَلَقَهُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَنِي بِالْفِدَاءِ.
Ka'b bin 'Ujrah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by me while I was kindling a fire under a (cooking) pot. He said, "Do the lice of your head trouble you?" I said, "Yes." So he called a barber to shave my head and ordered me to make expiation for that."
[1] Ka'b was in a state of Ihrām .Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5665In-book reference : Book 75, Hadith 25USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 70, Hadith 569
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5665
This Hadith shows the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم paying attention to a person's real hardship. Ka'b bin Ujara was kindling a fire under a cooking pot when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم passed by him. He asked whether the lice on his head were troubling him. Ka'b answered yes. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then called a barber to shave his head and ordered him to make expiation. The main topic is illness and expiation, but the Hadith also shows care, observation, and practical help. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not ignore Ka'b's discomfort. He asked about the problem, helped him deal with it, and gave him the duty connected to that action. The lesson is balanced: remove harm, but also respect the required expiation.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم noticed and asked about Ka'b's physical hardship.
- Removing harm from the body was treated with care and action.
- Shaving the head in that situation came with expiation.
- A person should seek relief in a way that still respects Allah's command.
