18/6. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1480a — Fatima bint Qais and Idda Guidance
The woman who has been irrevocably divorced is not entitled to spending
Hadith About Fatima bint Qais and Idda Guidance
Sahih Muslim : 1480a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1480a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، مَوْلَى الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ سُفْيَانَ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ قَيْسٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا عَمْرِو بْنَ حَفْصٍ، طَلَّقَهَا الْبَتَّةَ وَهُوَ غَائِبٌ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهَا وَكِيلُهُ بِشَعِيرٍ فَسَخِطَتْهُ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا لَكِ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ شَىْءٍ . فَجَاءَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ " لَيْسَ لَكِ عَلَيْهِ نَفَقَةٌ " . فَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَعْتَدَّ فِي بَيْتِ أُمِّ شَرِيكٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ " تِلْكَ امْرَأَةٌ يَغْشَاهَا أَصْحَابِي اعْتَدِّي عِنْدَ ابْنِ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ فَإِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ أَعْمَى تَضَعِينَ ثِيَابَكِ فَإِذَا حَلَلْتِ فَآذِنِينِي " . قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا حَلَلْتُ ذَكَرْتُ لَهُ أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنَ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ وَأَبَا جَهْمٍ خَطَبَانِي . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَمَّا أَبُو جَهْمٍ فَلاَ يَضَعُ عَصَاهُ عَنْ عَاتَقِهِ وَأَمَّا مُعَاوِيَةُ فَصُعْلُوكٌ لاَ مَالَ لَهُ انْكِحِي أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ " . فَكَرِهْتُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ " انْكِحِي أُسَامَةَ " . فَنَكَحْتُهُ فَجَعَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا وَاغْتَبَطْتُ بِهِ .
Fatima bint Qais reported that Abu 'Amr b. Hafs divorced her absolutely when he was away from home, and he sent his agent to her with some barley. She was displeased with him and when he said: I swear by Allah that you have no claim on us. she went to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and mentioned that to him. He said: There is no maintenance due to you from him, and he commanded her to spend the 'Idda in the house of Umm Sharik, but then said: That is a woman whom my companions visit. So better spend this period in the house of Ibn Umm Maktum, for he is a blind man and you can put off your garments. And when the 'Idda is over, inform me. She said: When my period of 'Idda was over, I mentioned to him that Mu'awiya b. Abu Sufyan and Jahm had sent proposal of marriage to me, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: As for Abu Jahm, he does not put down his staff from his shoulder, and as for Mu'awiya, he is a poor man having no property; marry Usama b. Zaid. I objected to him, but he again said: Marry Usama; so I married him. Allah blessed there in and I was envied (by others).
[1] See no. 3712.Reference : Sahih Muslim 1480aIn-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 45USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 9, Hadith 3512
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1480a
This hadith about Fatima bint Qais and Idda guidance covers divorce, maintenance, housing, and later marriage advice. Fatima said Abu Amr b. Hafs divorced her absolutely while he was away and sent some barley. She went to Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and mentioned the matter. He told her that no maintenance was due to her from him. He first commanded her to spend Idda in the house of Umm Sharik, then guided her to the house of Ibn Umm Maktum because he was blind and she could put off her garments there. After her Idda ended, she informed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about two marriage proposals. He advised her about them and told her to marry Usama b. Zaid. She married him and said Allah placed good in it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Fatima sought the Prophet's صلى الله عليه وسلم judgment when she was unsure about maintenance.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم guided her to a suitable place for Idda.
- After Idda, she informed the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about marriage proposals.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave direct advice about choosing Usama b. Zaid.
