شمائل ترمذي
Shamail Tirmidhi
باب ما جاء فى كلام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فى السمرChapter: What has been reported concerning the night conversations of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
Story of eleven women
Hadith 252
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنِ أَخِيهِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ: جَلَسَتْ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ امْرَأَةً فَتَعَاهَدْنَ وَتَعَاقَدْنَ أَنْ لَا يَكْتُمْنَ مِنْ أَخْبَارِ أَزْوَاجِهِنَّ شَيْئًا: فَقَالَتِ الْأُولَى: زَوْجِي لَحْمُ جَمَلٍ غَثٍّ عَلَى رَأْسِ جَبَلٍ وَعْرٍ، لَا سَهْلٌ فَيُرْتَقَى، وَلَا سَمِينٌ فَيُنْتَقَلُ . قَالَتِ الثَّانِيَةُ: زَوْجِي لَا أَبُثُّ خَبَرَهُ، إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ لَا أَذَرَهُ، إِنْ أَذْكُرْهُ أَذْكُرْ عُجَرَهُ وَبُجَرَهُ. قَالَتِ الثَّالِثَةُ: زَوْجِي الْعَشَنَّقُ، إِنْ أَنْطِقْ أُطَلَّقْ، وَإِنْ أَسْكُتْ أُعَلَّقْ. قَالَتِ الرَّابِعَةُ: زَوْجِي كَلَيْلِ تِهَامَةَ، لَا حَرٌّ وَلَا قُرٌّ، وَلَا مَخَافَةَ وَلَا سَآمَةَ . قَالَتِ الْخَامِسَةُ: زَوْجِي إِنْ دَخَلَ فَهِدَ، وَإِنْ خَرَجَ أَسِدَ، وَلَا يَسْأَلُ عَمَّا عَهِدَ. قَالَتِ السَّادِسَةُ: زَوْجِي إِنْ أَكَلَ لَفَّ، وَإِنْ شَرِبَ اشْتَفَّ، وَإِنِ اضْطَجَعَ الْتَفَّ، وَلَا يُولِجُ الْكَفَّ لِيَعْلَمَ الْبَثَّ. قَالَتِ السَّابِعَةُ: زَوْجِي عَيَايَاءُ أَوْ غَيَايَاءُ طَبَاقَاءُ كُلُّ دَاءٍ لَهُ دَاءٌ، شَجَّكِ أَوْ فَلَّكِ أَوْ جَمَعَ كُلًّا لَكِ. قَالَتِ الثَّامِنَةُ: زَوْجِي الْمَسُّ مَسُّ أَرْنَبٍ وَالرِّيحُ رِيحُ زَرْنَبٍ. قَالَتِ التَّاسِعَةُ: زَوْجِي رَفِيعُ الْعِمَادِ طَوِيلُ النِّجَادِ عَظِيمُ الرَّمَادِ قَرِيبُ الْبَيْتِ مِنَ النَّادِ. قَالَتِ الْعَاشِرَةُ: زَوْجِي مَالِكٌ وَمَا مَالِكٌ مَالِكٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ ذَلِكِ، لَهُ إِبِلٌ كَثِيرَاتُ الْمَبَارِكِ، قَلِيلَاتُ الْمَسَارِحِ، إِذَا سَمِعْنَ صَوْتَ الْمِزْهَرِ أَيْقَنَّ أَنَّهُنَّ هَوَالِكُ. قَالَتِ الْحَادِيَةَ عَشْرَةَ: زَوْجِي أَبُو زَرْعٍ وَمَا أَبُو زَرْعٍ؟ أَنَاسَ مِنْ حُلِيٍّ أُذُنَيَّ، وَمَلَأَ مِنْ شَحْمٍ عَضُدَيَّ، وَبَجَّحَنِي فَبَجَحَتْ إِلَيَّ نَفْسِي، وَجَدَنِي فِي أَهْلِ غُنَيْمَةٍ بِشِقٍّ فَجَعَلَنِي فِي أَهْلِ صَهِيلٍ وَأَطِيطٍ وَدَائِسٍ وَمُنَقٍّ، فَعِنْدَهُ أَقُولُ فَلَا أُقَبَّحُ ، وَأَرْقُدُ فَأَتَصَبَّحُ وَأَشْرَبُ فَأَتَقَمَّحُ، أُمُّ أَبِي زَرْعٍ فَمَا أُمُّ أَبِي زَرْعٍ، عُكُومُهَا رَدَاحٌ، وَبَيْتُهَا فَسَاحٌ، ابْنُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ، فَمَا ابْنُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ، مَضْجَعُهُ كَمَسَلِّ شَطْبَةٍ، وَتُشْبِعُهُ ذِرَاعُ الْجَفْرَةِ، بِنْتُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ، فَمَا بِنْتُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ، طَوْعُ أَبِيهَا وَطَوْعُ أُمِّهَا، مِلْءُ كِسَائِهَا، وَغَيْظُ جَارَتِهَا، جَارِيَةُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ، فَمَا جَارِيَةُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ، لَا تَبُثُّ حَدِيثَنَا تَبْثِيثًا، وَلَا تُنَقِّثُ مِيرَتَنَا تَنْقِيثًا، وَلَا تَمْلَأُ بَيْتَنَا تَعْشِيشًا، قَالَتْ: خَرَجَ أَبُو زَرْعٍ وَالْأَوْطَابُ تُمْخَضُ، فَلَقِيَ امْرَأَةً مَعَهَا وَلَدَانِ لَهَا كَالْفَهْدَيْنِ، يَلْعَبَانِ مِنْ تَحْتِ خَصْرِهَا بِرُمَّانَتَيْنِ، فَطَلَّقَنِي وَنَكَحَهَا، فَنَكَحْتُ بَعْدَهُ رَجُلًا سَرِيًّا، رَكِبَ شَرِيًّا، وَأَخَذَ خَطِّيًّا، وَأَرَاحَ عَلَيَّ نَعَمًا ثَرِيًّا، وَأَعْطَانِي مِنْ كُلِّ رَائِحَةٍ زَوْجًا، وَقَالَ: كُلِي أُمَّ زَرْعٍ، وَمِيرِي أَهْلَكِ، فَلَوْ جَمَعْتُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَعْطَانِيهِ، مَا بَلَغَ أَصْغَرَ آنِيَةِ أَبِي زَرْعٍ. قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «كُنْتُ لَكِ كَأَبِي زَرْعٍ لِأُمِّ زَرْعٍ»
