Can He Propose to an Engaged Woman? [+1] (Ahadith 2381 – 2385)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2381 – 2385 (below) are repeats. See linked text to for related posts.

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 883 :
Narrated by Rafi bin Khadij (radiallaahu `anhu)
We used to work on the fields more than the other Ansar, and we used to rent the land (for the yield of a specific portion of it). But sometimes that portion or the rest of the land did not give any yield, so we were forbidden (by the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)) to follow such a system, but we were allowed to rent the land for money.

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 884 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “No town-dweller should sell for a bedouin. Do not practice Najsh (i.e. Do not offer a high price for a thing which you do not want to buy, in order to deceive the people). No Muslim should offer more for a thing already bought by his Muslim brother, nor should he demand the hand of a girl already engaged to another Muslim. A Muslim woman shall not try to bring about The divorce of her sister (i.e. another Muslim woman) in order to take her place herself.”

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 885 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira and Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani (radiallaahu `anhumaa)
A bedouin came to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and said, “O Allah’s apostle! I ask you by Allah to judge My case according to Allah’s Laws.” His opponent, who was more learned than he, said, “Yes, judge between us according to Allah’s Laws, and allow me to speak.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Speak.” He (i .e. the bedouin or the other man) said, “My son was working as a laborer for this (man) and he committed illegal sexual intercourse with his wife. The people told me that it was obligatory that my son should be stoned to death, so in lieu of that I ransomed my son by paying one hundred sheep and a slave girl. Then I asked the religious scholars about it, and they informed me that my son must be lashed one hundred lashes, and be exiled for one year, and the wife of this (man) must be stoned to death.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, I will judge between you according to Allah’s Laws. The slave-girl and the sheep are to be returned to you, your son is to receive a hundred lashes and be exiled for one year. You, Unais, go to the wife of this (man) and if she confesses her guilt, stone her to death.” Unais went to that woman next morning and she confessed. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) ordered that she be stoned to death.

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 886 :
Narrated by Aiman Al-Makki
When I visited Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) she said, “Buraira who had a written contract for her emancipation for a certain amount came to me and said, “O mother of the believers! Buy me and manumit me, as my masters will sell me.” Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) agreed to it. Buraira said, ‘My masters will sell me on the condition that my Wala will go to them.” Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) said to her, ‘Then I am not in need of you.’ The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) heard of that or was told about it and so he asked Aisha, ‘What is the problem of Buraira?’ He said, ‘Buy her and manumit her, no matter what they stipulate.’ Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) added, ‘I bought and manumitted her, though her masters had stipulated that her Wala would be for them.’ The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, The Wala is for the liberator, even if the other stipulated a hundred conditions.“

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 887 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) forbade (1) the meeting of the caravan (of goods) on the way, (2) and that a residing person buys for a bedouin, (3) and that a woman stipulates the divorce of the wife of the would-be husband, (4) and that a man tries to cause the cancellation of a bargain concluded by another. He also forbade An-Najsh and that one withholds the milk in the udder of the animal so that he may deceive people on selling it.

Most of the points in the above mentioned ahadith have been covered before (see links). We’ll cover the remaining ones here:

Ruling on proposing marriage to a girl who is already engaged (same rule applies to a man who tries to cause the cancellation of a bargain concluded by another).

If a person has proposed marriage to a woman, it is not permitted for anyone else to offer a proposal to her, because of the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) which states that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No man should offer a proposal of marriage over the proposal of his brother until the first one gives up or gives him permission.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 4746).

There follow quotations from Ibn Hijr’s commentary which will shed more light on the matter:

The majority of scholars said: This amounts to a prohibition… The Shaafi’is and Hanbalis said: it is prohibited when the woman proposed to, or her appointed guardian, has stated that she accepts the offer, but if she has stated that she rejects this offer, it is not prohibited. If the second man does not know the situation, then he is permitted to propose marriage, because the basic principle is that proposing marriage is something permitted… If the woman has not answered either way, it is permitted. Al-Tirmidhi reported from al-Shaafi’i that the meaning of the hadeeth is: if a man proposes to a woman and she likes him and accepts, no-one else should propose to her after that, but if he (the second man) does not know that she liked and accepted that proposal, there is nothing wrong with his proposing to her. The evidence for this is the story of Faatimah bint Qays, who did not tell (the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) that she had accepted the proposal of one (of two men who had proposed to her). If she had told him, he would not have advised her to marry someone other than the one she had chosen. If there is no word of acceptance or rejection from the woman, some of the Shaafi’is say that it is definitely permitted… Al-Shaafi’i said that in the case of a virgin, her silence indicates her acceptance of a suitor.

