27/56. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3520 — Pregnant Widow's Iddah Ends at Birth
The 'Iddah Of A Pregnant Woman Whose Husband Dies
Pregnant Widow Iddah: When the Waiting Period Ends
Sunan an-Nasai : 3520
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3520
أَخْبَرَنَا كَثِيرُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُتْبَةَ، كَتَبَ إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَرْقَمِ الزُّهْرِيِّ أَنِ ادْخُلْ، عَلَى سُبَيْعَةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ الأَسْلَمِيَّةِ فَاسْأَلْهَا عَمَّا أَفْتَاهَا بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حَمْلِهَا . قَالَ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا عُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَسَأَلَهَا فَأَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَحْتَ سَعْدِ ابْنِ خَوْلَةَ - وَكَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِمَّنْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا - فَتُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ فَوَلَدَتْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَمْضِيَ لَهَا أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا مِنْ وَفَاةِ زَوْجِهَا فَلَمَّا تَعَلَّتْ مِنْ نِفَاسِهَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا أَبُو السَّنَابِلِ - رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي عَبْدِ الدَّارِ - فَرَآهَا مُتَجَمِّلَةً فَقَالَ لَعَلَّكِ تُرِيدِينَ النِّكَاحَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَمُرَّ عَلَيْكِ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا . قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا سَمِعْتُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَبِي السَّنَابِلِ جِئْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَحَدَّثْتُهُ حَدِيثِي . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قَدْ حَلَلْتِ حِينَ وَضَعْتِ حَمْلَكِ " .
'Ubaidullah bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
'Abdullah bin 'Utbah wrote to 'Umar bin 'Abdullah bin Al-Arqam Az-Zuhri, telling him: "Go to Subai'ah bint Al-Harith Al-Aslamiyyah, and ask her about the ruling of the Messenger of Allah concerning her pregnancy." He said: "So 'Umar bin 'Abdullah went to her and asked her. She told him that she was married to Sa'd bin Khawlah, who was one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah who had been present at Badr. He died during the Farewell Pilgrimage, and she gave birth before four months and ten days had passed since her husband's death.When her Nifas ended, Abu As-Sanabil -a man from Banu 'Abd Ad-Dar- went to her and saw that she had adorned herself. He said: 'Perhaps you want to get married before four months and ten days has passed?' She said: 'When I heard that from Abu As-Sanabil, I went to the Messenger of Allah and told him my story. The Messenger of Allah said: 'It is permissible for you to marry when you gave birth.''"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3520In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 132English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3550
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3520
This hadith explains the iddah of a pregnant widow through the case of Subai'ah bint Al-Harith. Her husband died while she was pregnant, and she gave birth before four months and ten days had passed. After her post-birth bleeding ended, she prepared herself and was questioned about marrying so soon. Instead of relying on that man's opinion, she went directly to the Messenger of Allah and explained her situation. He told her that marriage became permissible when she gave birth. The main teaching is clear within this report: for this pregnant widow, childbirth marked the end of her waiting period. The hadith also shows the value of asking for a sound ruling when people give conflicting advice.
What we learn from this hadith
- A pregnant widow's waiting period ended when she gave birth in this case.
- Subai'ah checked the matter with the Messenger of Allah instead of relying on doubt.
- The report separates the pregnancy ruling from the four-month-and-ten-day period mentioned to her.
- Questions about marriage and iddah should be taken to a reliable source.
