صحيح البخاري
Bukhari
كتاب الوضوءThe Book of Wudu (Ablution)
بَابُ خُرُوجِ النِّسَاءِ إِلَى الْبَرَازِ:Chapter. The going out of women for answering the call of nature.
Hadith 146
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلٌ ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ، أَنَّ أَزْوَاجَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كُنَّ يَخْرُجْنَ بِاللَّيْلِ إِذَا تَبَرَّزْنَ إِلَى الْمَنَاصِعِ وَهُوَ صَعِيدٌ أَفْيَحُ ، فَكَانَ عُمَرُ يَقُولُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : احْجُبْ نِسَاءَكَ ، فَلَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَفْعَلُ ، فَخَرَجَتْ سَوْدَةُ بِنْتُ زَمْعَةَ زَوْجُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَيْلَةً مِنَ اللَّيَالِي عِشَاءً ، وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَةً طَوِيلَةً ، فَنَادَاهَا عُمَرُ : أَلَا قَدْ عَرَفْنَاكِ يَا سَوْدَةُ حِرْصًا عَلَى أَنْ يَنْزِلَ الْحِجَابُ ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ آيَةَ الْحِجَابِ .
Narrated `Aisha: The wives of the Prophet used to go to Al-Manasi, a vast open place (near Baqi` at Medina) to answer the call of nature at night. `Umar used to say to the Prophet "Let your wives be veiled," but Allah's Apostle did not do so. One night Sauda bint Zam`a the wife of the Prophet went out at `Isha' time and she was a tall lady. `Umar addressed her and said, "I have recognized you, O Sauda." He said so, as he desired eagerly that the verses of Al-Hijab (the observing of veils by the Muslim women) may be revealed. So Allah revealed the verses of "Al-Hijab" (A complete body cover excluding the eyes).
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
➊
Among the Arabs, it was customary that they would go out to open fields for relieving themselves, to the extent that even the noble wives of the Prophet (radi Allahu anhunna) were accustomed to going outside for this purpose.
Among the Arabs, it was considered undesirable to arrange for relieving oneself inside the houses.
This chapter explains what should be done if the noble wives need to go outside for their needs. If they go during the day or leave without proper covering, it would be contrary to their dignity. Therefore, the method adopted was that the women would go to a separate field at night for relieving themselves, and they had so accustomed themselves to this that there was no need for it during the daytime.
Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has established the permissibility of this situation from this hadith.
➋
There is some apparent contradiction regarding the revelation of the verses about veiling (hijab).
From the mentioned hadith, it appears that the verse of hijab had not yet been revealed, whereas from another narration reported by Aisha (radi Allahu anha), it appears that the verse of hijab had already been revealed (Sahih al-Bukhari, Tafsir, Hadith: 4795).
Also, from this narration, it appears that with the revelation of the verse, the objective of Umar (radi Allahu anhu) was fulfilled, whereas from another narration, it appears that the intention of Ibn Umar (radi Allahu anhuma) was not fulfilled, and the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said that you are permitted to go outside for relieving yourselves.
This is contrary to the intention of Umar (radi Allahu anhu).
Furthermore, from this narration, it appears that the incident of Sawdah (radi Allahu anha) became the cause for the revelation of the verse of hijab, whereas from another narration, it appears that the verse of hijab was revealed on the day of the wedding feast (walimah) of Zaynab bint Jahsh (radi Allahu anha), as is explicitly mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari (Sahih al-Bukhari, Tafsir, Hadith: 4791).
In reality, there are two types of hijab:
Hijab of the Face (Hijab Wujuh):
(covering of the face)
When a woman comes before a non-mahram, she should cover her face.
Hijab of the Person (Hijab Ashkhas):
(covering of the entire person)
The woman’s person should not be seen at all, i.e., she should not go outside the house.
Umar (radi Allahu anhu) requested the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam):
All kinds of people come to you; please command your noble wives (radi Allahu anhunna) to observe hijab. So the verse of hijab was revealed.
Thus, his wish was fulfilled.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Tafsir, Hadith: 4790)
The verse of hijab is Surah al-Ahzab: 53, and it was revealed on the occasion of the wedding feast of Zaynab (radi Allahu anha), as mentioned earlier; this is the hijab of the face (hijab wujuh).
After this, Umar (radi Allahu anhu) had another wish: that, just as the hijab of the face was commanded, the hijab of the person (not leaving the house) should also be commanded.
Umar’s (radi Allahu anhu) stopping Sawdah (radi Allahu anha) on the way was in this context, but in this matter, his wish was not fulfilled; rather, through revelation, it was informed that women are permitted to go outside for relieving themselves.
With this explanation, all apparent contradictions are resolved. However, after this, arrangements were made for relieving oneself inside the houses.
This does not mean that Umar (radi Allahu anhu) had more protective jealousy (ghayrah) than the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam); rather, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had far greater protective jealousy than Umar (radi Allahu anhu), but he did not wish to act on any expediency without Allah’s revelation. Therefore, even though he felt the need, he did not issue any command regarding hijab until revelation came.
(Fath al-Bari: 1/327, 328)
➊
Among the Arabs, it was customary that they would go out to open fields for relieving themselves, to the extent that even the noble wives of the Prophet (radi Allahu anhunna) were accustomed to going outside for this purpose.
