18/8. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1485a — Pregnant Widow and Iddah Debate
The 'Iddah of a woman whose husband had died, and the like, ends when she gives birth.
Hadith About Pregnant Widow Iddah Debate
Sahih Muslim : 1485a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1485a
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى الْعَنَزِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بْنَ سَعِيدٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ يَسَارٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَابْنَ، عَبَّاسٍ اجْتَمَعَا عِنْدَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَهُمَا يَذْكُرَانِ الْمَرْأَةَ تُنْفَسُ بَعْدَ وَفَاةِ زَوْجِهَا بِلَيَالٍ . فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ عِدَّتُهَا آخِرُ الأَجَلَيْنِ . وَقَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ قَدْ حَلَّتْ . فَجَعَلاَ يَتَنَازَعَانِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَا مَعَ ابْنِ أَخِي - يَعْنِي أَبَا سَلَمَةَ - فَبَعَثُوا كُرَيْبًا - مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ - إِلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ يَسْأَلُهَا عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَجَاءَهُمْ فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ أَنَّ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ إِنَّ سُبَيْعَةَ الأَسْلَمِيَّةَ نُفِسَتْ بَعْدَ وَفَاةِ زَوْجِهَا بِلَيَالٍ وَإِنَّهَا ذَكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَتَزَوَّجَ .
Abu Salama b. 'Abd al-Rahman and Ibn 'Abbas. (Allah be pleased with them) got together in the house of Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) and began to discuss about the woman who gave birth to a child a few nights after the death of her husband. Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with then) ) said: Her 'Idda is that period which is longer of the two (between four months and ten days and the birth of the child, whichever is longer). AbuSalama, however said: Her period of 'Idda is over (with the birth of the child), and they were contending with each other over this issue, whereupon Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) said: I subscribe (to the view) held by my nephew (i. e. Abu Salama). They sent Kuraib (the freed slave of Ibn 'Abbas) to Umm Salama to ask her about it. He came (back) to them and informed them that Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with her) said that Subai'ah al-Aslamiyya gave birth to a child after the death of her husband when the few flights (had hardly) passed and she made mention of that to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he commanded her to marry.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1485aIn-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 71USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 9, Hadith 3537
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1485a
This hadith about pregnant widow Iddah records a discussion between Abu Salama b. Abd al-Rahman and Ibn Abbas in the house of Abu Huraira. They discussed a woman who gave birth a few nights after her husband's death. Ibn Abbas said her Iddah should be the longer of the two periods, while Abu Salama said her Iddah was over with childbirth. Abu Huraira supported Abu Salama. They sent Kuraib to Umm Salama, and she reported that Subai'ah al-Aslamiyyah gave birth after her husband's death, mentioned it to Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and he commanded her to marry. The report shows the issue being checked through a direct narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Companions discussed the Iddah of a pregnant widow carefully.
- They sought Umm Salama's report to settle the question.
- Umm Salama narrated that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) commanded Subai'ah to marry.
- The hadith shows returning to prophetic guidance when views differ.