It is narrated from Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), she says: Eleven women gathered together in one place and agreed among themselves that they would describe the true condition of their husbands and would not conceal anything. So the first woman spoke: My husband is like the meat of a lean camel on the top of a mountain, whose path is very difficult; neither can anyone easily climb up to bring it down, nor is the meat so fat and fresh that anyone would bother to climb the mountain to get it.
The second woman said: If I start describing my husband, where should I stop (he has so many faults)? I fear I may not be able to mention them all, but if I do, I can describe all his open and hidden defects.
The third woman said: My husband is a tall, unpleasant man. If I say anything about him, I will be divorced, and if I remain silent, I am left hanging.
The fourth woman said: My husband is moderate like the night of Tihamah—neither too hot nor too cold. I have neither fear nor boredom from him.
The fifth said: When my husband comes home, he is like a leopard, and when he goes out, he is like a lion. He never asks about what he leaves in the house (he is so unconcerned), and he is so generous that whatever he earns today, he spends it today and does not save anything for tomorrow.
The sixth woman said: If my husband eats, he devours everything; if he drinks, he leaves not a drop; and when he lies down, he wraps himself in his garment and lies apart, never reaching into my clothes to know my pain or sorrow.
The seventh woman said: My husband is ignorant, intoxicated, or impotent. All the faults that exist in people in the world, one by one, are gathered in him alone. (No one knows when) he might break a head, or break a hand, or do both.
The eighth woman said: My husband is as soft to the touch as a rabbit, and as fragrant as saffron when smelled.
The ninth woman said: My husband’s house is very high and lofty. He himself is tall and brave. So much food is cooked at his place that heaps of ashes are gathered. The place where people sit for consultation, my husband’s house is very close to that place.
The tenth woman said: My husband is very wealthy and owns property—such property that no one else can have. Many camels sit near his house and rarely go out to graze in the jungle. As soon as they hear the sound of the drum, they are certain they will be slaughtered.
The eleventh woman said: My husband is Abu Zar’, what can I say about him! He has filled my ears with jewelry and my arms with fat. He has fed me so well that I consider myself plump and healthy. Before marriage, I lived in hardship and poverty with a few sheep and goats. Abu Zar’ made me the owner of horses, camels, fields, and crops. Despite having so much wealth and property, his temperament is so excellent that if I say something, he does not mind. If I am lying down, no one wakes me up till morning. When I drink water, I drink to my fill and with ease.
As for Abu Zar’s mother (my mother-in-law), what virtues should I describe? Her provision is full of wealth and goods, and her house is very spacious. As for Abu Zar’s son, how good and beautiful he is! He is as bright in beauty as a naked sword and eats so little that the meat of a four-month-old goat’s foreleg fills his stomach. As for Abu Zar’s daughter! What can I say about her? She is her father’s beloved, her mother’s darling, obedient and dutiful, wears plenty of clothes (well-built), and is a cause of jealousy for her co-wife. As for Abu Zar’s maidservant! What can I say about her? She never reveals any of our secrets, does not steal food, and does not leave rubbish behind.
But one day, while people were churning milk to make butter, Abu Zar’ went out early in the morning and suddenly saw a woman whose two children, like leopards, were playing with two pomegranates (her breasts) under her waist. Abu Zar’ divorced me and married her.
After that, I married another noble chief, who is an expert horseman, a fine lancer, and a master of the sword. He has also given me many animals (horses, camels, and goats) and a pair of everything in wealth and goods, and he used to say to me: Umm Zar’, eat and drink well. Feed your relatives well, you have full permission. But all that he has given me, if I gather it all together, it does not equal even a single small vessel of Abu Zar’.
Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I am to you as Abu Zar’ was to Umm Zar’.”
The second woman said: If I start describing my husband, where should I stop (he has so many faults)? I fear I may not be able to mention them all, but if I do, I can describe all his open and hidden defects.
The third woman said: My husband is a tall, unpleasant man. If I say anything about him, I will be divorced, and if I remain silent, I am left hanging.
The fourth woman said: My husband is moderate like the night of Tihamah—neither too hot nor too cold. I have neither fear nor boredom from him.
The fifth said: When my husband comes home, he is like a leopard, and when he goes out, he is like a lion. He never asks about what he leaves in the house (he is so unconcerned), and he is so generous that whatever he earns today, he spends it today and does not save anything for tomorrow.
The sixth woman said: If my husband eats, he devours everything; if he drinks, he leaves not a drop; and when he lies down, he wraps himself in his garment and lies apart, never reaching into my clothes to know my pain or sorrow.
The seventh woman said: My husband is ignorant, intoxicated, or impotent. All the faults that exist in people in the world, one by one, are gathered in him alone. (No one knows when) he might break a head, or break a hand, or do both.
The eighth woman said: My husband is as soft to the touch as a rabbit, and as fragrant as saffron when smelled.
The ninth woman said: My husband’s house is very high and lofty. He himself is tall and brave. So much food is cooked at his place that heaps of ashes are gathered. The place where people sit for consultation, my husband’s house is very close to that place.
The tenth woman said: My husband is very wealthy and owns property—such property that no one else can have. Many camels sit near his house and rarely go out to graze in the jungle. As soon as they hear the sound of the drum, they are certain they will be slaughtered.
The eleventh woman said: My husband is Abu Zar’, what can I say about him! He has filled my ears with jewelry and my arms with fat. He has fed me so well that I consider myself plump and healthy. Before marriage, I lived in hardship and poverty with a few sheep and goats. Abu Zar’ made me the owner of horses, camels, fields, and crops. Despite having so much wealth and property, his temperament is so excellent that if I say something, he does not mind. If I am lying down, no one wakes me up till morning. When I drink water, I drink to my fill and with ease.
As for Abu Zar’s mother (my mother-in-law), what virtues should I describe? Her provision is full of wealth and goods, and her house is very spacious. As for Abu Zar’s son, how good and beautiful he is! He is as bright in beauty as a naked sword and eats so little that the meat of a four-month-old goat’s foreleg fills his stomach. As for Abu Zar’s daughter! What can I say about her? She is her father’s beloved, her mother’s darling, obedient and dutiful, wears plenty of clothes (well-built), and is a cause of jealousy for her co-wife. As for Abu Zar’s maidservant! What can I say about her? She never reveals any of our secrets, does not steal food, and does not leave rubbish behind.
But one day, while people were churning milk to make butter, Abu Zar’ went out early in the morning and suddenly saw a woman whose two children, like leopards, were playing with two pomegranates (her breasts) under her waist. Abu Zar’ divorced me and married her.
After that, I married another noble chief, who is an expert horseman, a fine lancer, and a master of the sword. He has also given me many animals (horses, camels, and goats) and a pair of everything in wealth and goods, and he used to say to me: Umm Zar’, eat and drink well. Feed your relatives well, you have full permission. But all that he has given me, if I gather it all together, it does not equal even a single small vessel of Abu Zar’.
Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I am to you as Abu Zar’ was to Umm Zar’.”
