27/56. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3522 — Iddah Lasts Until Childbirth
The 'Iddah Of A Pregnant Woman Whose Husband Dies
Iddah Until Childbirth: Ibn Mas'ud's Clear Statement
Sunan an-Nasai : 3522
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3522
أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مِسْكِينِ بْنِ نُمَيْلَةَ، - يَمَامِيٌّ - قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، ح وَأَخْبَرَنِي مَيْمُونُ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ شُبْرُمَةَ الْكُوفِيُّ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ النَّخَعِيِّ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، أَنَّ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ مَنْ شَاءَ لاَعَنْتُهُ مَا أُنْزِلَتْ { وَأُولاَتُ الأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَنْ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ } إِلاَّ بَعْدَ آيَةِ الْمُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا إِذَا وَضَعَتِ الْمُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا فَقَدْ حَلَّتْ وَاللَّفْظُ لِمَيْمُونٍ .
Ibn Mas'ud Narrated from:
Whoever wants, I will meet and debate with him and invoke the curse of Allah upon those who lie. The Verse: 'And for those who are pregnant (whether they are divorced or their husbands are dead), their 'Iddah (prescribed period) is until they lay down their burden.' was only revealed after the Verse about women whose husbands die. 'When a woman whose husband has died gives birth, it becomes permissible for her to marry.'" This is the wording of Maimun (one of the narrators).
[1] At-Talâq 65:4.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3522In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 134English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3552
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3522
This hadith gives a direct statement about the iddah of a pregnant widow. Ibn Mas'ud strongly affirmed that the verse saying pregnant women wait until they deliver was revealed after the verse concerning women whose husbands die. He then stated that when a woman whose husband has died gives birth, marriage becomes permissible for her. The report is focused on the order of the verses and the practical result of that order. It does not add other conditions or a separate time period after delivery. For readers searching for a hadith about iddah until childbirth, the central message is that pregnancy determines the end point in the situation described. Ibn Mas'ud's forceful wording also shows how certain he was about the report.
What we learn from this hadith
- The waiting period of the pregnant widow is tied to delivery in this narration.
- Ibn Mas'ud used the order of revelation to support the ruling.
- The report states that marriage becomes permissible after she gives birth.
- The wording warns against attributing a false ruling to the religion.
