36/4. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3958 — The Honey and Maghafir Incident
Jealousy
The Honey Hadith and the Opening of Surah At-Tahrim
Sunan an-Nasai : 3958
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3958
أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الزَّعْفَرَانِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عُبَيْدَ بْنَ عُمَيْرٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ، تَزْعُمُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ 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 } { إِنْ تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ } لِعَائِشَةَ وَحَفْصَةَ { وَإِذْ أَسَرَّ النَّبِيُّ إِلَى بَعْضِ أَزْوَاجِهِ حَدِيثًا } لِقَوْلِهِ " بَلْ شَرِبْتُ عَسَلاً " .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah used to stay with Zainab bint Jahsh and drink honey at her house. Hafsah and I agreed that if the Prophet entered upon either of us, she would say: "I perceive the smell of Maghafir (a nasty-smelling gum) on you; have you eaten Maghafir?" He came in 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.' 'If you two turn in repentance to Allah, (it will be better for you)' about '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 3958In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 20English translation : Vol. 4, Book 36, Hadith 3410
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3958
This honey hadith explains an incident involving the Prophet, Zainab bint Jahsh, Aishah, and Hafsah. The Prophet used to stay with Zainab and drink honey at her house. Aishah and Hafsah agreed that whichever of them he visited would say that she noticed the smell of maghafir and ask whether he had eaten it. When this was said to him, he answered that he had only drunk honey at Zainab’s house and that he would not do so again. The narration then links the event to the verses asking why the Prophet forbade what Allah had allowed, calling the two women to repentance, and mentioning a confidential matter. The report itself explains the confidential statement as his words about drinking honey. The lesson must stay close to this account: a plan was made, a lawful thing was avoided, and revelation addressed the matter.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet drank honey in the house of Zainab bint Jahsh.
- Aishah and Hafsah agreed to mention the smell of maghafir to him.
- The Prophet said he would stop drinking that honey.
- The narration connects the incident with the opening verses of Surah At-Tahrim.
