27/57. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3524 — Mahr, Iddah and Inheritance Rights
The 'Iddah Of A Woman Whose Husband Dies Before Consummating The Marriage
Marriage Rights When No Mahr Was Named Before Death
Sunan an-Nasai : 3524
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3524
أَخْبَرَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ، تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً وَلَمْ يَفْرِضْ لَهَا صَدَاقًا وَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ بِهَا حَتَّى مَاتَ قَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ لَهَا مِثْلُ صَدَاقِ نِسَائِهَا لاَ وَكْسَ وَلاَ شَطَطَ وَعَلَيْهَا الْعِدَّةُ وَلَهَا الْمِيرَاثُ . فَقَامَ مَعْقِلُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ الأَشْجَعِيُّ فَقَالَ قَضَى فِينَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي بِرْوَعَ بِنْتِ وَاشِقٍ - امْرَأَةٍ مِنَّا - مِثْلَ مَا قَضَيْتَ . فَفَرِحَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ رضى الله عنه .
Ibn Mas'ud Narrated from:
It was narrated from Ibn Mas'ud, that he was asked about a man who married a woman, but did not name a Mahr or consummate the marriage before he died. Ibn Mas'ud said: "She should have a Mahr like that of women like her, no less and no more; she has to observe the 'Iddah, and she is entitled to inherit." Ma'qil bin Sinan Al-Ashja'i stood up and said: "The Messenger of Allah passed a similar judgment among us concerning Birwa' bint Washiq." And Ibn Masud rejoiced at that.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3524In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 136English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3554
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3524
This hadith addresses a marriage in which the husband died before naming a mahr and before the marriage was consummated. Ibn Mas'ud ruled that the woman should receive a mahr equal to that of comparable women, without unfair reduction or exaggeration. He also said that she must observe the iddah and that she has a right to inheritance. Ma'qil bin Sinan then confirmed that the Messenger of Allah had given the same judgment in the case of Birwa' bint Washiq. Ibn Mas'ud was pleased that his answer matched the Prophetic ruling. The hadith brings together three clear rights and duties in one case: a fair mahr, the waiting period, and inheritance, even though no mahr had been fixed and no consummation had taken place.
What we learn from this hadith
- A fair mahr is due even when no amount was named in this case.
- The woman must observe the prescribed iddah.
- She is entitled to inherit from her deceased husband.
- The mahr should match comparable women, without unfair decrease or excess.
