Prophet's Wives and Family Issues

In this Hadīth, ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) quotes from his father, ‘Umar, his account of what he did when his daughter Hafsah became a widow after the death of her husband Khunays ibn Hudhāfah As-Sahmi. Khunays was the brother of ‘Abdullāh ibn Hudhāfah, and he was one of the Prophet's Companions. He died in Madīnah as a result of an injury that he sustained in the battle of Uhud. He was one of the first people to embrace Islam, and he made Hijrah to Abyssinia. ‘Umar said: "I met with ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (i.e. after the death of his wife Ruqayyah, daughter of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), and I offered Hafsah to him in marriage." This indicates the permissibility of offering a person’s daughter in marriage to a righteous man of good character and religion, and that there is no shame in doing so. Al-Bukhāri (may Allah have mercy upon him) entitled a chapter in his Sahīh: Permissiblity of offering one's daughter or sister in marriage to a righteous man. ‘Umar said to ‘Uthmān: "If you wish, I shall give you Hafsah, daughter of ‘Umar, in marriage." He used a conditional clause because it gives the addressee freedom of choice, and this is a good manner of speech that encourages the addressee to accept. ‘Umar was also keen on attributing his daughter to himself as if adding: "and you know ‘Umar's status and his good companionship." ‘Uthmān's reply was that he would think about it; i.e. he would consider whether he should marry then or delay it. ‘Umar then said that he waited a few days and then saw ‘Uthmān, who told him that he had decided not to marry 'at present'. He said 'at present' so that his answer would not be misunderstood to mean that he had chosen to remain celibate and never get married, which is forbidden in Islam. ‘Umar then met Abu Bakr As-Siddīq (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: "If you wish, I shall marry Hafsah, daughter of ‘Umar, to you." Abu Bakr was silent, but it was for a very specific reason. His silence made ‘Umar angry, more so than when ‘Uthmān refused his daughter since at least ‘Uthmān gave him a reply while Abu Bakr did not say a word. A few days later, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) proposed to marry Hafsah, and ‘Umar accepted and married her off to him. After the marriage had taken place, with the reason for Abu Bakr's silence no longer existing, Abu Bakr offered his apology to ‘Umar to remove any hard feelings between them. He said: "'Perhaps you were angry with me when you offered Hafsah to me and I said nothing in reply?" He used the word 'perhaps' because, knowing ‘Umar's good character, he should not be angry with him for that, but it is also possible that he was angry as a natural reaction. ‘Umar replied truthfully, saying that he was indeed angry at his silence. Abu Bakr told him that nothing had prevented him from responding except that he had heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentioning her; i.e. expressing his desire to marry her. It is possible that the Prophet mentioned his desire to marry Hafsah in the presence of Abu Bakr alone, so Abu Bakr considered this to be a secret that must not be disclosed. That is the reason why he said: "and I could not disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah," i.e. share with anyone else what he told me in confidence. He added that if the Prophet had refrained from marrying her, he would have accepted her, because it is forbidden to propose to a woman whom the Prophet had expressed his desire to marry. This Hadīth teaches Muslims the obligation to keep the secret keenly and not to say what might lead to disclosing any part of it.

بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي، ط1، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، 1415هـ. دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، لمحمد علي بن محمد بن علان، ط4، اعتنى بها: خليل مأمون شيحا، دار المعرفة، بيروت، 1425هـ. رياض الصالحين، للنووي، ط1، تحقيق: ماهر ياسين الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، 1428هـ. كنوز رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين برئاسة حمد بن ناصر العمار، ط1، كنوز إشبيليا، الرياض، 1430هـ. صحيح البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، ط1، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، 1422هـ. نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين، ط14، مؤسسة الرسالة، 1407هـ.

‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) informs in this Hadīth that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) died when her house was void of any edible thing except for a small quantity of barley she had on a shelf and from which she kept eating for a long time. Then when she measured what was left of it, it soon finished, which points to the Prophet's continued blessing in that small amount of food so long as it was not measured, a sign of reliance on Allah. Weighing things in buying and selling is required for the rights of people involved. But it is not recommended to measure your things as you spend or use them.

