18/9. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1488e — Collyrium and Widow Mourning
The Obligation to mourn during the 'Iddah following the death of one's husband, but it is forbidden to mourn for more than three days in other cases
Hadith About Widow Mourning and Collyrium
Sahih Muslim : 1488e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1488e
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ نَافِعٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، تُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، وَأُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ تَذْكُرَانِ أَنَّ امْرَأَةً أَتَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَتْ لَهُ أَنَّ بِنْتًا لَهَا تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا فَاشْتَكَتْ عَيْنُهَا فَهْىَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكْحُلَهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعَرَةِ عِنْدَ رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ وَإِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرٌ " .
Zainab bint Abu Salama reported: Umm Salama and Umm Habiba (Allah be pleased with them) were talking with each other (and saying) that a woman came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and mentioned to him that her daughter had lost her husband, and her eyes were sore and she wanted to use collyrium, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: One among you used to throw dung at the end of a year, and now (this abstinence from adornment) is only for four months and ten days.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1486c, 1488eIn-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 78USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 9, Hadith 3543
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1488e
This hadith about widow mourning repeats the case of a woman whose daughter lost her husband and had sore eyes. The daughter wanted collyrium, so the matter was brought to Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. He responded by mentioning that women used to throw dung at the end of a year, while this period is four months and ten days. The hadith therefore centers on the widow’s waiting period and outward restraint during that time. It also shows how a family brought a real concern to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم rather than acting on their own. The text does not add a wider discussion, so the main teaching should remain tied to collyrium, mourning, and the stated period.
What we learn from this hadith
- The case involves a widowed woman with sore eyes.
- The family asked before using collyrium.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم pointed to the four months and ten days period.
- The hadith shows restraint during widow mourning.
