16/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1433a — Return After Irrevocable Divorce
It is not permissible for a woman who has been thrice-divorced to return to the one who divorced her until she marries another husband who has intercourse with her, then divorces her, and she completes the 'Iddah
Hadith About Returning After Irrevocable Divorce
Sahih Muslim : 1433a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1433a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِعَمْرٍو - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ رِفَاعَةَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ رِفَاعَةَ فَطَلَّقَنِي فَبَتَّ طَلاَقِي فَتَزَوَّجْتُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ الزَّبِيرِ وَإِنَّ مَا مَعَهُ مِثْلُ هُدْبَةِ الثَّوْبِ فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " أَتُرِيدِينَ أَنْ تَرْجِعِي إِلَى رِفَاعَةَ لاَ حَتَّى تَذُوقِي عُسَيْلَتَهُ وَيَذُوقَ عُسَيْلَتَكِ " . قَالَتْ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ عِنْدَهُ وَخَالِدٌ بِالْبَابِ يَنْتَظِرُ أَنْ يُؤْذَنَ لَهُ فَنَادَى يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَلاَ تَسْمَعُ هَذِهِ مَا تَجْهَرُ بِهِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
A'isha Narrated from:
There came the wife of Rifa'a to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and said: I was married to Rifa'a but he divorced me, making may divorce irrevocable. Afterwards I married Abd al-Rahman b. al-Zubair, but all he possesses is like the fringe of a garment (i. e. he is sexually weak).Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) smiled, and said: Do you wish to return to Rifa'a. (You) cannot (do it) until you have tasted his sweetness and he ('Abd al-Rahman) has tasted your sweetness. Abu Bakr was at that time near him (the Holy Prophet) and Khalid (b. Sa'id) was at the door waiting for the permission to be granted to him to enter), He (Khalid) said; Abu Bakr, do you hear what she is saying loudly in the presence of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1433aIn-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 128USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3354
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1433a
This Hadith deals with a sensitive marriage and divorce question. The wife of Rifa'a came to Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and said that Rifa'a had divorced her with an irrevocable divorce. She then married Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Zubair, but complained about his weakness using a plain image. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) smiled and asked whether she wished to return to Rifa'a. He then said that she could not do so until she had tasted his sweetness and he had tasted her sweetness. The wording points to real marital intimacy in the second marriage before returning to the first husband would be possible. The Hadith should be read carefully and not used to add details beyond what the text says.
What we learn from this hadith
- Irrevocable divorce has serious marital consequences.
- Returning to the first husband is not allowed merely by a new marriage contract.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) answered the woman's question directly.
- Sensitive personal issues can be brought for religious guidance.
