83/25. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6691 — Honey, Oaths, and Lawful Things
If someone makes some food unlawful for himself
وَقَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: {يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكَ تَبْتَغِي مَرْضَاةَ أَزْوَاجِكَ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ قَدْ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ تَحِلَّةَ أَيْمَانِكُمْ}، وَقَوْلُهُ: {لاَ تُحَرِّمُوا طَيِّبَاتِ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ}.
Hadith About Honey, Oaths, and Lawful Things
Sahih Bukhari : 6691
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6691
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَجَّاجُ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ زَعَمَ عَطَاءٌ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عُبَيْدَ بْنَ عُمَيْرٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ، تَزْعُمُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَمْكُثُ عِنْدَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ جَحْشٍ، وَيَشْرَبُ عِنْدَهَا عَسَلاً، فَتَوَاصَيْتُ أَنَا وَحَفْصَةُ أَنَّ أَيَّتَنَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلْتَقُلْ إِنِّي أَجِدُ مِنْكَ رِيحَ مَغَافِيرَ، أَكَلْتَ مَغَافِيرَ فَدَخَلَ عَلَى إِحْدَاهُمَا فَقَالَتْ ذَلِكَ لَهُ. فَقَالَ " لاَ بَلْ شَرِبْتُ عَسَلاً عِنْدَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ جَحْشٍ، وَلَنْ أَعُودَ لَهُ ". فَنَزَلَتْ {يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكَ}، {إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ}، لِعَائِشَةَ وَحَفْصَةَ، {وَإِذْ أَسَرَّ النَّبِيُّ إِلَى بَعْضِ أَزْوَاجِهِ حَدِيثًا} لِقَوْلِهِ " بَلْ شَرِبْتُ عَسَلاً ". وَقَالَ لِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى عَنْ هِشَامٍ، " وَلَنْ أَعُودَ لَهُ، وَقَدْ حَلَفْتُ، فَلاَ تُخْبِرِي بِذَلِكَ أَحَدًا ".
A'isha Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to stay (for a period) in the house of Zainab bint Jahsh (one of the wives of the Prophet) and he used to drink honey in her house. Hafsa and I decided that when the Prophet (ﷺ) entered upon either of us, she would say, "I smell in you the bad smell of Maghafir (a bad smelling raisin). Have you eaten Maghafir?" When he entered upon one of us, she said that to him. He replied (to her), "No, but I have drunk honey in the house of Zainab bint Jahsh, and I will never drink it again."Then the following verse was revealed: 'O Prophet ! Why do you ban (for you) that which Allah has made lawful for you?. ..(up to) If you two (wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) turn in repentance to Allah.' (66.1-4)The two were `Aisha and HafsaAnd also the Statement of Allah: 'And (Remember) when the Prophet (ﷺ) disclosed a matter in confidence to one of his wives!' (66.3)i.e., his saying, "But I have drunk honey." Hisham said: It also meant his saying, "I will not drink anymore, and I have taken an oath, so do not inform anybody of that."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6691In-book reference : Book 83, Hadith 68USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 78, Hadith 682
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6691
This hadith about honey and oaths describes an event in the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم household. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to drink honey at the house of Zainab bint Jahsh. Aisha and Hafsa agreed to say they smelled Maghafir from him. When one of them said that, he explained that he had only drunk honey and then said he would not drink it again. The narration links this to the revealed verse about not banning what Allah made lawful. The hadith highlights how words, family matters, and private statements should be handled with care. It also teaches that a lawful thing should not be treated as forbidden because of pressure or discomfort.
What we learn from this hadith
- A lawful thing should not be made forbidden by personal pressure.
- Private family matters should be handled with honesty and care.
- Words spoken in confidence carry weight.
- The Quran corrected the matter and guided the believers back to repentance.
