Hadith 25866

حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ , قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ , قَالَ : حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلٌ , عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ , عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ , عَنْ عَائِشَةَ , " أَنَّ أَزْوَاجَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كُنَّ يَخْرُجْنَ بِاللَّيْلِ إِذَا تَبَرَّزْنَ إِلَى الْمَنَاصِعِ , وَهُوَ صَعِيدٌ أَفْيَحُ , وَكَانَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ يَقُولُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ 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 , وَكَانَتْ امْرَأَةً طَوِيلَةً , فَنَادَاهَا عُمَرُ أَلَا قَدْ عَرَفْنَاكِ يَا سَوْدَةُ وحِرْصًا عَلَى أَنْ يُنْزَلَ الْحِجَابُ , قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَأُنْزِلَ الْحِجَابُ " .
It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the pure wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to go out to open fields at night to relieve themselves. Once, Hazrat Sawda went out to relieve herself. Since she was tall and had a heavy build (people would recognize her), on the way she met Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). He saw Hazrat Sawda and called out to her from a distance, "Sawda! We have recognized you," and he said this hoping that the command of hijab would be revealed. Consequently, the verse of hijab was revealed.
Hadith Reference مسند احمد / مسند النساء / 25866
Hadith Grading حکم دارالسلام: إسناده صحيح، خ: 146، م: 2170