27/56. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3509 — Pregnant Widow Iddah
The 'Iddah Of A Pregnant Woman Whose Husband Dies
Pregnant Widow Iddah Hadith: Marry After Giving Birth
Sunan an-Nasai : 3509
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3509
أَخْبَرَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ رَبِّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ، يَقُولُ اخْتَلَفَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ وَابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فِي الْمُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا إِذَا وَضَعَتْ حَمْلَهَا قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ تُزَوَّجُ . وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَبْعَدَ الأَجَلَيْنِ . فَبَعَثُوا إِلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ فَقَالَتْ تُوُفِّيَ زَوْجُ سُبَيْعَةَ فَوَلَدَتْ بَعْدَ وَفَاةِ زَوْجِهَا بِخَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ نِصْفِ شَهْرٍ - قَالَتْ - فَخَطَبَهَا رَجُلاَنِ فَحَطَّتْ بِنَفْسِهَا إِلَى أَحَدِهِمَا فَلَمَّا خَشُوا أَنْ تَفْتَاتَ بِنَفْسِهَا قَالُوا إِنَّكِ لاَ تَحِلِّينَ . قَالَتْ فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " قَدْ حَلَلْتِ فَانْكِحِي مَنْ شِئْتِ " .
Abu Salama Narrated from:
Abu Hurairah and Ibn 'Abbas differed concerning the widow who gives birth after her husband's death. Abu Hurairah said: 'She may be married.' Ibn 'Abbas said: '(She has to wait) for the longer of the two periods.' They sent word to Umm Salamah and she said: 'The husband of Subai'ah died and she gave birth fifteen days -half a month- after her husband died.'She said: 'Two men proposed marriage to her, and she was inclined toward one of them. When they feared that she was becoming single-minded (on this issue, and not consulting her family), they said: It is not permissible for you to marry. She went to the Messenger of Allah and he said: 'It is permissible for you to marry, so marry whomever you want.''
[1] The longer of the two periods: The dispute here is whether the pregnant widow's Iddah ends when she gives birth, even if that is only a few days after her husband's death, or when four months and ten days have passed since her husband's death.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3509In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 121English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3539
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3509
This hadith records a discussion about the pregnant widow iddah. Abu Hurairah and Ibn Abbas differed. Abu Hurairah said she may be married, while Ibn Abbas said she should wait for the longer of the two periods. They asked Umm Salamah. She told them that Subai'ah’s husband died and she gave birth half a month after his death. Two men proposed to her, and some people told her it was not permissible to marry. She went to the Messenger of Allah, and he said it was permissible for her to marry and to marry whomever she wanted. The hadith gives a clear answer through the Prophet’s statement.
What we learn from this hadith
- A disagreement arose about the pregnant widow’s waiting period.
- They referred the matter to Umm Salamah for knowledge of the Prophet’s ruling.
- Subai'ah was told it was permissible for her to marry.
- The Prophet allowed her to marry whomever she wanted.
