Chapter: The 'Iddah of a woman whose husband had died, and the like, ends when she gives birth.

'Ubaidullah bin 'Abdullah bin 'Utba (b. Mas'ud) reported that his father wrote to Umar bin 'Abdullah b al Arqam al-Zuhri that he would go to Subai'ah bint al-Hirith al-Aslamiyya (Allah be pleased with her) and ask her about a verdict from him which Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave her when she had asked that from him (in regard to the termination of 'Idda at the birth of a child) 'Umar bin'Abdullah wrote to 'Abdullah bin 'Utba informing him that Subai'ah had told him that she had been married to Sa'd bin Khaula and he belonged to the tribe of Amir bin Lu'ayy, and was one of those who participated in the Battle of Badr, and he died in the Farewell Pilgrimage and she had been in the family way at that time. And much time had not elapsed that she gave birth to a child after his death and when she was free from the effects of childbirth she embellished herself for those who had to give proposals of marriage. Abdul Sunabil bin Ba'kak (from Banu 'Abdul Dar) came to her and said: What is this that I see you embellished; perhaps you are inclined to marry, By Allah, you cannot marry unless four months and ten days (of 'Idda are passed). When he said that, I dressed myself, and as it was evening I came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and asked him about it, and he gave me a religious verdict that I was allowed to marry when I had given birth to a child and asked me to marry if I so liked. Ibn Shihab said: I do not find any harm fur her in marrying when she has given birth to a child even when she is bleeding (after the birth of the child) except that her husband should not go near her until she is purified.

Abu Salama bin 'Abdul Rahman and Ibn 'Abbas (RA) got together in the house of Abu Hurairah (RA) and began to discuss about the woman who gave birth to a child a few nights after the death of her husband. Ibn 'Abbas (RA) said: Her 'Idda is that period which is longer of the two (between four months and ten days and the birth of the child, whichever is longer). AbuSalama, however said: Her period of 'Idda is over (with the birth of the child), and they were contending with each other over this issue, whereupon Abu Hurairah (RA) said: I subscribe (to the view) held by my nephew (i. e. Abu Salama). They sent Kuraib (the freed slave of Ibn 'Abbas) to Umm Salamah to ask her about it. He came (back) to them and informed them that Umm Salamah (Allah be pleased with her) said that Subai'ah al-Aslamiyya gave birth to a child after the death of her husband when the few flights (had hardly) passed and she made mention of that to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he commanded her to marry.

This hadith has been narated with the same chain of transrmitters except with a small change of words (and that is): They sent him to Umm Salamah, but no mention was made of Kuraib.