Hadith 5268

حَدَّثَنَا فَرْوَةُ بْنُ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا ، قَالَتْ : " كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُحِبُّ الْعَسَلَ وَالْحَلْوَاءَ ، وَكَانَ إِذَا انْصَرَفَ مِنَ الْعَصْرِ دَخَلَ عَلَى نِسَائِهِ فَيَدْنُو مِنْ إِحْدَاهُنَّ ، فَدَخَلَ عَلَى حَفْصَةَ بِنْتِ عُمَرَ فَاحْتَبَسَ أَكْثَرَ مَا كَانَ يَحْتَبِسُ ، فَغِرْتُ فَسَأَلْتُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ ، فَقِيلَ لِي : أَهْدَتْ لَهَا امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ قَوْمِهَا عُكَّةً مِنْ عَسَلٍ ، فَسَقَتِ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْهُ شَرْبَةً ، فَقُلْتُ : أَمَا وَاللَّهِ لَنَحْتَالَنَّ لَهُ ، فَقُلْتُ لِسَوْدَةَ بِنْتِ زَمْعَةَ : إِنَّهُ سَيَدْنُو مِنْكِ ، فَإِذَا دَنَا مِنْكِ فَقُولِي : أَكَلْتَ مَغَافِيرَ ؟ فَإِنَّهُ سَيَقُولُ لَكِ : لَا ، فَقُولِي لَهُ : مَا هَذِهِ الرِّيحُ الَّتِي أَجِدُ مِنْكَ ، فَإِنَّهُ سَيَقُولُ لَكِ : سَقَتْنِي حَفْصَةُ شَرْبَةَ عَسَلٍ ، فَقُولِي لَهُ : جَرَسَتْ نَحْلُهُ الْعُرْفُطَ وَسَأَقُولُ ذَلِكِ ، وَقُولِي أَنْتِ يَا صَفِيَّةُ ذَاكِ ، قَالَتْ : تَقُولُ سَوْدَةُ : فَوَاللَّهِ مَا هُوَ إِلَّا أَنْ قَامَ عَلَى الْبَابِ فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أُبَادِيَهُ بِمَا أَمَرْتِنِي بِهِ فَرَقًا مِنْكِ ، فَلَمَّا دَنَا مِنْهَا ، قَالَتْ لَهُ سَوْدَةُ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، أَكَلْتَ مَغَافِيرَ ؟ قَالَ : لَا ، قَالَتْ : فَمَا هَذِهِ الرِّيحُ الَّتِي أَجِدُ مِنْكَ ، قَالَ : سَقَتْنِي حَفْصَةُ شَرْبَةَ عَسَلٍ ، فَقَالَتْ : جَرَسَتْ نَحْلُهُ الْعُرْفُطَ ، فَلَمَّا دَارَ إِلَيَّ قُلْتُ لَهُ نَحْوَ ذَلِكَ ، فَلَمَّا دَارَ إِلَى صَفِيَّةَ ، قَالَتْ لَهُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ، فَلَمَّا دَارَ إِلَى حَفْصَةَ ، قَالَتْ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، أَلَا أَسْقِيكَ مِنْهُ ؟ قَالَ : لَا حَاجَةَ لِي فِيهِ ، قَالَتْ : تَقُولُ سَوْدَةُ : وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ حَرَمْنَاهُ ، قُلْتُ لَهَا : اسْكُتِي " .
Narrated `Aisha: Allah's Apostle was fond of honey and sweet edible things and (it was his habit) that after finishing the `Asr prayer he would visit his wives and stay with one of them at that time. Once he went to Hafsa, the daughter of `Umar and stayed with her more than usual. I got jealous and asked the reason for that. I was told that a lady of her folk had given her a skin filled with honey as a present, and that she made a syrup from it and gave it to the Prophet to drink (and that was the reason for the delay). I said, "By Allah we will play a trick on him (to prevent him from doing so)." So I said to Sa`da bint Zam`a "The Prophet will approach you, and when he comes near you, say: 'Have you taken Maghafir (a bad-smelling gum)?' He will say, 'No.' Then say to him: 'Then what is this bad smell which i smell from you?' He will say to you, 'Hafsa made me drink honey syrup.' Then say: Perhaps the bees of that honey had sucked the juice of the tree of Al-`Urfut.' I shall also say the same. O you, Safiyya, say the same." Later Sa`da said, "By Allah, as soon as he (the Prophet ) stood at the door, I was about to say to him what you had ordered me to say because I was afraid of you." So when the Prophet came near Sa`da, she said to him, "O Allah's Apostle! Have you taken Maghafir?" He said, "No." She said. "Then what is this bad smell which I detect on you?" He said, "Hafsa made me drink honey syrup." She said, "Perhaps its bees had sucked the juice of Al-`Urfut tree." When he came to me, I also said the same, and when he went to Safiyya, she also said the same. And when the Prophet again went to Hafsa, she said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Shall I give you more of that drink?" He said, "I am not in need of it." Sa`da said, "By Allah, we deprived him (of it)." I said to her, "Keep quiet." '
Hadith Reference صحيح البخاري / كتاب الطلاق / 5268
Hadith Grading محدثین: أحاديث صحيح البخاريّ كلّها صحيحة
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:

Lest the matter be revealed and reach Hafsah (radi Allahu anha).

Although Sawdah (radi Allahu anha) was much older than Aishah (radi Allahu anha)—in fact, she was elderly—she still feared Aishah (radi Allahu anha), because the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) showed great favor and love towards Aishah (radi Allahu anha).

Every wife was afraid of going against Aishah (radi Allahu anha), fearing that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) might become displeased with them because of her.

Such rivalry among co-wives is natural.

Allah, the Most Pure, is forgiving of such circumstances among the Mothers of the Believers.

And Allah is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 5268
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
There were two groups among the noble wives (azwaj mutahharat, radi Allahu anhunna):
In one group were Aisha, Sawda, Hafsa, and Safiyya (radi Allahu anhunna).
The leadership of this group was with Aisha (radi Allahu anha).
In the other group were Zaynab bint Jahsh, Umm Salama, and the other noble wives (radi Allahu anhunna).
This group was led by Zaynab (radi Allahu anha).
At times, due to rivalry and natural jealousy, there would be mutual strategizing.
The mentioned incident is also a result of this kind of natural jealousy.
(2)
The status of Aisha (radi Allahu anha) was the highest.
This is why the other noble wives (radi Allahu anhunna) were in awe of her.
(3)
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has established from this incident that the mentioned event pertains to the prohibition of honey, and it has no connection to making a woman unlawful (haram) upon oneself.
Making a woman unlawful upon oneself is of one kind, while making food unlawful is of another kind.
One cannot be analogized with the other.
If a husband makes his wife unlawful upon himself, his intention will be considered, and for making food unlawful, the expiation (kaffarah) of an oath must be given.
And Allah knows best.
(4)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has written, referencing Suddi, that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) drank honey at the house of Umm Salama (radi Allahu anha), but this narration is considered weak due to being mursal and shaadh.
(Fath al-Bari: 9/467)
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 5268