79/10. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6239 — Do Not Overstay After a Meal
The Divine Verse of Al-Hijab
Do Not Overstay After a Meal: A Hadith on House Manners
Sahih Bukhari : 6239
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6239
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرٌ، قَالَ أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مِجْلَزٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ لَمَّا تَزَوَّجَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَيْنَبَ دَخَلَ الْقَوْمُ فَطَعِمُوا، ثُمَّ جَلَسُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ فَأَخَذَ كَأَنَّهُ يَتَهَيَّأُ لِلْقِيَامِ فَلَمْ يَقُومُوا، فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ قَامَ، فَلَمَّا قَامَ قَامَ مَنْ قَامَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ وَقَعَدَ بَقِيَّةُ الْقَوْمِ، وَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَاءَ لِيَدْخُلَ، فَإِذَا الْقَوْمُ جُلُوسٌ، ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ قَامُوا فَانْطَلَقُوا فَأَخْبَرْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجَاءَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ، فَذَهَبْتُ أَدْخُلُ فَأَلْقَى الْحِجَابَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ، وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتَ النَّبِيِّ} الآيَةَ. قَالَ أَبُو عَبْد اللَّهِ فِيهِ مِنْ الْفِقْهِ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَسْتَأْذِنْهُمْ حِينَ قَامَ وَخَرَجَ وَفِيهِ أَنَّهُ تَهَيَّأَ لِلْقِيَامِ وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَقُومُوا
Anas Narrated from:
When the Prophet (ﷺ) married Zainab, the people came and were offered a meal, and then they sat down (after finishing their meals) and started chatting. The Prophet (ﷺ) showed as if he wanted to get up, but they did not get up. When he noticed that, he got up, and some of the people also got up and went away, while some others kept on sitting.When the Prophet (ﷺ) returned to enter, he found the people still sitting, but then they got up and left. So I told the Prophet (ﷺ) of their departure and he came and went in. I intended to go in but the Prophet (ﷺ) put a screen between me and him, for Allah revealed:--'O you who believe! Enter not the Prophet's houses..' (33.53)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6239In-book reference : Book 79, Hadith 13USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 74, Hadith 256
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6239
This Hadith describes what happened when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم married Zainab. People came, ate the meal, and then sat talking. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم showed that he wanted to get up, but they did not get up. When he got up, some people left, while others stayed sitting. Later, when they finally left, Anas told the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the Prophet entered. Anas intended to enter, but a screen was placed between him and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the verse, “Enter not the Prophet’s houses,” was revealed. The Hadith about not overstaying after a meal teaches respect for the host’s space and privacy.
What we learn from this hadith
- Guests should avoid staying too long after a meal.
- A host’s privacy should be respected.
- The Hadith connects house manners with the revealed verse about entering the Prophet’s houses.
- Subtle signs from a host should be noticed with care.
