Widow’s Waiting Period
Total Hadiths 109
What Prophetic Hadiths Teach Us About a Widow's Waiting Period
These authentic prophetic narrations provide clear guidelines regarding a widow's waiting period, commonly known as Iddah, and the boundaries of mourning in Islam. Based on the real-life account of Subai'a Al-Aslamiya, if a woman becomes a widow while pregnant, her waiting period concludes the moment she gives birth, even if it occurs only a few days after her husband's death. The Prophet explicitly permitted her to remarry post-delivery, clarifying specific exceptions for pregnancy. Furthermore, according to Islamic scholars and text, a believing woman is not permitted to mourn any deceased person for more than three days, with the sole exception of her husband, for whom she must observe a mourning period of four months and ten days.
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ وَاقِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ النَّحْوِيِّ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، { وَالَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنْكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَاجًا وَصِيَّةً لأَزْوَاجِهِمْ مَتَاعًا إِلَى الْحَوْلِ غَيْرَ إِخْرَاجٍ } فَنُسِخَ ذَلِكَ بِآيَةِ الْمِيرَاثِ بِمَا فُرِضَ لَهُنَّ مِنَ الرُّبُعِ وَالثُّمُنِ وَنُسِخَ أَجَلُ الْحَوْلِ بِأَنْ جُعِلَ أَجَلُهَا أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا .
The Qur’anic verse “Those of you who die and leave widows should bequeath for their widows a year’s maintenance and residence was abrogated by the verse containing the laws of succession, as one-fourth or one-eighth share was prescribed for them (i.e., the widows). The waiting period for one year was also repealed as a period of four months ten days was prescribed for them.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2298In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 124English translation : Book 12, Hadith 2291
حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، أَنَّهَا أَخْبَرَتْهُ بِهَذِهِ الأَحَادِيثِ الثَّلاَثَةِ، قَالَتْ زَيْنَبُ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ حِينَ تُوُفِّيَ أَبُوهَا أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَدَعَتْ بِطِيبٍ فِيهِ صُفْرَةٌ خَلُوقٌ أَوْ غَيْرُهُ فَدَهَنَتْ مِنْهُ جَارِيَةً ثُمَّ مَسَّتْ بِعَارِضَيْهَا ثُمَّ قَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ مَا لِي بِالطِّيبِ مِنْ حَاجَةٍ غَيْرَ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ يَحِلُّ لاِمْرَأَةٍ تُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ أَنْ تُحِدَّ عَلَى مَيِّتٍ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثِ لَيَالٍ إِلاَّ عَلَى زَوْجٍ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا " . قَالَتْ زَيْنَبُ وَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ جَحْشٍ حِينَ تُوُفِّيَ أَخُوهَا فَدَعَتْ بِطِيبٍ فَمَسَّتْ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ مَا لِي بِالطِّيبِ مِنْ حَاجَةٍ غَيْرَ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ " لاَ يَحِلُّ لاِمْرَأَةٍ تُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ أَنْ تُحِدَّ عَلَى مَيِّتٍ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثِ لَيَالٍ إِلاَّ عَلَى زَوْجٍ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا " . قَالَتْ زَيْنَبُ وَسَمِعْتُ أُمِّي أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ تَقُولُ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ ابْنَتِي تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا وَقَدِ اشْتَكَتْ عَيْنَهَا أَفَنَكْحُلُهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ " . مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا كُلُّ ذَلِكَ يَقُولُ " لاَ " . ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرٌ وَقَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ تَرْمِي بِالْبَعْرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ " . قَالَ حُمَيْدٌ فَقُلْتُ لِزَيْنَبَ وَمَا تَرْمِي بِالْبَعْرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ فَقَالَتْ زَيْنَبُ كَانَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ إِذَا تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا دَخَلَتْ حِفْشًا وَلَبِسَتْ شَرَّ ثِيَابِهَا وَلَمْ تَمَسَّ طِيبًا وَلاَ شَيْئًا حَتَّى تَمُرَّ بِهَا سَنَةٌ ثُمَّ تُؤْتَى بِدَابَّةٍ حِمَارٍ أَوْ شَاةٍ أَوْ طَائِرٍ فَتَفْتَضُّ بِهِ فَقَلَّمَا تَفْتَضُّ بِشَىْءٍ إِلاَّ مَاتَ ثُمَّ تَخْرُجُ فَتُعْطَى بَعْرَةً فَتَرْمِي بِهَا ثُمَّ تُرَاجِعُ بَعْدُ مَا شَاءَتْ مِنْ طِيبٍ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ الْحِفْشُ بَيْتٌ صَغِيرٌ .
