حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ جَابِرًا رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ هَجَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ نِسَاءَهُ شَهْرًا فَكَانَ يَكُونُ فِي الْعُلْوِ وَيَكُنَّ فِي السُّفْلِ فَنَزَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَيْهِنَّ فِي تِسْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ مَكَثْتَ تِسْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ الشَّهْرَ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا بِأَصَابِعِ يَدِهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَقَبَضَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ إِبْهَامَهُ
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) separated himself from his wives for a month, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) took up residence in an upper room, while his pure wives were below. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) came down to his wives after twenty-nine days, a man said: O Messenger of Allah! You stayed for twenty-nine days (whereas the oath was for a month)? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: A month is like this, and like this, and like this. And on the third time, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) folded his thumb.