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Sahih MuslimThe Book of Divorce

Sahih Muslim 1488c

Chapter: The Obligation to mourn during the 'Iddah following the death of one's husband, but it is forbidden to mourn for more than three days in other cases

Authentic hadith of Sahih Muslim Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 1488c

Narrator:Umm Salamah

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ نَافِعٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، تُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أُمِّهَا، أَنَّ امْرَأَةً، تُوُفِّيَ زَوْجُهَا فَخَافُوا عَلَى عَيْنِهَا فَأَتَوُا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاسْتَأْذَنُوهُ فِي الْكُحْلِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏

قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَكُونُ فِي شَرِّ بَيْتِهَا فِي أَحْلاَسِهَا - أَوْ فِي شَرِّ أَحْلاَسِهَا فِي بَيْتِهَا - حَوْلاً فَإِذَا مَرَّ كَلْبٌ رَمَتْ بِبَعَرَةٍ فَخَرَجَتْ أَفَلاَ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ‏"

Zainab bint Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with her) reported on the authority of her mother that a woman lost her husband. (As her eyes were ailing) they (her kith and kin) entertained fear about her eyes, so they came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and sought permission for the use of collyrium, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:

One among you used to spend one year in a dungeon dressed in worst clothes. (And at the end of this period) she threw dung at the dog which happened to pass that way and then she came out (of her 'Idda). Can't she (wait) even for four months and ten days?

Reported by Muslim (No. 1488c), Al-Bukhari (No. 5338, 5706), An-Nasa’i (No. 3501) and Ahmad (No. 25293, 25433).

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Classical commentary

An-Nawawi — Sharh Sahih Muslim

قَوْله صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ( فِي شَرّ أَحْلَاسهَا ) هُوَ بِفَتْحِ الْهَمْزَة وَإِسْكَان الْحَاء الْمُهْمَلَة جَمْع حِلْس بِكَسْرِ الْحَاء وَالْمُرَاد فِي شَرّ ثِيَابهَا , كَمَا قَالَ فِي الرِّوَايَة الْأُخْرَى وَهُوَ مَأْخُوذ مِنْ حِلْس الْبَعِير وَغَيْره مِنْ الدَّوَابّ وَهُوَ كَالْمَسْحِ يُجْعَل عَلَى ظَهْره.…

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Scholars’ grades

Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih Muslim).

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 5338

A woman was bereaved of her husband and her relatives worried about her eyes (which were diseased). They came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), and asked him to allow them to treat her eyes with kohl, but he said, "She should not apply kohl to her eyes. (In the Pre-Islamic period of Ignorance) a widowed…

لاَ تَكَحَّلْ قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي شَرِّ أَحْلاَسِهَا أَوْ شَرِّ بَيْتِهَا، فَإِذَا كَانَ حَوْلٌ فَمَرَّ كَلْبٌ رَمَتْ بِبَعَرَةٍ، فَلاَ حَتَّى تَمْضِيَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرٌ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated by Umm Salamah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 5706

The husband of a lady died and her eyes became sore and the people mentioned her story to the Prophet They asked him whether it was permissible for her to use kohl as her eyes were exposed to danger. He said, "Previously, when one of you was bereaved by a husband she would stay in her dirty clothes…

‏ لَقَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي بَيْتِهَا فِي شَرِّ أَحْلاَسِهَا ـ أَوْ فِي أَحْلاَسِهَا فِي شَرِّ بَيْتِهَا ـ فَإِذَا مَرَّ كَلْبٌ رَمَتْ بَعْرَةً، فَلاَ، أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ‏"

Narrated by Umm Salamah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 3501

"From her mother?" He said: "Yes" - "that the Prophet was asked about a woman whose husband had died but they were worried about her eyes - could she use kohl?" He said: "One of you used to stay in her house wearing her shabbiest clothes for a year, then she would come out. No, (the mourning period…

"‏ قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي بَيْتِهَا فِي شَرِّ أَحْلاَسِهَا حَوْلاً ثُمَّ خَرَجَتْ فَلاَ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ‏"

Narrated by Umm Salamah

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 25293

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي حُمَيْدُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ عَنْ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أُمِّهَا أَنَّ امْرَأَةً تُوُفِّيَ زَوْجُهَا فَاشْتَكَتْ عَيْنَهَا فَذَكَرُوهَا لِلنَّبِيِّ…

Narrated by Umm Salamah Arabic only

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 25433

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ وَحَجَّاجٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي شُعْبَةُ عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ نَافِعٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةَ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ تُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أُمِّهَا أَنَّ امْرَأَةً تُوُفِّيَ…

