27/18. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3425 — Separation Without Divorce
"Go To Your Family" Does Not Necessarily Mean Divorce
Hadith About Keeping Away From Wives During Trial
Sunan an-Nasai : 3425
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3425
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَعْدَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْقِلٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ، عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي كَعْبًا، يُحَدِّثُ قَالَ أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَإِلَى صَاحِبَىَّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تَعْتَزِلُوا نِسَاءَكُمْ فَقُلْتُ لِلرَّسُولِ أُطَلِّقُ امْرَأَتِي أَمْ مَاذَا أَفْعَلُ قَالَ لاَ بَلْ تَعْتَزِلُهَا وَلاَ تَقْرَبْهَا . فَقُلْتُ لاِمْرَأَتِي الْحَقِي بِأَهْلِكِ فَكُونِي فِيهِمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ . فَلَحِقَتْ بِهِمْ . خَالَفَهُ مَعْمَرٌ .
Az-Zuhri Narrated from:
Abdur-Rahman bin 'Abdullah bin Ka'b narrated that his paternal uncle 'Ubaidullah bin Ka'b said: 'I heard my father Ka'b say: The Messenger of Allah sent word to me and my two companions saying: The Messenger of Allah commands you to keep away from your wives. I said to the envoy: Should I divorce my wife, or what should I do? He said: No, just keep away from her and do not come near her. I said to my wife: Go to your family and stay with them until Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, decides (concerning me). So she went to them.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3425In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 37English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3455
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3425
This report also covers the Ka'b bin Malik Tabuk story and the command to stay away from wives. Ka'b says that the Messenger of Allah sent word to him and his two companions. The instruction was not to divorce, but to keep away and not come near their wives. Ka'b asked before acting, and the envoy clarified the meaning. He then told his wife to go to her family and remain there until Allah decided concerning him. The Hadith gives a balanced lesson: serious commands should be followed carefully, but wording matters. The text does not call this a divorce; it calls it staying away.
What we learn from this hadith
- The instruction was given to Ka'b and his two companions.
- Ka'b asked whether divorce was meant before acting.
- The answer kept separation and divorce apart.
- The family arrangement was temporary until Allah decided the matter.