Humaid ibn Nafi' reported the following three traditions on the authority of Zaynab, daughter of Abu Salamah: Zainab said: I visited Umm Habibah when her father AbuSufyan, died. She asked for some yellow perfume containing saffron (khaluq) or something else. Then she applied it to a girl and touched her cheeks. She said: I have no need of perfume, but I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: It is not lawful for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to observe mourning for one who has died, more than three nights, except for four months and ten days in the case of a husband. Zaynab said: I also visited Zaynab, daughter of Jahsh, when her brother died. She asked for some perfume and used it upon herself. She then said: I have no need of perfume, but I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say when he was on the pulpit: It is not lawful for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to observe mourning for one who has died, more than three nights, except for four months and ten days in the case of a husband. Zaynab said: I heard my mother, Umm Salamah, say: A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, the husband of my daughter has died, and she is suffering from sore eyes; may we put antimony in her eyes? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: No. He said this twice or thrice. Each time he said: No. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The waiting period is now four months and ten days. In pre-Islamic days one of you used to throw away a piece of dung at the end of a year. Humayd said: I asked Zaynab: What do you mean by throwing away a piece of dung at the end of a year. Zaynab replied: When the husband of a woman died, she entered a small cell and put on shabby clothes, not touching perfume or any other thing until a year passed. Then an animal such as donkey or sheep or bird was provided for her. She rubbed herself with it. The animal with which she rubbed herself rarely survived. She then came out and was given a piece of dung which she threw away. She then used perfume or something else which she desired. Abu Dawud said: The Arabic word "hafsh" means a small cell.
[1] They say the meaning of Taftadd is that she would rub it on the front of herself.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2299In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 125English translation : Book 12, Hadith 2292
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ عُجْرَةَ، عَنْ عَمَّتِهِ، زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ كَعْبِ بْنِ عُجْرَةَ أَنَّ الْفُرَيْعَةَ بِنْتَ مَالِكِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ، - وَهِيَ أُخْتُ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ - أَخْبَرَتْهَا أَنَّهَا، جَاءَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَسْأَلُهُ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا فِي بَنِي خُدْرَةَ فَإِنَّ زَوْجَهَا خَرَجَ فِي طَلَبِ أَعْبُدٍ لَهُ أَبَقُوا حَتَّى إِذَا كَانُوا بِطَرَفِ الْقَدُّومِ لَحِقَهُمْ فَقَتَلُوهُ فَسَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ أَرْجِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِي فَإِنِّي لَمْ يَتْرُكْنِي فِي مَسْكَنٍ يَمْلِكُهُ وَلاَ نَفَقَةٍ . قَالَتْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " نَعَمْ " . قَالَتْ فَخَرَجْتُ حَتَّى إِذَا كُنْتُ فِي الْحُجْرَةِ أَوْ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ دَعَانِي أَوْ أَمَرَ بِي فَدُعِيتُ لَهُ فَقَالَ " كَيْفَ قُلْتِ " . فَرَدَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ الْقِصَّةَ الَّتِي ذَكَرْتُ مِنْ شَأْنِ زَوْجِي قَالَتْ فَقَالَ " امْكُثِي فِي بَيْتِكِ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ الْكِتَابُ أَجَلَهُ " . قَالَتْ فَاعْتَدَدْتُ فِيهِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا . قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ فَسَأَلَنِي عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَاتَّبَعَهُ وَقَضَى بِهِ .
