27/18. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3426 — Separation Without Divorce
"Go To Your Family" Does Not Necessarily Mean Divorce
Hadith About Separation Without Approaching the Wife
Sunan an-Nasai : 3426
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3426
أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ ثَوْرٍ - عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ إِذَا رَسُولٌ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ أَتَانِي فَقَالَ اعْتَزِلِ امْرَأَتَكَ . فَقُلْتُ أُطَلِّقُهَا قَالَ لاَ وَلَكِنْ لاَ تَقْرَبْهَا . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِيهِ الْحَقِي بِأَهْلِكِ .
‘Abdur-Rahman bin Ka’b bin Malik Narrated from:
The envoy of the Messenger of Allah came to me and said: 'Keep away from your wife.' I said: 'Should I divorce her?' He said: 'No, but do not approach her.'" And he (the narrator) did not mention (the words): "Go to your family."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3426In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 38English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3456
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3426
This shorter wording of the Ka'b bin Malik hadith keeps the main point very clear. The envoy came and said, “Keep away from your wife.” Ka'b asked, “Should I divorce her?” The reply was, “No, but do not approach her.” The narrator notes that this version does not include the words about telling the wife to go to her family. For readers searching hadith about separation and divorce, this matters because the report itself separates the two ideas. A command to stay away was not the same as a command to divorce. The Hadith also shows Ka'b asking for clarity before taking a major family step.
What we learn from this hadith
- The shorter wording still shows that divorce was not ordered.
- The main instruction was to stay away and not approach the wife.
- Different narrations may include or omit some details.
- Major family actions should not be assumed from unclear words.
