6/53. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1590 — Grief and Marital Love
What was narrated concerning weeping for the deceased
Hadith About Grief and Love for a Husband
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1590
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1590
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْفَرْوِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَحْشٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ حَمْنَةَ بِنْتِ جَحْشٍ، أَنَّهُ قِيلَ لَهَا قُتِلَ أَخُوكِ . فَقَالَتْ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ وَإِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ . قَالُوا قُتِلَ زَوْجُكِ . قَالَتْ وَاحُزْنَاهُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِنَّ لِلزَّوْجِ مِنَ الْمَرْأَةِ لَشُعْبَةً مَا هِيَ لِشَىْءٍ " .
Hamnah bint Jahsh Narrated from:
It was said to her: “Your brother has been killed.” She said: “May Allah have mercy on him. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un (Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return).” They said: “Your husband has been killed.” She said: “O grief!” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The woman has a strong love for her husband, which she does not have for anything else.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1590In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 158English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 1590
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1590
This hadith about grief and love for a husband shows a very human moment. Hamnah bint Jahsh was told that her brother had been killed, and she responded with mercy for him and “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.” When she was told that her husband had been killed, she said, “O grief!” The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم then said that a woman has a strong love for her husband which she does not have for anything else. The hadith does not blame her for feeling deeper grief. It recognizes the special emotional bond between husband and wife. The lesson is that Islam understands human feelings, while still guiding believers toward remembrance of Allah in loss.
What we learn from this hadith
- The phrase “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” is shown as a response to loss.
- The hadith recognizes the deep love a wife may have for her husband.
- Different losses may affect the heart in different ways.
- Human grief is acknowledged in the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم words.