Zaynab, daughter of Ka'b ibn Ujrah narrated that Furay'ah daughter of Malik ibn Sinan, told her that she came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and asked him whether she could return to her people, Banu Khidrah, for her husband went out seeking his slaves who ran away. When they met him at al-Qudum, they murdered him. So I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Should I return to my people, for he did not leave any dwelling house of his own and maintenance for me? She said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied: Yes. She said: I came out, and when I was in the apartment or in the mosque, he called for me, or he commanded (someone to call me) and, therefore, I was called. He said: what did you say? So I repeated my story which I had already mentioned about my husband. Thereupon he said: Stay in your house till the term lapses. She said: So I passed my waiting period in it (her house) for four months and ten days. When Uthman ibn Affan became caliph, he sent for me and asked me about that; so I informed him, and he followed it and decided cases accordingly.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2300In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 126English translation : Book 12, Hadith 2293
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شِبْلٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ، قَالَ قَالَ عَطَاءٌ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ نَسَخَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ عِدَّتَهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهِ فَتَعْتَدُّ حَيْثُ شَاءَتْ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى { غَيْرَ إِخْرَاجٍ } قَالَ عَطَاءٌ إِنْ شَاءَتِ اعْتَدَّتْ عِنْدَ أَهْلِهِ وَسَكَنَتْ فِي وَصِيَّتِهَا وَإِنْ شَاءَتْ خَرَجَتْ لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى { فَإِنْ خَرَجْنَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا فَعَلْنَ } قَالَ عَطَاءٌ ثُمَّ جَاءَ الْمِيرَاثُ فَنَسَخَ السُّكْنَى تَعْتَدُّ حَيْثُ شَاءَتْ .
Ibn ‘Abbas said “The following verse abrogated the rule of passing her waiting period with her people. A year’s maintenance and residence. She may pass her waiting period now anywhere she wishes. ‘Ata said “If she wishes she can pass her waiting period with the people of her husband and live in the house left by her husband by will. Or she may shift if she wishes according to the pronouncement of Allah the Exalted. But if they leave (the residence) there is no blame on you for what they do. Ata’ said “Then the verses regarding inheritance were revealed. The commandment for living in a house (for one year) was repealed. She may pass her waiting period wherever she wishes.
[1] Al-Baqarah 2:240.[2] Al-Baqarah 2:240.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2301In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 127English translation : Book 12, Hadith 2294
حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدَّوْرَقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ طَهْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي هِشَامُ بْنُ حَسَّانَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ الْقُهُسْتَانِيُّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ بَكْرٍ - السَّهْمِيِّ عَنْ هِشَامٍ، - وَهَذَا لَفْظُ ابْنِ الْجَرَّاحِ - عَنْ حَفْصَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تُحِدُّ الْمَرْأَةُ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ إِلاَّ عَلَى زَوْجٍ فَإِنَّهَا تُحِدُّ عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا لاَ تَلْبَسُ ثَوْبًا مَصْبُوغًا إِلاَّ ثَوْبَ عَصْبٍ وَلاَ تَكْتَحِلُ وَلاَ تَمَسُّ طِيبًا إِلاَّ أَدْنَى طُهْرَتِهَا إِذَا طَهُرَتْ مِنْ مَحِيضِهَا بِنُبْذَةٍ مِنْ قُسْطٍ أَوْ أَظْفَارٍ " . قَالَ يَعْقُوبُ مَكَانَ عَصْبٍ " إِلاَّ مَغْسُولاً " . وَزَادَ يَعْقُوبُ " وَلاَ تَخْتَضِبُ " .
‘Umm Athiyah reported the Prophet(ﷺ) as saying “A woman must not observe mourning for more than three (days) except for four months and ten days in the case of a husband and she must not wear a dyed garment except one of the types made of dyed yarn or apply collyrium or touch perfume except for a little costus or azfar when she has been purified after her menstrual courses. The narrator Ya’qub mentioned the words “except washed clothes” instead of the words “one of the types made of dyed yarn”. Ya’qub also added “She must not apply Henna”
[1] A certain type of cloth whose strands of fabric are dyed and rinsed well before being woven.[2] Two types of fragrance or incense.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2302In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 128English translation : Book 12, Hadith 2295
حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَمَالِكُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَاحِدِ الْمِسْمَعِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ حَفْصَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَلَيْسَ فِي تَمَامِ حَدِيثِهِمَا . قَالَ الْمِسْمَعِيُّ قَالَ يَزِيدُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ قَالَ فِيهِ " وَلاَ تَخْتَضِبُ " . وَزَادَ فِيهِ هَارُونُ " وَلاَ تَلْبَسُ ثَوْبًا مَصْبُوغًا إِلاَّ ثَوْبَ عَصْبٍ " .
