Source: Urdu Sharh of ‘Umdat al-Ahkam min Kalam Khayr al-Anam
Translation: Hafiz Faizullah Nasir
“She used to comb the hair of the Prophet ﷺ while she was in her room and menstruating, and he ﷺ was observing Iʿtikāf in the mosque. He would extend his head toward her.”
Another narration states: “He ﷺ would not enter the house except for human necessities.”
Another version quotes ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها: “I used to enter the house for my need, and if a sick person was there, I would inquire about his condition while passing by.”
❖ This Hadith shows that if a part of the body of a person in Iʿtikāf extends outside the mosque while the rest remains inside, the Iʿtikāf is not invalidated.
❖ Exiting the mosque for a genuine necessity, such as using the restroom if there are no facilities in the mosque, is permissible by consensus.
❖ However, leaving the mosque without a valid Sharʿi excuse is not allowed.
❖ Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah’s رضي الله عنها action indicates that when visiting the sick or dealing with similar matters, one should not engage in lengthy conversations, but rather quickly fulfill the obligation and move on.
① Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Iʿtikāf,
Chapter: The Muʿtakif Extends His Head Out of the Mosque for Washing,
Hadith no.: 2046
② Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Menstruation,
Chapter: Permissibility of Washing and Combing the Hair of the Husband by a Menstruating Wife,
Hadith no.: 297
“The Prophet ﷺ was observing Iʿtikāf, and I came to visit him at night. I spoke with him for a while and then stood to leave. He ﷺ stood with me to escort me—her residence was in the house of Usāmah ibn Zayd. Two men from the Anṣār passed by and hastened upon seeing the Prophet ﷺ. He ﷺ said: ‘Wait, this is Ṣafiyyah bint Ḥuyayy.’ They replied: ‘Subḥān Allāh, O Messenger of Allah!’ He ﷺ said: ‘Indeed, Shayṭān flows through the son of Ādam as blood flows, and I feared he might cast some evil thought in your hearts—or he said: cast something.’”
Another narration says that she came during the last ten nights of Ramaḍān, conversed for a while, then stood to leave, and he ﷺ walked with her until she reached the door near the house of Umm Salamah.
❖ This Hadith proves unanimous agreement that a person in Iʿtikāf may leave the mosque for essential needs, such as:
Umm al-Muʾminīn Ṣafiyyah bint Ḥuyayy رضي الله عنها
She belonged to the descendants of Hārūn ibn ʿImrān, the brother of Prophet Mūsā عليه السلام. She is therefore referred to as the daughter, niece, and wife of a Prophet. Her mother was Barrah bint Samaw’al. The Prophet ﷺ married her in the month of Ramaḍān, 7 AH, after freeing her from captivity. Her dowry was her emancipation. She passed away in Ramaḍān, 50 AH during the caliphate of Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنه and was buried in Baqīʿ al-Gharqad.
① Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Iʿtikāf,
Chapter: Is It Permissible for the Muʿtakif to Reach the Door of the Mosque?
Hadith no.: 2035
② Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Peace,
Chapter: Recommendation for Declaring One's Wife in Privacy to Prevent Doubt,
Hadith no.: 2175
A person observing Iʿtikāf does not invalidate it by stepping out of the mosque for genuine needs. The Prophet ﷺ demonstrated through his actions the limits and allowances of Iʿtikāf. However, exiting without necessity is impermissible.
Translation: Hafiz Faizullah Nasir
Second Hadith: Narrated by Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها
“She used to comb the hair of the Prophet ﷺ while she was in her room and menstruating, and he ﷺ was observing Iʿtikāf in the mosque. He would extend his head toward her.”Another narration states: “He ﷺ would not enter the house except for human necessities.”
Another version quotes ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها: “I used to enter the house for my need, and if a sick person was there, I would inquire about his condition while passing by.”
Vocabulary Explanation:
- التَّرْجِيلُ: Combing and arranging hair.
- حَاجَةُ الإِنْسَان: Refers to natural human needs like relieving oneself.
- مَارَّةٌ: Walking past or passing by (feminine active participle).
Commentary on the Hadith:
❖ This Hadith shows that if a part of the body of a person in Iʿtikāf extends outside the mosque while the rest remains inside, the Iʿtikāf is not invalidated.❖ Exiting the mosque for a genuine necessity, such as using the restroom if there are no facilities in the mosque, is permissible by consensus.
❖ However, leaving the mosque without a valid Sharʿi excuse is not allowed.
❖ Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah’s رضي الله عنها action indicates that when visiting the sick or dealing with similar matters, one should not engage in lengthy conversations, but rather quickly fulfill the obligation and move on.
References:
① Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Iʿtikāf,Chapter: The Muʿtakif Extends His Head Out of the Mosque for Washing,
Hadith no.: 2046
② Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Menstruation,
Chapter: Permissibility of Washing and Combing the Hair of the Husband by a Menstruating Wife,
Hadith no.: 297
Fourth Hadith: Narrated by Sayyidah Ṣafiyyah bint Ḥuyayy رضي الله عنها
“The Prophet ﷺ was observing Iʿtikāf, and I came to visit him at night. I spoke with him for a while and then stood to leave. He ﷺ stood with me to escort me—her residence was in the house of Usāmah ibn Zayd. Two men from the Anṣār passed by and hastened upon seeing the Prophet ﷺ. He ﷺ said: ‘Wait, this is Ṣafiyyah bint Ḥuyayy.’ They replied: ‘Subḥān Allāh, O Messenger of Allah!’ He ