27/67. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3541 — Kohl During a Widow's Iddah
Prohibition Of Kohl For A Woman In Mourning
Kohl During Iddah and the Widow's Waiting Period
Sunan an-Nasai : 3541
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3541
أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبِ بْنِ عَرَبِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ، أَنَّ امْرَأَةً، سَأَلَتْ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ وَأُمَّ حَبِيبَةَ أَتَكْتَحِلُ فِي عِدَّتِهَا مِنْ وَفَاةِ زَوْجِهَا فَقَالَتْ أَتَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلَتْهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ " قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ إِذَا تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا أَقَامَتْ سَنَةً ثُمَّ قَذَفَتْ خَلْفَهَا بِبَعْرَةٍ ثُمَّ خَرَجَتْ وَإِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا حَتَّى يَنْقَضِيَ الأَجَلُ " .
Zainab Narrated from:
A woman asked Umm Salamah and Umm Habibah whether she could put on kohl during her 'Iddah following her husband's death. She said: "A woman came to the Prophet and asked him about that, and he said: 'During the Jahiliyyah, if her husband died, one of you would stay (in mourning) for a year, then she would throw a piece of dung then come out. Rather it (the mourning period) is four months and ten days, until the term prescribed is fulfilled.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3541In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 155English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3571
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3541
This Hadith addresses kohl during iddah after a husband's death. A woman asked Umm Salamah and Umm Habibah whether a widow could apply kohl while completing her waiting period. They related that the Prophet had answered a similar question by comparing the Islamic term with the former Jahiliyyah practice. In that earlier custom, a widow remained in mourning for one year, threw a piece of dung behind her, and then came out. The Prophet stated instead that the term is four months and ten days, until the prescribed period is complete. The report keeps the focus on honoring the full widow iddah period and shows that the kohl question was treated as part of that mourning observance.
What we learn from this hadith
- The widow's waiting period is four months and ten days.
- The prescribed term should be completed before the mourning period ends.
- The Hadith contrasts Islamic iddah with the described one-year Jahiliyyah custom.
