35/20. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3795 — Do Not Forbid What Allah Allowed
Forbidding That Which Allah, The Mighty And Sublime, Has Permitted
The Honey Hadith and Forbidding What Allah Allowed
Sunan an-Nasai : 3795
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3795
أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الزَّعْفَرَانِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ زَعَمَ عَطَاءٌ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عُبَيْدَ بْنَ عُمَيْرٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ، تَزْعُمُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَمْكُثُ عِنْدَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ جَحْشٍ فَيَشْرَبُ عِنْدَهَا عَسَلاً فَتَوَاصَيْتُ أَنَا وَحَفْصَةُ أَنَّ أَيَّتَنَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلْتَقُلْ إِنِّي أَجِدُ مِنْكَ رِيحَ مَغَافِيرَ أَكَلْتَ مَغَافِيرَ فَدَخَلَ عَلَى إِحْدَاهُمَا فَقَالَتْ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ " لاَ بَلْ شَرِبْتُ عَسَلاً عِنْدَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ جَحْشٍ وَلَنْ أَعُودَ لَهُ " . فَنَزَلَتْ { يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكَ } إِلَى { إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ } عَائِشَةُ وَحَفْصَةُ { وَإِذْ أَسَرَّ النَّبِيُّ إِلَى بَعْضِ أَزْوَاجِهِ حَدِيثًا } لِقَوْلِهِ " بَلْ شَرِبْتُ عَسَلاً " .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Prophet used to stay with Zainab bint Jahsh and drink honey at her house. Hafsah and I agreed that if the Prophet came to either of us, she would say: 'I detect the smell of Maghafir (a nasty-smelling gum) on you. Have you eaten Maghafir?' He went to one of them and she said that to him. He said: 'No, rather I drank honey at the house of Zainab bint Jahsh, but I will never do it again.'Then the following was revealed: 'O Prophet! Why do you forbid (for yourself) that which Allah has allowed to you' up to: 'If you two turn in repentance to Allah' -'Aishah and Hafsah- 'And (remember) when the Prophet disclosed a matter in confidence to one of his wives.' refers to him saying: 'No, rather I drank honey.'
[1] At-Tahrim 66:1.[2] At-Tahrim 66:4.[3] At-Tahrim 66:3.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3795In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 35English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3826
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3795
This hadith reports the well-known honey incident as narrated by 'Aishah. The Prophet used to stay with Zainab bint Jahsh and drink honey there. 'Aishah and Hafsah agreed to mention the smell of Maghafir when he came to either of them. After hearing this, he explained that he had drunk honey and said he would not return to it. The narration then connects the event to the revelation, “O Prophet! Why do you forbid for yourself that which Allah has allowed to you,” and to the call for 'Aishah and Hafsah to repent. It also identifies the confidential statement as his words about drinking honey. The core message is to avoid turning something lawful into a personal prohibition because of pressure or an unpleasant suggestion. The text also shows that schemes involving misleading words call for repentance.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not treat something Allah allowed as forbidden merely because of social pressure.
- Misleading someone through a planned statement is not presented as harmless.
- The narration identifies 'Aishah and Hafsah in the call to repentance.
- A confidential statement should be handled with care.
