27/71. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3550 — Harvesting Dates During Iddah
Widow Going Out During The Day
Leaving During Iddah to Harvest Dates and Do Good
Sunan an-Nasai : 3550
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3550
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَخْلَدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ طُلِّقَتْ خَالَتُهُ فَأَرَادَتْ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ إِلَى نَخْلٍ لَهَا فَلَقِيَتْ رَجُلاً فَنَهَاهَا فَجَاءَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " اخْرُجِي فَجُدِّي نَخْلَكِ لَعَلَّكِ أَنْ تَصَدَّقِي وَتَفْعَلِي مَعْرُوفًا " .
Jabir Narrated from:
It was narrated from Jabir that his maternal aunt was divorced, and she wanted to go out to some date palms of hers, but she met a man who told her not to do that. She went to the Messenger of Allah and he said: "Go out and take the harvest of your date palms, for perhaps you will give Zakah or do some good (give voluntary charity)."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3550In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 164English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3580
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3550
This Hadith gives a practical example of going out during iddah for useful work. Jabir's maternal aunt had been divorced and wanted to visit her date palms. A man told her not to go, so she asked the Messenger of Allah. He told her to go out and harvest her dates. He added that perhaps she would give Zakah or do another good deed through voluntary charity. The narration connects lawful work with benefit to others. It does not say that every reason for leaving during iddah is the same. Rather, it records permission in this specific case: tending and harvesting her own date palms, with the possibility that the produce could support Zakah or another act of kindness.
What we learn from this hadith
- The divorced woman was allowed to go out to harvest her own date palms.
- Her work could lead to Zakah or voluntary charity.
- The Hadith shows that a useful need was considered in her iddah situation.