Among the Arabs, it was considered undesirable to arrange for relieving oneself inside the houses.
This chapter explains what should be done if the noble wives need to go outside for their needs. If they go during the day or leave without proper covering, it would be contrary to their dignity. Therefore, the method adopted was that the women would go to a separate field at night for relieving themselves, and they had so accustomed themselves to this that there was no need for it during the daytime.
Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has established the permissibility of this situation from this hadith.
➋
There is some apparent contradiction regarding the revelation of the verses about veiling (hijab).
From the mentioned hadith, it appears that the verse of hijab had not yet been revealed, whereas from another narration reported by Aisha (radi Allahu anha), it appears that the verse of hijab had already been revealed (Sahih al-Bukhari, Tafsir, Hadith: 4795).
Also, from this narration, it appears that with the revelation of the verse, the objective of Umar (radi Allahu anhu) was fulfilled, whereas from another narration, it appears that the intention of Ibn Umar (radi Allahu anhuma) was not fulfilled, and the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said that you are permitted to go outside for relieving yourselves.
This is contrary to the intention of Umar (radi Allahu anhu).
Furthermore, from this narration, it appears that the incident of Sawdah (radi Allahu anha) became the cause for the revelation of the verse of hijab, whereas from another narration, it appears that the verse of hijab was revealed on the day of the wedding feast (walimah) of Zaynab bint Jahsh (radi Allahu anha), as is explicitly mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari (Sahih al-Bukhari, Tafsir, Hadith: 4791).
In reality, there are two types of hijab:
Hijab of the Face (Hijab Wujuh):
(covering of the face)
When a woman comes before a non-mahram, she should cover her face.
Hijab of the Person (Hijab Ashkhas):
(covering of the entire person)
The woman’s person should not be seen at all, i.e., she should not go outside the house.
Umar (radi Allahu anhu) requested the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam):
All kinds of people come to you; please command your noble wives (radi Allahu anhunna) to observe hijab. So the verse of hijab was revealed.
Thus, his wish was fulfilled.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Tafsir, Hadith: 4790)
The verse of hijab is Surah al-Ahzab: 53, and it was revealed on the occasion of the wedding feast of Zaynab (radi Allahu anha), as mentioned earlier; this is the hijab of the face (hijab wujuh).
After this, Umar (radi Allahu anhu) had another wish: that, just as the hijab of the face was commanded, the hijab of the person (not leaving the house) should also be commanded.
Umar’s (radi Allahu anhu) stopping Sawdah (radi Allahu anha) on the way was in this context, but in this matter, his wish was not fulfilled; rather, through revelation, it was informed that women are permitted to go outside for relieving themselves.
With this explanation, all apparent contradictions are resolved. However, after this, arrangements were made for relieving oneself inside the houses.
This does not mean that Umar (radi Allahu anhu) had more protective jealousy (ghayrah) than the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam); rather, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had far greater protective jealousy than Umar (radi Allahu anhu), but he did not wish to act on any expediency without Allah’s revelation. Therefore, even though he felt the need, he did not issue any command regarding hijab until revelation came.
(Fath al-Bari: 1/327, 328)
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 146
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
From this hadith, it is derived that the command of seclusion (purdah) given to the noble wives (azwaj mutahharat) was that they should not leave the house at all, or if they did go out, then in a howdah (mahafah) or litter (mahmil), etc., so that even their physical form could not be discerned. However, this form of seclusion was specific to the wives of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
Other Muslim women were not given such a command; they would continue to go out with (ordinary) purdah.
From this hadith, it is derived that the command of seclusion (purdah) given to the noble wives (azwaj mutahharat) was that they should not leave the house at all, or if they did go out, then in a howdah (mahafah) or litter (mahmil), etc., so that even their physical form could not be discerned. However, this form of seclusion was specific to the wives of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
Other Muslim women were not given such a command; they would continue to go out with (ordinary) purdah.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 6240
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
In this hadith, another background of the verse of hijab is mentioned: that Allah, the Exalted, revealed this command in accordance with the wish of Sayyiduna Umar al-Faruq radi Allahu anhu. Accordingly, he himself narrates: I submitted, "O Messenger of Allah! If only you would command your wives to observe the veil (hijab), for all kinds of people, both good and bad, speak to them (to ask questions)." So Allah, the Exalted, revealed the verse of hijab.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Salat, Hadith: 402) (2)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah writes that both the incident of the marriage of Zaynab and the wish of Sayyiduna Umar al-Faruq radi Allahu anhu are the occasions of revelation (asbab al-nuzul) for this verse of hijab.
(Fath al-Bari: 30/11)
And Allah knows best.
(1)
In this hadith, another background of the verse of hijab is mentioned: that Allah, the Exalted, revealed this command in accordance with the wish of Sayyiduna Umar al-Faruq radi Allahu anhu. Accordingly, he himself narrates: I submitted, "O Messenger of Allah! If only you would command your wives to observe the veil (hijab), for all kinds of people, both good and bad, speak to them (to ask questions)." So Allah, the Exalted, revealed the verse of hijab.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Salat, Hadith: 402) (2)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah writes that both the incident of the marriage of Zaynab and the wish of Sayyiduna Umar al-Faruq radi Allahu anhu are the occasions of revelation (asbab al-nuzul) for this verse of hijab.
(Fath al-Bari: 30/11)
And Allah knows best.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 6240