The hadeeth was interpretated as meaning that if the first man to propose gives permission to the second, it is no longer prohibited for him to propose. … It was reported from Ibn al-Qaasim, the companion of Maalik, that if the first suitor is immoral, a chaste man is permitted to propose over his proposal. Ibn al-‘Arabi said that this was correct… This is applicable if the woman is chaste, because an immoral man would not be compatible for her, and his proposal would be like no proposal at all.

The phrase “until he marries her”* means until the first suitor has gone ahead and married her, so that anyone else will realize that there is no longer any point in proposing; “or gives up” means that the first suitor decides not to go ahead, in which case it is permitted for the second to offer his proposal.

* Please note these words are in another Riwaayah…

Taken from IslamQA

Ruling on a woman stipulating at the time of marriage that her husband-to-be has to divorce his first wife.

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ar-Raajihi said:

If a woman stipulates at the time of the [marriage] contract that [her husband-to-be] is not to marry again whilst he remains married to her, then this condition is valid, and she is allowed to make such a stipulation. So if he remarries, then she has a choice: If she wishes – she can remain with him, and if she wishes – she can [legally] be divorced from him.

If she stipulates at the time of the [marriage] contract that [her husband-to-be] is to divorce his first wife, but he does not, then [in this case] he is not required to do so. The reason being thatthis condition is invalid because of the saying of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam):

“It is not permissible for a woman to demand her sister’s divorce so that she may take her place and get married. She cannot have more than what is decreed for her.”

[Saheeh Muslim/1408, Musnad Ahmad/2-489]

…so he forbade the stipulation of this condition. And [in legal terms] a forbiddance amounts to invalidity, so this [hadeeth] implies that such a condition is indeed invalid.

Source: Taqyeed ash-Shawaarid min al-Qawaa’id wal-Fawaa’id – Page 284-285

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Types of Conditions in the Marriage Contract (Hadith No. 2380)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2373 – 2379 (below) are repeats. See linked text for related posts.

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 875 :
Narrated by Jarir (radiallaahu `anhu)
When I gave the pledge of allegiance to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and he stipulated that I should give good advice to every Muslim.

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 876 :
Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
I gave the pledge of allegiance to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) for offering the prayers perfectly paying the Zakat and giving good advice to every Muslim.

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 877 :
Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If someone sells pollinated date-palms, their fruits will be for the seller, unless the buyer stipulates the contrary.”

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 878 :
Narrated by Urwa
Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) told me that Buraira came to seek her help in writing for emancipation and at that time she had not paid any part of her price. ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) said to her, “Go to your masters and if they agree that I will pay your price (and free you) on condition that your Wala’ will be for me, I will pay the money.” Buraira told her masters about that, but they refused, and said, “If ‘Aisha wants to do a favor she could, but your Wala will be for us.” Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) informed Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) of that and he said to her, “Buy and manumit Buraira as the Wala’ will go to the manumitted.“

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 879 :
Narrated by Jabir (radiallaahu `anhu)
While I was riding a (slow) and tired camel, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) passed by and beat it and prayed for Allah’s Blessings for it. The camel became so fast as it had never been before. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) then said, “Sell it to me for one Uqiyya (of gold).” I said, “No.” He again said, “Sell it to me for one Uqiyya (of gold).” I sold it and stipulated that I should ride it to my house. When we reached (Medina) I took that camel to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and he gave me its price. I returned home but he sent for me (and when I went to him) he said, “I will not take your camel. Take your camel as a gift for you.” (Various narrations are mentioned here with slight variations in expressions relating the condition that Jabir had the right to ride the sold camel up to Medina).

