30/4. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1714a — Customary Family Maintenance
The case of Hind
Hadith About Wife Maintenance and Taking What Is Sufficient
Sahih Muslim : 1714a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1714a
حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ دَخَلَتْ هِنْدٌ بِنْتُ عُتْبَةَ امْرَأَةُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا سُفْيَانَ رَجُلٌ شَحِيحٌ لاَ يُعْطِينِي مِنَ النَّفَقَةِ مَا يَكْفِينِي وَيَكْفِي بَنِيَّ إِلاَّ مَا أَخَذْتُ مِنْ مَالِهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمِهِ . فَهَلْ عَلَىَّ فِي ذَلِكَ مِنْ جُنَاحٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خُذِي مِنْ مَالِهِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ مَا يَكْفِيكِ وَيَكْفِي بَنِيكِ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
Hind. the daughter of 'Utba, wife of Abu Sufyan, came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Abu Sufyan is a miserly person. He does not give adequate maintenance for me and my children, but (I am constrained) to take from his wealth (some part of it) without his knowledge. Is there any sin for me? Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Take from his property what is customary which may suffice you and your children.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1714aIn-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 18, Hadith 4251
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1714a
This hadith about wife maintenance shows a practical family dispute. Hind, the wife of Abu Sufyan, said that he did not give enough maintenance for her and her children. She asked whether there was sin if she took from his wealth without his knowledge. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered that she may take what is customary, enough for her and her children. The wording is balanced. It does not open the door to taking without limit. It ties the matter to what is customary and sufficient. For readers searching Hind bint Utbah hadith or take what is sufficient hadith, the main lesson is fair support for basic family needs.
What we learn from this hadith
- A wife and children need adequate maintenance.
- The answer is limited to what is customary and sufficient.
- The hadith avoids both neglect and excess.