كنوز رياض الصالحين، أ.د. حمد بن ناصر بن عبد الرحمن العمار، دار كنوز إشبيليا، الطبعة الأولى: 1430 هـ. بهجة الناظرين، الشيخ: سليم بن عيد الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي. نزهة المتقين، د. مصطفى سعيد الخن، د. مصطفى البغا، محيي الدين مستو، علي الشرجبي، محمد أمين لطفي، مؤسسة الرسالة، بيروت، الطبعة الأولى: 1397 هـ 1977 م، الطبعة الرابعة عشرة 1407 هـ 1987م. شرح صحيح البخاري لابن بطال، المؤلف: ابن بطال أبو الحسن علي بن خلف بن عبد الملك، تحقيق: أبو تميم ياسر بن إبراهيم، دار النشر: مكتبة الرشد - السعودية، الرياض، الطبعة: الثانية، 1423هـ - 2003م. رياض الصالحين، د. ماهر بن ياسين الفحل، الناشر: دار ابن كثير للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، دمشق - بيروت، الطبعة: الأولى، 1428 هـ - 2007 م. صحيح مسلم، المؤلف: مسلم بن الحجاج القشيري النيسابوري، المحقق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي - بيروت. صحيح البخاري، المؤلف: محمد بن إسماعيل أبو عبدالله البخاري الجعفي، المحقق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، الناشر: دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هـ. المنهاج شرح صحيح مسلم بن الحجاج، المؤلف: أبو زكريا محيي الدين يحيى بن شرف النووي، الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي - بيروت، الطبعة: الثانية، 1392.

The Mother of the Believers, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), was asked about the condition of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in his home and what he used to do. She said: He was a human being like other human beings. He used to do what men do in their homes: he would serve himself and his family; he would milk his sheep, mend his clothes, fix his sandals, and patch his bucket. And when the call to prayer was made, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would go out promptly to it without delay.

1. The perfect humility of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his kindness toward his family.
2. The worldly tasks should not distract the servant from prayer.
3. Diligence of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in performing prayer at its earliest prescribed time.
4. Ibn Hajar said: It contains encouragement to be humble, avoid arrogance, and for a man to serve his family.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 136) (676). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 660). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (3/ 526). شرح صحيح البخاري، لابن بطال (2/ 296). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 516).

Zayd ibn Hārithah (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) complaining about his wife Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her) and consulting him about divorcing her. Allah, the Almighty, had revealed to His Messenger that he would eventually marry Zaynab. This was revealed to him before Zayd divorced her. When Zayd came complaining about her to the Prophet and consulting him about divorcing her, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Fear Allah, O Zayd, and keep your wife." Allah, the Almighty, reproached him for that in the Qur'anic verse: {And remember (O Muhammad) when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, "Keep your wife and fear Allah," while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him. So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them. And ever is the command of Allah accomplished.} [Sūrat al-Ahzāb: 37] What the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) concealed within himself was dislike to marry her in fear of the people's expected disapproval of him marrying the ex-wife of his adopted son (adoption was legitimate among the Arabs before the advent of Islam). The statement of Anas: "If the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) were to conceal anything (of the Qur'an), he would have concealed this (verse)”, means that were he enabled to conceal anything from the revelation that he receives - which was definitely impermissible for him to do - then he would have concealed this verse; however, it was impossible for him to do so. This verse is among the greatest proofs of the truthfulness of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as Allah, the Almighty, informed us about what the Prophet felt of fearing the people's reaction. The Prophet conveyed this verse just as Allah, the Almighty, revealed it, even though it included Allah's reproach to him. This is contrary to what a liar would do; he would avoid everything that might blemish his character. The same can be said of the verse: {He frowned and turned away. Because the blind man came unto him.} [Sūrat ‘Abasa: 1-2], and similar verses in the Qur'an. The statement of Anas: "Zaynab used to boast before the wives of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)" means that she used to say that her marriage to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was ordained by Allah, and that this is a great virtue in which none of the Prophet’s wives is equal to her. She used to say to them: "Your families have given you in marriage, while I was given in marriage by Allah, the Almighty, from above seven heavens." This part of the Hadīth establishes Allah’s presence above the heavens and how it is acknowledged by the believers. It is axiomatic to all Muslims. Rather, it is axiomatic to all the creation except the ones whose natural disposition has been altered. It is one of the attributes of Allah that is known through texts, intellect, and natural disposition of everyone whose natural disposition has not deviated from its original sound state. The meaning of "I was given in marriage by Allah" is that Allah ordered His Messenger to marry her in the verse: {So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you.} It is as if Allah, the Almighty, was her guardian who concluded her marriage contract to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).