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 880 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Ansar said to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), “Divide our date-palms between us and our emigrant brothers.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “No.” The Ansar said to the emigrants, “You may do the labor (in our gardens) and we will share the fruits with you.” The emigrants said, “We hear and obey.”

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 881 :
Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) gave the land of Khaibar to the Jews on the condition that they would work on it and cultivate it and they would get half of its yield.

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 3, Book 50, Number 882 :
Narrated by Uqba bin Amir (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “From among all the conditions which you have to fulfill, the conditions which make it legal for you to have sexual relations (i.e. the marriage contract) have the greatest right to be fulfilled.”

The basic principle with regard to the conditions stipulated by both partners in the marriage contract is that it is a valid condition that must be fulfilled, and it is not permissible to break it.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

The basic principle with regard to conditions in the marriage contract is that they are valid, unless there is proof to show that they are not valid. The evidence for that is the general meaning of the evidence which speaks of fulfilling covenants:

“O you who believe! Fulfil (your) obligations” [al-Maa’idah 5:1]

“And fulfil (every) covenant. Verily, the covenant will be questioned about” [al-Isra’ 17:34]

And in the hadeeth narrated from the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) it says: “The Muslims are bound by their conditions, except a condition that forbids what is permissible or permits what is forbidden.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1352). And he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever stipulates a condition that is not in the Book of Allaah it is not valid, even if he stipulates a hundred times.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2155) and Muslim (1504).

To sum up, the basic principle with regard to conditions is that they are permissible and valid, whether they are to do with marriage, buying and selling, renting, pledges or mortgages, or awqaaf. The ruling on the conditions that are stipulated in contracts, if they are valid, is that they must be fulfilled, because of the general meaning of the verse (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Fulfil (your) obligations” [al-Maa’idah 5:1].

Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 5/241 (Egyptian edition).

With regard to the woman stipulating that the husband should not take a second wife, the opinion of some scholars is that this condition is permissible, and if the husband breaks it, the wife has the right to annul the marriage and take her dues in full.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

If she stipulates that he should not take another wife, this is permissible. Some of the scholars said that it is not permissible, because it is restricting the husband in something that Allah has permitted to him, and it is contrary to the Qur’aan in which it says (interpretation of the meaning): “then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four” [al-Nisa’ 4:3]. It may be said in response to that that she has a reason to ask him not to marry another wife and she is not transgressing against anyone. The husband himself is the one who is giving up his right; if he has the right to marry more than one, he is giving it up. So what is to prevent this condition being valid?

Hence the correct view with regard to this matter is the view of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), which is that this condition is valid.

Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 5/243

Read this to know about the basic requirements of a marriage contract.

Remarrying One’s Ex-Wife (Hadith No. 2305)

Bismillah.

Hadith no. 2304 (below) is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 3, Book 48, Number 806 :
Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and Ubai bin Kab Al-Ansari (radiallaahu `anhu) went to the garden where Ibn Saiyad used to live. When Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) entered (the garden), he (i.e. Allah’s Apostle) started hiding himself behind the datepalms as he wanted to hear secretly the talk of Ibn Saiyad before the latter saw him. Ibn Saiyad wrapped with a soft decorated sheet was lying on his bed murmuring. Ibn Saiyad’s mother saw the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) hiding behind the stems of the date-palms. She addressed Ibn Saiyad saying, “O Saf, this is Muhammad.” Hearing that Ibn Saiyad stopped murmuring (or got cautious), the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If she had left him undisturbed, he would have revealed his reality.”

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 3, Book 48, Number 807 :
Narrated by Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa)
The wife of Rifa’a Al-Qurazi came to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and said, “I was Rifa’a’s wife, but he divorced me and it was a final irrevocable divorce. Then I married AbdurRahman bin Az-Zubair but he is impotent.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked her ‘Do you want to remarry Rifa’a? You cannot unless you had a complete sexual relation with your present husband.” Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) was sitting with Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and Khalid bin Said bin Al-‘As (radiallaahu `anhu) was at the door waiting to be admitted. He said, “O Abu Bakr! Do you hear what this (woman) is revealing frankly before the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)?”