The tradition mentioned above has also been narrated by Al ‘Umm Athiyah from the Prophet (ﷺ) through a different chain of narrators. The tradition narrated by Yazid bin Harun from Hisham does perfectly correspond to the tradition transmitted by Ibrahim bin Tahman and ‘Abd Allah Al Shami from Hisham. The narrator Al Misma’I reported Yazid as saying “I do not know but that he said “she should not dye herself.” To this the narrator Harun added “She should not wear colored clothes except one of the types made of dyed yarn.”
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2303In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 129English translation : Book 12, Hadith 2296
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ طَهْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي بُدَيْلٌ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ صَفِيَّةَ بِنْتِ شَيْبَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ الْمُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا لاَ تَلْبَسُ الْمُعَصْفَرَ مِنَ الثِّيَابِ وَلاَ الْمُمَشَّقَةَ وَلاَ الْحُلِيَّ وَلاَ تَخْتَضِبُ وَلاَ تَكْتَحِلُ " .
Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: A woman whose husband has died must not wear clothes dyed with safflower (usfur) or with red ochre (mishq) and ornaments. She must not apply henna and collyrium.
[1] A reddish clay which was used to dye cloth.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2304In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 130English translation : Book 12, Hadith 2297
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي مَخْرَمَةُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْمُغِيرَةَ بْنَ الضَّحَّاكِ، يَقُولُ أَخْبَرَتْنِي أُمُّ حَكِيمٍ بِنْتُ أُسَيْدٍ، عَنْ أُمِّهَا، أَنَّ زَوْجَهَا، تُوُفِّيَ وَكَانَتْ تَشْتَكِي عَيْنَيْهَا فَتَكْتَحِلُ بِالْجَلاَءِ - قَالَ أَحْمَدُ الصَّوَابُ بِكُحْلِ الْجَلاَءِ - فَأَرْسَلَتْ مَوْلاَةً لَهَا إِلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ فَسَأَلَتْهَا عَنْ كُحْلِ الْجَلاَءِ فَقَالَتْ لاَ تَكْتَحِلِي بِهِ إِلاَّ مِنْ أَمْرٍ لاَ بُدَّ مِنْهُ يَشْتَدُّ عَلَيْكِ فَتَكْتَحِلِينَ بِاللَّيْلِ وَتَمْسَحِينَهُ بِالنَّهَارِ . ثُمَّ قَالَتْ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ تُوُفِّيَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُ عَلَى عَيْنِي صَبِرًا فَقَالَ " مَا هَذَا يَا أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ " . فَقُلْتُ إِنَّمَا هُوَ صَبِرٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَيْسَ فِيهِ طِيبٌ . قَالَ " إِنَّهُ يَشُبُّ الْوَجْهَ فَلاَ تَجْعَلِيهِ إِلاَّ بِاللَّيْلِ وَتَنْزِعِينَهُ بِالنَّهَارِ وَلاَ تَمْتَشِطِي بِالطِّيبِ وَلاَ بِالْحِنَّاءِ فَإِنَّهُ خِضَابٌ " . قَالَتْ قُلْتُ بِأَىِّ شَىْءٍ أَمْتَشِطُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " بِالسِّدْرِ تُغَلِّفِينَ بِهِ رَأْسَكِ " .
Umm Hakim, daughter of Usayd, reported on the authority of her mother that her husband died and she was suffering from sore eyes. She therefore applied collyrium (jala'). Ahmad said: The correct version is "glittering collyrium (kuhl al-jala'). She sent her slave-girl to Umm Salamah, and she asked her about the use of glittering collyrium (kuhl al-jala'). She said: Do not apply it except in the case of dire need which is troubling you. In that case you can use it at night, but you should remove it in the daytime. Then Umm Salamah said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to visit me when AbuSalamah died, and I had put the juice of aloes in my eye. He asked : What is this, Umm Salamah? I replied: It is only the juice of aloes and contains no perfume. He said: It gives the face a glow, so apply it only at night and remove it in daytime, and do not comb yourself with scent or henna, for it is a dye. I asked: What should I use when I comb myself, Messenger of Allah? He said: Use lote-tree leaves and smear your head copiously with them.