Narrated by Umm Salamah Arabic only

Also reported by… (5)
  • الجامع لأخلاق الراوي وآداب السامع للخطيب (117)كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي بَيْتِهَا فِي شَرِّ أَحْلاسِهَا أَوْ فِي أَحْلاسِهَا فِي شَرِّ بَيْتِهَا حَوْلا ، فَإِذَا مَرَّ كَلْبٌ رَمَتْ بِبَعْرَةٍ ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَتْ ، فَلا أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا
  • السنن الكبرى للبيهقي (14222)امْرَأَةً تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا فَرَمَدَتْ فَخَشَوْا عَلَى عَيْنِهَا ، فَأَتَوَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَاسْتَأْذَنُوهُ فِي الْكُحْلِ , فَقَالَ لَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ : لا تَكْتَحِلْ قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي شَرِّ أَحْلاسِهَا أَوْ فِي شَرِّ أَبْنِيَتِهَا فَإِذَا كَانَ حَوْلٌ فَمَرَّ كَلْبٌ ر
  • السنن الكبرى للنسائي (5496)امْرَأَةٍ تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا ، فَخَافُوا عَلَى عَيْنِهَا ، أَتَكْتَحِلُ ؟ ، فَقَالَ : قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي بَيْتِهَا فِي شَرِّ أَحْلاسِهَا حَوْلا ، فَإِذَا مَرَّ رَمَتْ بِبَعَرَةٍ ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَتْ ، فَلا أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا
  • المعجم الكبير للطبراني (19295)قَدْ كَانَتْ إِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي بَيْتِهَا حَوْلا ، فَإِذَا كَانَ حَوْلا رَمَتْ بِبَعْرَةٍ أَفَلا أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ؟
  • المنتقى من السنن المسندة (757)قَدْ كَانَتْإِحْدَاكُنَّ تَمْكُثُ فِي بَيْتِهَا فِي شَرِّ أَحْلاسِهَا أَوْ فِي أَحْلاسِهَا فِي شَرِّ بَيْتِهَا حَوْلا ، فَإِذَا مَرَّ كَلْبٌ رَمَتْ بِبَعْرَةٍ ، أَفَلا أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا

On the same subject

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Bulugh al-Maram 1106

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "A woman must not observe her mourning for more than three nights for the one who has died, except for the four months and ten days in the case of her husband; and she must not wear a dyed garment except one of the type made of 'Ash (dyed yarn) or apply Kuhl (antimony)…

وَعَنْ أُمِّ عَطِيَّةَ; أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَالَ: { لَا تَحِدَّ اِمْرَأَةٌ عَلَى مَيِّتٍ فَوْقَ ثَلَاثٍ إِلَّا عَلَى زَوْجٍ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا, وَلَا تَلْبَسْ ثَوْبًا مَصْبُوغًا…

+ 14 other versions

Not graded Sahih al-Bukhari 5337

I (Humaid) said to Zainab, "What does 'throwing a globe of dung when one year had elapsed' mean?" Zainab said, "When a lady was bereaved of her husband, she would live in a wretched small room and put on the worst clothes she had and would not touch any scent till one year had elapsed. Then she…

قَالَ حُمَيْدٌ فَقُلْتُ لِزَيْنَبَ وَمَا تَرْمِي بِالْبَعَرَةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْحَوْلِ فَقَالَتْ زَيْنَبُ كَانَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ إِذَا تُوُفِّيَ عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا دَخَلَتْ حِفْشًا، وَلَبِسَتْ شَرَّ ثِيَابِهَا، وَلَمْ…

Narrated by Umm Salamah + 7 other versions

Not graded Sunan an-Nasa'i 3533b

"Then I went into Zainab bint Jahsh when her brother died, and she called for some perfume and put some on. Then she said: 'By Allah, I do not have any need for perfume but I heard the Messenger of Allah say on the Minbar: It is not permissible for any woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day…

"‏ لاَ يَحِلُّ لاِمْرَأَةٍ تُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ تَحِدُّ عَلَى مَيِّتٍ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثِ لَيَالٍ إِلاَّ عَلَى زَوْجٍ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ‏"

Narrated by Zaynab bint Jahsh + 5 other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 1280

When the news of the death of Abu Sufyan reached from Sham, Um Habiba on the third day, asked for a yellow perfume and scented her cheeks and forearms and said, "No doubt, I would not have been in need of this, had I not heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying: "It is not legal for a woman who believes in…

لاَ يَحِلُّ لاِمْرَأَةٍ تُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ أَنْ تُحِدَّ عَلَى مَيِّتٍ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ، إِلاَّ عَلَى زَوْجٍ، فَإِنَّهَا تُحِدُّ عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ‏"

Narrated by Umm Habība + 13 other versions

Authentic Sunan Abu Dawud 2299

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…

لاَ يَحِلُّ لاِمْرَأَةٍ تُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ أَنْ تُحِدَّ عَلَى مَيِّتٍ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثِ لَيَالٍ إِلاَّ عَلَى زَوْجٍ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ‏"

Narrated by Umm Salamah + 2 other versions

Monday, October 12, 2026 1 جمادى الأولى 1448 هـ