صحيح البخاري، نشر: دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422ه. شرح كتاب التوحيد من صحيح البخاري، لعبد الله بن محمد الغنيمان، الناشر: مكتبة الدار، المدينة المنورة، الطبعة: الأولى، 1405 هـ.

‘Ā’ishah was asked about what the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) usually did at home, and she mentioned that he used to behave like any man in his house. She gave some examples, including that he would clean his garment from harmful insects, milk his ewe, and serve himself.

- مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل، تحقيق: شعيب الأرنؤوط - عادل مرشد، وآخرون، نشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الأولى، 1421هـ - 2001م. - مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح، لعلي بن سلطان الملا الهروي القاري، الناشر: دار الفكر، بيروت – لبنان، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هـ - 2002م. - سلسلة الأحاديث الصحيحة وشيء من فقهها وفوائدها، تأليف محمد ناصر الدين الألباني، الناشر: مكتبة المعارف للنشر والتوزيع، الرياض، الطبعة: الأولى، لمكتبة المعارف. - طرح التثريب في شرح التقريب, أبو الفضل زين الدين عبد الرحيم بن الحسين العراقي الطبعة المصرية القديمة. - فيض القدير شرح الجامع الصغير, زين الدين محمد المدعو بعبد الرؤوف بن تاج العارفين بن علي بن زين العابدين الحدادي ثم المناوي القاهري , الناشر: المكتبة التجارية الكبرى - مصر, الطبعة: الأولى، 1356.

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) informs that she did not feel jealous of any of the Prophet's wives except Khadījah, may Allah be pleased with her although Khadījah had died before the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) married ‘Ā'ishah. Whenever the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) slaughtered a sheep, he would send some of it to Khadījah's friends. ‘Ā'ishah angered the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) one day by telling him that he mentions Khadījah very often, but he replied that Allah has made him to love her in this way.

صحيح مسلم، مسلم بن الحجاج القشيري النيسابوري، تحقيق محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت، الطبعة: 1423 هـ. إكمال المعلم بفوائد مسلم، عياض بن موسى اليحصبي السبتي، المحقق: يحيى إسماعيل، الناشر: دار الوفاء للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، مصر، الطبعة: الأولى، 1419هـ، 1998م.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not get married while Khadījah bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be please with her) was his wife until after she died. This attitude implies how much the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) cherished Khadījah, his first wife.

صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، نشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري، لابن حجر العسقلاني، تحقيق: محب الدين الخطيب، نشر: دار المعرفة-بيروت، 1379ه.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told ‘Ā'ishah that Jibrīl greets her with the greetings of peace. She returned the greeting by invoking Allah's peace, mercy, and blessings upon him. She also told the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) that he saw what she could not see, in reference to his seeing Jibrīl.

- صحيح البخاري، نشر: دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422ه. - صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، نشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. - إرشاد الساري لشرح صحيح البخاري، لأحمد بن محمد بن أبى بكر بن عبد الملك القسطلاني القتيبي المصري، الناشر: المطبعة الكبرى الأميرية، مصر، الطبعة: السابعة، 1323 هـ. - منار القاري شرح مختصر صحيح البخاري, حمزة محمد قاسم, راجعه: الشيخ عبد القادر الأرناؤوط, مكتبة دار البيان، دمشق - الجمهورية العربية السورية، مكتبة المؤيد، الطائف - المملكة العربية السعودية, 1410 هـ - 1990 م.