[2] It means brightening or lucidation kohl, referring to Ithmid .[1] Sidr , the lote tree, its leaves were used with water or other substances for their clean smell.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2305In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 131English translation : Book 12, Hadith 2298
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ الْمَهْرِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، كَتَبَ إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَرْقَمِ الزُّهْرِيِّ يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ، عَلَى سُبَيْعَةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ الأَسْلَمِيَّةِ فَيَسْأَلَهَا عَنْ حَدِيثِهَا وَعَمَّا قَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ اسْتَفْتَتْهُ فَكَتَبَ عُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ يُخْبِرُهُ أَنَّ سُبَيْعَةَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَحْتَ سَعْدِ ابْنِ خَوْلَةَ - وَهُوَ مِنْ بَنِي عَامِرِ بْنِ لُؤَىٍّ وَهُوَ مِمَّنْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا - فَتُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ وَهِيَ حَامِلٌ فَلَمْ تَنْشَبْ أَنْ وَضَعَتْ حَمْلَهَا بَعْدَ وَفَاتِهِ فَلَمَّا تَعَلَّتْ مِنْ نِفَاسِهَا تَجَمَّلَتْ لِلْخُطَّابِ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا أَبُو السَّنَابِلِ بْنُ بَعْكَكٍ - رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي عَبْدِ الدَّارِ - فَقَالَ لَهَا مَا لِي أَرَاكِ مُتَجَمِّلَةً لَعَلَّكِ تَرْتَجِينَ النِّكَاحَ إِنَّكِ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَنْتِ بِنَاكِحٍ حَتَّى تَمُرَّ عَلَيْكِ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرٌ . قَالَتْ سُبَيْعَةُ فَلَمَّا قَالَ لِي ذَلِكَ جَمَعْتُ عَلَىَّ ثِيَابِي حِينَ أَمْسَيْتُ فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَأَفْتَانِي بِأَنِّي قَدْ حَلَلْتُ حِينَ وَضَعْتُ حَمْلِي وَأَمَرَنِي بِالتَّزْوِيجِ إِنْ بَدَا لِي . قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ وَلاَ أَرَى بَأْسًا أَنْ تَتَزَوَّجَ حِينَ وَضَعَتْ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ فِي دَمِهَا غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَقْرَبُهَا زَوْجُهَا حَتَّى تَطْهُرَ .
‘Ubaid Allah bin ‘Abd Allah bin ‘Utbah said that his father wrote (a letter) to ‘Abd Allaah bin Al Arqam Al Zuhri asking him to visit Subai’ah daughter of Al Harith Al Aslamiyyah and ask her about her story and what the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) said to her when she asked his opinion (about her). So, ‘Umar bin Abd allah wrote in reply to ‘Abd Allah bin ‘Utbah informing him what she told him. She told that she was under (i.e., the wife of) Sa’d bin Khawlah who belonged to Banu Amir bin Luwayy. He was one of those who participated in the battle of Badr. He died at the Farwell Pilgrimage while she was pregnant. Soon after his death she gave birth to a child. When she was purified from her bleeding after child birth she adorned herself for seekers in marriage. Then Abu Al Sanabil bin Ba’kah a man from Banu Abd Al Dar entered upon her and said to her “What is the matter seeing you adorned, perhaps you are seeking marriage? I swear by Allah you cannot marry until four months and ten days pass away. Saubai’ah said “When she said this to me, I gathered my clothes on me when the evening came and I came to the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) and asked him about that. He told me that I became lawful when I had delivered a child. He suggested me to marry if I wished. Ibn Shihab said “I do not see any harm if she marries when she gives birth to the child, even though she had the bleeding after the child birth, but her husband should not have sexual intercourse till she is purified.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2306In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 132English translation : Book 12, Hadith 2299
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، - قَالَ عُثْمَانُ حَدَّثَنَا وَقَالَ ابْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، أَخْبَرَنَا - أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ مَنْ شَاءَ لاَعَنْتُهُ لأُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ الْقُصْرَى بَعْدَ الأَرْبَعَةِ الأَشْهُرِ وَعَشْرًا .
Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud: I can invoke the curse of Allah on anyone who wishes: The smaller surat an-Nisa (i.e. Surat at-Talaq) was revealed after the verse regarding the waiting period of four months and ten days had been revealed.
[1] Referring to Sūrat At-Talāq .Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2307In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 133English translation : Book 12, Hadith 2300