If a man divorces his wife with the first or second talaaq, once her ‘iddah is over she is divorced and becomes a “stranger” (non-mahram) to him; she cannot go back to him except with a new marriage contract which fulfills all the conditions set out in sharee’ah.

But if he divorces his wife with the third talaaq, then she becomes haraam to her first husband until she has married a second husband in a genuine marriage which is consummated. The Qur’aanic evidence for that is the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“The divorce is twice, after that, either you retain her on reasonable terms or release her with kindness…

And if he has divorced her (the third time), then she is not lawful unto him thereafter until she has married another husband”

[al-Baqarah 2:229-230]

The last divorce refers to the third divorce, according to all the scholars.

The evidence from the Sunnah is the hadeeth narrated by ‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, according to which ‘Aa’ishah told him that the wife of Rifaa’ah al-Qurazi came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, Rifaa’ah divorced me thrice, then I was married to ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn al-Zubayr al-Qurazi, but he has nothing with him except something like this fringe. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Perhaps you want to go back to Rifaa’ah? No, (it is not possible), unless and until you enjoy the sexual relation with him (‘Abd al-Rahmaan), and he enjoys the sexual relation with you.”

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4856; Muslim, 2587) 

The phrase “divorced me three times” means that this was the divorce which meant that she was no longer married to him, which is the third talaaq. The Prophet’s words “until you enjoy the sexual relation with him (‘Abd al-Rahmaan), and he enjoys the sexual relation with you” refer to intercourse.

Al-Nawawi said: “This hadeeth indicates that the woman who has been divorced by a third talaaq is not permissible to the man who has divorced her until she has been married by another husband, who has intercourse with her then separates from her, and she completes her ‘iddah. Merely drawing up the marriage contract with her does not make her permissible to the first husband. This is the view of all the scholars among the Sahaabah, Taabi’een and those who came after them.

Sharh Muslim, 10/3

Taken from IslamQA

Adoption in Islam (Hadith No. 2171)

Bismillah.

Volume 3, Book 44, Number 674:
Narrated ‘Urwa bin Az-Zubair:
That he had asked ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) about the meaning of the Statement of Allah: “If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry (other) women of your choice two or three or four.” (4.3)
She said, “O my nephew! This is about the orphan girl who lives with her guardian and shares his property. Her wealth and beauty may tempt him to marry her without giving her an adequate Mahr (bridal-money) which might have been given by another suitor. So, such guardians were forbidden to marry such orphan girls unless they treated them justly and gave them the most suitable Mahr; otherwise they were ordered to marry any other woman.” ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) further said, “After that verse the people again asked the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) (about the marriage with orphan ‘girls), so Allah revealed the following verses:– ‘They ask your instruction concerning the women. Say: Allah Instructs you about them and about what is recited unto you In the Book, concerning the orphan girls to whom you give not the prescribed portions and yet whom you desire to marry…” (4.127)
What is meant by Allah’s Saying:- ‘And about what is recited unto you is the former verse which goes:- ‘If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry (other) women of your choice.’ (4.3) ‘Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa) said, “Allah’s saying in the other verse:- ‘Yet whom you desire to marry’ (4.127) means the desire of the guardian to marry an orphan girl under his supervision when she has not much property or beauty (in which case he should treat her justly). The guardians were forbidden to marry their orphan girls possessing property and beauty without being just to them, as they generally refrain from marrying them (when they are neither beautiful nor wealthy).”

A common reader might find this weird – how can a guardian marry the orphan girl he’s upbringing? Incest? No. Because this is a case of sponsoring the orphan, that’s allowed in Islam, unlike adoption.

There is a difference between adoption and sponsoring orphans. 

