18/4. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1476a — Seeking Permission
Giving one's wife the choice does not count as a divorce, unless it is intended as such
Seeking Permission from Wives in the Prophet's Household
Sahih Muslim : 1476a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1476a
حَدَّثَنَا سُرَيْجُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّادُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ مُعَاذَةَ الْعَدَوِيَّةِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْتَأْذِنُنَا إِذَا كَانَ فِي يَوْمِ الْمَرْأَةِ مِنَّا بَعْدَ مَا نَزَلَتْ { تُرْجِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ مِنْهُنَّ وَتُؤْوِي إِلَيْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ} فَقَالَتْ لَهَا مُعَاذَةُ فَمَا كُنْتِ تَقُولِينَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنَكِ قَالَتْ كُنْتُ أَقُولُ إِنْ كَانَ ذَاكَ إِلَىَّ لَمْ أُوثِرْ أَحَدًا عَلَى نَفْسِي .
A'isha Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sought our permission when he had a (turn to spend) a day with (one of his wives) amongst us (whereas he wanted to visit his other wives too). It was after this that this verse was revealed:" Thou mayest put off whom thou pleasest of them, and take for thee whom thou pleasest" (xxxiii. 5).Mu'adha said to her: What did you say to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) when he sought your permission? She said: I used to say: If it had the option in this I would not have (allowed anyone) to have precedence over me.
[2] Al-Ahzâb 33:51.Reference : Sahih Muslim 1476aIn-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 31USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 9, Hadith 3499
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1476a
This hadith reports from Aisha that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to seek permission from his wives when it was the day of one of them and he wanted to visit others. The narration links this to the verse, Thou mayest put off whom thou pleasest of them, and take for thee whom thou pleasest. Mu'adha asked Aisha what she would say when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sought her permission. Aisha answered that if the choice had been hers, she would not have allowed anyone to have precedence over her. The hadith is about permission, personal turn, and honest affection. For readers searching for the Prophet seeking permission from wives hadith, the text shows that a wife's allocated day was treated with regard, and permission was asked.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sought permission when it was one wife's day and he wanted to visit others.
- Aisha connected the matter to a verse about putting off and taking whom he pleased.
- Aisha expressed her love honestly by not preferring anyone over herself.
- The narration shows regard for a wife's turn.
