17/12. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1460a — Marital Fairness
How long a virgin and a previously-married woman are entitled to have the husband stay with them after marriage
Umm Salama Hadith on Fairness Between Wives
Sahih Muslim : 1460a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1460a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، وَيَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمَّا تَزَوَّجَ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ أَقَامَ عِنْدَهَا ثَلاَثًا وَقَالَ " إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بِكِ عَلَى أَهْلِكِ هَوَانٌ إِنْ شِئْتِ سَبَّعْتُ لَكِ وَإِنْ سَبَّعْتُ لَكِ سَبَّعْتُ لِنِسَائِي " .
Umm Salamah Narrated from:
When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) married Umm Salama, he stayed with her for three nights, and said: There is no lack of estimation on the part of your husband for you. If you wish I can stay with you for a week, but in case I stay with you for a week, then I shall have to stay for a week with all my wives.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1460aIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 54USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3443
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1460a
This hadith about fairness between wives reports what happened when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم married Umm Salama. He stayed with her for three nights and then told her that this was not a sign of low regard from her husband. He offered that, if she wished, he could stay with her for a week. But he also made clear that if he stayed a week with her, he would have to stay a week with all his wives. The meaning is simple and direct: kindness to a new wife was joined with fairness to the other wives. Good search terms include Umm Salama three nights hadith, seven days with new wife hadith, and fairness among wives hadith.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم reassured Umm Salama that three nights did not mean low regard.
- Extra time with one wife would be balanced with equal time for the others.
- The report links kindness with fairness in marriage.
- A husband with multiple wives must consider each wife's turn.