A – Adoption means that a man takes an orphan and makes him like one of his own children, calling him after him, so that the orphan is not allowed to marry one of the man’s daughters, and so the sons of the adoptive father are regarded as brothers of the orphan and his daughters are regarded as his sisters, and his (the father’s) sisters are regarded as his paternal aunts, and so on. This was one of the things that were done during the first Jaahiliyyah, and some of the Sahaabah carried the names of their adoptive fathers, as in the case of al-Miqdaad ibn al-Aswad whose real father’s name was ‘Amr, but he was called ibn (son of) al-Aswad, after the man who had adopted him.

This continued into the early days of Islam, until Allaah forbade that, according to a well-known story. Zayd ibn Haarithah was called Zayd ibn Muhammad, and he was the husband of Zaynab bint Jahsh, then Zayd divorced her. 

It was narrated that Anas said: When Zaynab’s ‘iddah came to an end, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to Zayd ibn Haarithah, “Go and tell her about me (that I want to marry her).” So he went to her and found her kneading dough. He said, “O Zaynab, good news. The Messenger of Allaah wants to marry you.” She said, “I will not do anything until I consult with my Lord.” Then she got up and went to her prayer-place, then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came and entered upon her.

 Concerning this, Allaah revealed the words (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And (remember) when you said to him (Zayd bin Haarithah the freed‑slave of the Prophet) on whom Allaah has bestowed grace (by guiding him to Islam) and you (O Muhammad too) have done favour (by manumitting him): ‘Keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allaah.’ But you did hide in yourself (i.e. what Allaah has already made known to you that He will give her to you in marriage) that which Allaah will make manifest, you did fear the people (i.e., their saying that Muhammad married the divorced wife of his manumitted slave) whereas Allaah had a better right that you should fear Him. So when Zayd had accomplished his desire from her (i.e. divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage, so that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the believers in respect of (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no desire to keep them (i.e. they have divorced them). And Allaah’s Command must be fulfilled”

[al-Ahzaab 33:37] 

(Narrated by Muslim, 1428) 

B – Allaah has forbidden adoption because it causes knowledge of people’s lineage to be lost, and we have been commanded to preserve people’s lineage. 

It was narrated from Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “There is no man who knowingly calls himself after someone other than his father but he has committed kufr. Whoever claims to belong to people to whom he has no ties of blood, let him take his place in Hell.” 

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3317; Muslim, 61) 

What is meant by “committed kufr” is that he has done an act of kufr, not that he is beyond the pale of Islam.

This may generate hatred and resentment between the adopted son and the children of the adoptive father, because it will cause them to lose out on something that is rightfully theirs, which will go to this orphan unlawfully who they know is not entitled to it as they are. 

Sponsoring an orphan means that a man brings the orphan to live in his house, or he sponsors him somewhere other than his house, without giving him his name or forbidding that which is permitted or permitting that which is forbidden, as is the case with adoption. Rather the one who sponsors an orphan is doing a generous deed. So there can be no comparison between one who sponsors an orphan and one who adopts a child, because of the great difference between them and because sponsoring orphans is something which is encouraged in Islam. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“…And they ask you concerning orphans. Say: The best thing is to work honestly in their property, and if you mix your affairs with theirs, then they are your brothers. And Allaah knows him who means mischief (e.g. to swallow their property) from him who means good (e.g. to save their property). And if Allaah had wished, He could have put you into difficulties. Truly, Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise”

[al-Baqarah 2:220] 

The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that sponsoring orphans is a means of being together with him in Paradise. 

It was narrated that Sahl ibn Sa’d said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I and the one who sponsors an orphan will be like this in Paradise” – and he gestured with his index and middle fingers, holding them slightly apart. 

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4998) 

But we must point out that when these orphans reach adolescence, they must be separated from the wives and daughters of the sponsor. We should not do good with one hand and do evil with the other. We should also note that the one who is sponsored may be an orphaned girl and she may be beautiful and may become attractive before adolescence, so the sponsor must watch his sons lest they fall into doing haraam things with the orphans, because this could happen and be a means of causing mischief which it will be difficult to put right. 

Taken from IslamQA

Story Time! (Ahadith 2145 – 2146)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2143 – 2144 (below) are repeats. See hyper-linked text for related posts.

