79/10. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6238 — The Occasion of Al-Hijab
The Divine Verse of Al-Hijab
The Occasion of Al-Hijab: Anas Describes the Revealed Screen
Sahih Bukhari : 6238
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6238
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ ابْنَ عَشْرِ سِنِينَ مَقْدَمَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ، فَخَدَمْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَشْرًا حَيَاتَهُ، وَكُنْتُ أَعْلَمَ النَّاسِ بِشَأْنِ الْحِجَابِ حِينَ أُنْزِلَ، وَقَدْ كَانَ أُبَىُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ يَسْأَلُنِي عَنْهُ، وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَا نَزَلَ فِي مُبْتَنَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِزَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ جَحْشٍ، أَصْبَحَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِهَا عَرُوسًا فَدَعَا الْقَوْمَ، فَأَصَابُوا مِنَ الطَّعَامِ ثُمَّ خَرَجُوا، وَبَقِيَ مِنْهُمْ رَهْطٌ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَطَالُوا الْمُكْثَ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَخَرَجَ وَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ كَىْ يَخْرُجُوا، فَمَشَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَشَيْتُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى جَاءَ عَتَبَةَ حُجْرَةِ عَائِشَةَ، ثُمَّ ظَنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُمْ خَرَجُوا فَرَجَعَ وَرَجَعْتُ مَعَهُ، حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى زَيْنَبَ فَإِذَا هُمْ جُلُوسٌ لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقُوا، فَرَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَرَجَعْتُ مَعَهُ، حَتَّى بَلَغَ عَتَبَةَ حُجْرَةِ عَائِشَةَ، فَظَنَّ أَنْ قَدْ خَرَجُوا، فَرَجَعَ وَرَجَعْتُ مَعَهُ، فَإِذَا هُمْ قَدْ خَرَجُوا، فَأُنْزِلَ آيَةُ الْحِجَابِ، فَضَرَبَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ سِتْرًا.
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
Narrated Anas bin Malik: that he was a boy of ten at the time when the Prophet (ﷺ) emigrated to Medina. He added: I served Allah's Apostle for ten years (the last part of his life time) and I know more than the people about the occasion whereupon the order of Al-Hijab was revealed (to the Prophet). Ubai bin Ka`b used to ask me about it. It was revealed (for the first time) during the marriage of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) with Zainab bint Jahsh.In the morning, the Prophet (ﷺ) was a bride-groom of her and he Invited the people, who took their meals and went away, but a group of them remained with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and they prolonged their stay. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) got up and went out, and I too, went out along with him till he came to the lintel of `Aisha's dwelling place. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) thought that those people had left by then, so he returned, and I too, returned with him till he entered upon Zainab and found that they were still sitting there and had not yet gone.The Prophet (ﷺ) went out again, and so did I with him till he reached the lintel of `Aisha's dwelling place, and then he thought that those people must have left by then, so he returned, and so did I with him, and found those people had gone. At that time the Divine Verse of Al-Hijab was revealed, and the Prophet (ﷺ) set a screen between me and him (his family).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6238In-book reference : Book 79, Hadith 12USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 74, Hadith 255
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6238
This Hadith reports Anas bin Malik’s account of the occasion connected to the order of Al-Hijab. He says he was ten years old when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came to Medina and that he served him for ten years. He knew about the matter of Al-Hijab and said that it first came during the Prophet’s marriage to Zainab bint Jahsh. People were invited, ate, and left, but some remained and prolonged their stay. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم went out and returned more than once. After they left, the verse of Al-Hijab was revealed, and a screen was placed. The Hadith focuses on privacy and proper conduct inside the Prophet’s household.
What we learn from this hadith
- Guests should be mindful not to prolong their stay without need.
- The Hadith connects Al-Hijab with privacy in the Prophet’s household.
- Anas reported what he personally knew from serving the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- A screen was placed after the verse of Al-Hijab was revealed.
