27/56. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3521 — Childbirth and the Shorter Iddah
The 'Iddah Of A Pregnant Woman Whose Husband Dies
Pregnant Widow Iddah and the Concession After Childbirth
Sunan an-Nasai : 3521
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3521
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ كُنْتُ جَالِسًا فِي نَاسٍ بِالْكُوفَةِ فِي مَجْلِسٍ - لِلأَنْصَارِ - عَظِيمٍ فِيهِمْ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى فَذَكَرُوا شَأْنَ سُبَيْعَةَ فَذَكَرْتُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ فِي مَعْنَى قَوْلِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ حَتَّى تَضَعَ . قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى لَكِنَّ عَمَّهُ لاَ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ فَرَفَعْتُ صَوْتِي وَقُلْتُ إِنِّي لَجَرِيءٌ أَنْ أَكْذِبَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ وَهُوَ فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْكُوفَةِ . قَالَ فَلَقِيتُ مَالِكًا قُلْتُ كَيْفَ كَانَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ فِي شَأْنِ سُبَيْعَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَتَجْعَلُونَ عَلَيْهَا التَّغْلِيظَ وَلاَ تَجْعَلُونَ لَهَا الرُّخْصَةَ لأُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ الْقُصْرَى بَعْدَ الطُّولَى .
Muhammad Narrated from:
I was sitting with some people in Al-Kufah in a large gathering of the Ansar, among whom was 'Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Laila. They spoke about the story of Subai'ah and I mentioned what 'Abdullah bin 'Utbah bin Mas'ud had said in meaning." (One of the narrators) Ibn 'Awn's saying was: "when she gives birth." Ibn Abi Layla said: 'But his (paternal) uncle did not say that.' I raised my voice and said: 'Would I dare to tell lies about 'Abdullah bin 'Utbah when he is in the vicinity of Al-Kufah?'"He said: "Then I met Malik and said: 'What did Ibn Mas'ud say about the story of Subai'ah?' He said: 'He said: "Are you going to be too strict with her and not allow her the concession (with regard to the 'Iddah)? The shorter Surah about women (At-Talaq) was revealed after the longer one (Al-Baqarah)."'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3521In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 133English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3551
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3521
This narration discusses the ruling connected to Subai'ah and the iddah of a pregnant widow. In the gathering, there was disagreement about whether her waiting period ended when she gave birth. Muhammad firmly defended what he had reported from Abdullah bin Utbah and later asked about Ibn Mas'ud's position. Ibn Mas'ud objected to placing extra hardship on the woman while ignoring the concession available to her. He pointed out that the shorter Surah about women, Surah At-Talaq, was revealed after the longer one, Al-Baqarah. The report therefore links the later revelation with the childbirth ruling. Its focus is not general debate for its own sake, but careful transmission and avoiding an unnecessarily strict reading of the waiting period.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report presents childbirth as the point connected to the pregnant widow's iddah.
- Ibn Mas'ud opposed adding hardship when the text allowed a concession.
- The order of revelation was used to explain the ruling.
- Narrators took accuracy seriously and challenged claims they believed were mistaken.
