27/18. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3424 — Separation Without Divorce
"Go To Your Family" Does Not Necessarily Mean Divorce
Ka'b bin Malik Hadith: Separation Until Allah Decides
Sunan an-Nasai : 3424
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3424
أَخْبَرَنَا يُوسُفُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ كَعْبٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ كَعْبًا، يُحَدِّثُ حَدِيثَهُ حِينَ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ وَقَالَ فِيهِ إِذَا رَسُولُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْتِينِي وَيَقُولُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَعْتَزِلَ امْرَأَتَكَ . فَقُلْتُ أُطَلِّقُهَا أَمْ مَاذَا أَفْعَلُ قَالَ بَلِ اعْتَزِلْهَا وَلاَ تَقْرَبْهَا . وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى صَاحِبَىَّ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ فَقُلْتُ لاِمْرَأَتِي الْحَقِي بِأَهْلِكِ وَكُونِي عِنْدَهُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي هَذَا الأَمْرِ . خَالَفَهُمْ مَعْقِلُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ .
Ka'b Narrated from:
'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Abdullah bin Ka'b bin Malik narrated that 'Abdullah bin Ka'b said: "I heard Ka'b narrate the Hadith about when he stayed behind and did not join the Messenger of Allah on the expedition to Tabuk. He said: 'The envoy of the Messenger of Allah came to me and said: "The Messenger of Allah commands you to keep away from your wife." I said: "Shall I divorce her, or what should I do?" He said: "No, just keep away from her and do not approach her." And he sent similar instructions to my two companions. I said to my wife: "Go to your family and stay with them until Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, decides concerning this matter."'"
[1] He contradicted Yūnus bin Yazīd Al-Ailī, Ishāq bin Rāshid and 'Uqail bin Khālid - all of whom reported from Az-Zuhrī, from 'Abdur-Rahmân bin 'Abdullāh, from 'Abdullāh, from Ka'b bin Mālik. Ma'qil mentioned Az-Zuhrī, from 'Abdur-Rahmân from 'Ubaidullāh, from Ka'b bin Mālik.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3424In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 36English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3454
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3424
This Hadith repeats the key event of Ka'b bin Malik and the Tabuk expedition with clear detail. The envoy of the Messenger of Allah came and said that Ka'b was commanded to keep away from his wife. Ka'b asked whether this meant divorce. The answer was, “No,” meaning he should stay away and not approach her. Similar instructions were sent to his two companions. Ka'b then told his wife to go to her family and remain with them until Allah decided the matter. For searches like hadith about staying away from wife, this narration is important because it shows that not every separation is a divorce.
What we learn from this hadith
- Similar instructions were sent to Ka'b and his two companions.
- A clear question helped avoid misunderstanding the command.
- The text links the matter to waiting for Allah's decision.
- Keeping away in this report is not counted as divorce.
