16/15. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1428f — The Verse of Hijab
The Marriage of Zainab Bint Jahsh, The Revelation of (the verse of) Hijab, and confirmation of the importance of the wedding feast.
Hadith About the Verse of Hijab
Sahih Muslim : 1428f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1428f
وَحَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ صَالِحٍ، قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ إِنَّ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ قَالَ أَنَا أَعْلَمُ النَّاسِ، بِالْحِجَابِ لَقَدْ كَانَ أُبَىُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ يَسْأَلُنِي عَنْهُ . قَالَ أَنَسٌ أَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَرُوسًا بِزَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ جَحْشٍ - قَالَ - وَكَانَ تَزَوَّجَهَا بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَدَعَا النَّاسَ لِلطَّعَامِ بَعْدَ ارْتِفَاعِ النَّهَارِ فَجَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَجَلَسَ مَعَهُ رِجَالٌ بَعْدَ مَا قَامَ الْقَوْمُ حَتَّى قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَمَشَى فَمَشَيْتُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى بَلَغَ بَابَ حُجْرَةِ عَائِشَةَ ثُمَّ ظَنَّ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ خَرَجُوا فَرَجَعَ وَرَجَعْتُ مَعَهُ فَإِذَا هُمْ جُلُوسٌ مَكَانَهُمْ فَرَجَعَ فَرَجَعْتُ الثَّانِيَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ حُجْرَةَ عَائِشَةَ فَرَجَعَ فَرَجَعْتُ فَإِذَا هُمْ قَدْ قَامُوا فَضَرَبَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ بِالسِّتْرِ وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ آيَةَ الْحِجَابِ.
Anas b. Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was the best informed among the people pertaining to Hijab (veil and seclusion). Ubayy b. Ka'b used to ask me about it. Anas (Allah be pleased with him) thus narrated: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got up in the morning as a bridegroom of Zainab bint jahsh (Allah be pleased witt her) as he had married her at Medina. He invited people to the wedding feast after the day had well risen. There sat Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and there kept sitting along with him some persons after the people had stood up (for departure) ; then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood up and walked on and I also walked along with him until he reached the door of the apartment of 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her). He then thought that they (those who had been sitting there after meal) had gone away. So he returned and I also returned with him, but they were still sitting at their places. So he returned for the second time and I also returned until he reached the apartment of 'A'isha. He again returned and I also returned and they had (by that time) stood up, and he hung a curtain between me and him (at the door of the apartment of Hadrat Zainab, where he had to stay), and Allah revealed the verse pertaining to veil.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1428fIn-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 109USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3334
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1428f
This hadith about the verse of hijab begins with Anas saying that he was the best informed among the people about hijab, and that Ubayy b. Ka'b used to ask him about it. Anas then reports that Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم married Zainab bint Jahsh in Medina and invited people to food after the day had risen. Some people remained sitting after others had left. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم walked away, returned, found them still sitting, and then returned again later when they had gone. After that, he placed a curtain between Anas and himself, and Allah revealed the verse about hijab. The report centers on privacy, permission, and the revealed instruction.
What we learn from this hadith
- Anas presented himself as well informed about the event of hijab.
- The report links the verse of hijab to people remaining after the meal.
- The curtain marked a clear boundary of privacy.