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 646:
Narrated Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “A man felt very thirsty while he was on the way, there he came across a well. He went down the well, quenched his thirst and came out. Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. He said to himself, “This dog is suffering from thirst as I did.” So, he went down the well again and filled his shoe with water and watered it. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him. The people said, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?” He replied: “Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate (living being).” (See Hadith No. 551)

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 647:
Narrated Usama bin Zaid (radiallaahu `anhu):
Once the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) stood at the top of one of the castles (or higher buildings) of Medina and said, “Do you see what I see? No doubt I am seeing the spots of afflictions amongst your houses as numerous as the spots where rain-drops fall (during a heavy rain). (See Hadith No. 102)

Today’s Ahadith:

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 648:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu):
I had been eager to ask ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) about the two ladies from among the wives of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) regarding whom Allah said (in the Qur’an saying): “If you two (wives of the Prophet, namely Aisha and Hafsa) turn in repentance to Allah your hearts are indeed so inclined (to oppose what the Prophet likes)” (66.4), till I performed the Hajj along with ‘Umar (and on our way back from Hajj) he went aside (to answer the call of nature) and I also went aside along with him carrying a tumbler of water. When he had answered the call of nature and returned. I poured water on his hands from the tumbler and he performed ablution. I said, “O Chief of the believers! ‘ Who were the two ladies from among the wives of the Prophet to whom Allah said: ‘If you two return in repentance’ (66.4)? He said, “I am astonished at your question, O Ibn ‘Abbas. They were Aisha and Hafsa (radiallaahu `anhumaa).”
Then ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) went on relating the narration and said. “I and an Ansari neighbor of mine from Bani Umaiya bin Zaid who used to live in ‘Awali Al-Medina, used to visit the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) in turns. He used to go one day, and I another day. When I went I would bring him the news of what had happened that day regarding the instructions and orders and when he went, he used to do the same for me. We, the people of Quraish, used to have authority over women, but when we came to live with the Ansar, we noticed that the Ansari women had the upper hand over their men, so our women started acquiring the habits of the Ansari women. Once I shouted at my wife and she paid me back in my coin and I disliked that she should answer me back. She said, ‘Why do you take it ill that I retort upon you? By Allah, the wives of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) retort upon him, and some of them may not speak with him for the whole day till night.’ What she said scared me and I said to her, ‘Whoever amongst them does so, will be a great loser.’ Then I dressed myself and went to Hafsa and asked her, ‘Does any of you keep Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) angry all the day long till night?’ She replied in the affirmative. I said, ‘She is a ruined losing person (and will never have success)! Doesn’t she fear that Allah may get angry for the anger of Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and thus she will be ruined? Don’t ask Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) too many things, and don’t retort upon him in any case, and don’t desert him. Demand from me whatever you like, and don’t be tempted to imitate your neighbor (i.e. ‘Aisha) in her behavior towards the Prophet), for she (i.e. Aisha) is more beautiful than you, and more beloved to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam).
In those days it was rumored that Ghassan, (a tribe living in Sham) was getting prepared their horses to invade us. My companion went (to the Prophet on the day of his turn, went and returned to us at night and knocked at my door violently, asking whether I was sleeping. I was scared (by the hard knocking) and came out to him. He said that a great thing had happened. I asked him: What is it? Have Ghassan come? He replied that it was worse and more serious than that, and added that Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) had divorced all his wives. I said, Hafsa is a ruined loser! I expected that would happen some day.’ So I dressed myself and offered the Fajr prayer with the Prophet. Then the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) entered an upper room and stayed there alone. I went to Hafsa and found her weeping. I asked her, ‘Why are you weeping? Didn’t I warn you? Have Allah’s Apostle divorced you all?’ She replied, ‘I don’t know. He is there in the upper room.’ I then went out and came to the pulpit and found a group of people around it and some of them were weeping. Then I sat with them for some time, but could not endure the situation. So I went to the upper room where the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was and requested to a black slave of his: “Will you get the permission of (Allah’s Apostle) for Umar (to enter)? The slave went in, talked to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) about it and came out saying, ‘I mentioned you to him but he did not reply.’ So, I went and sat with the people who were sitting by the pulpit, but I could not bear the situation, so I went to the slave again and said: “Will you get he permission for Umar? He went in and brought the same reply as before. When I was leaving, behold, the slave called me saying, “Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) has granted you permission.” So, I entered upon the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and saw him lying on a mat without bedding on it, and the mat had left its mark on the body of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), and he was leaning on a leather pillow stuffed with palm fires. I greeted him and while still standing, I said: “Have you divorced your wives?’ He raised his eyes to me and replied in the negative. And then while still standing, I said chatting: “Will you heed what I say, ‘O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! We, the people of Quraish used to have the upper hand over our women (wives), and when we came to the people whose women had the upper hand over them…”
‘Umar told the whole story (about his wife). “On that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) smiled.” ‘Umar further said, “I then said, ‘I went to Hafsa and said to her: Do not be tempted to imitate your companion (‘Aisha) for she is more beautiful than you and more beloved to the Prophet.’ The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) smiled again. When I saw him smiling, I sat down and cast a glance at the room, and by Allah, I couldn’t see anything of importance but three hides. I said (to Allah’s Apostle) “Invoke Allah to make your followers prosperous for the Persians and the Byzantines have been made prosperous and given worldly luxuries, though they do not worship Allah?’ The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was leaning then (and on hearing my speech he sat straight) and said, ‘O Ibn Al-Khatttab! Do you have any doubt (that the Hereafter is better than this world)? These people have been given rewards of their good deeds in this world only.’ I asked the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). ‘Please ask Allah’s forgiveness for me. The Prophet did not go to his wives because of the secret which Hafsa had disclosed to ‘Aisha, and he said that he would not go to his wives for one month as he was angry with them when Allah admonished him (for his oath that he would not approach Maria). When twenty-nine days had passed, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) went to Aisha first of all. She said to him, ‘You took an oath that you would not come to us for one month, and today only twenty-nine days have passed, as I have been counting them day by day.’ The Prophet said, ‘The month is also of twenty-nine days.’ That month consisted of twenty-nine days. ‘Aisha said, ‘When the Divine revelation of Choice was revealed, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) started with me, saying to me, ‘I am telling you something, but you needn’t hurry to give the reply till you can consult your parents.” ‘Aisha knew that her parents would not advise her to part with the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said that Allah had said:–
‘O Prophet! Say to your wives; if you desire the life of this world and its glitter, … then come! I will make a provision for you and set you free in a handsome manner. But if you seek Allah and His Apostle, and the home of the Hereafter, then verily, Allah has prepared for the good-doers amongst you a great reward.’ (33.28) ‘Aisha said, ‘Am I to consult my parents about this? I indeed prefer Allah, His Apostle, and the home of the Hereafter.’ After that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) gave the choice to his other wives and they also gave the same reply as ‘Aisha did.”

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 649:
Narrated Anas (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) took an oath that he would not go to his wives for one month as his foot had been sprained. He stayed in an upper room when ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu) went to him and said, “Have you divorced your wives?” He said, “No, but I have taken an oath that I would not go to them for one month.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) stayed there for twenty-nine days, and then came down and went to his wives.

Read about the background of the story – how it all started – in the tafsir of the ayah “If you two (wives of the Prophet, namely Aisha and Hafsa) turn in repentance to Allah your hearts are indeed so inclined (to oppose what the Prophet likes)” (66.4) here.

Lessons learnt:

1. Don’t ask of your husband what he cannot afford.
2. Speak to him softly. Do not retort back.
3. What goes on between husband and wife, should stay between them.
4. Arguments and fights are common among spouses. What’s important is to forgive and let go.
5. Fulfill your oaths.
6. Choose Hereafter over this world. Always.
7. Divorce is not a toy. Stop playing with it.
8. Consulting parents about major decisions is a good thing, but when it comes to obvious choices such as ‘dunya or aakhirah?’, hasten to make the right decision.
9. Don’t spread rumors.

Share what you learnt from this in the comments below. It’s an amazing story with lots of life lessons.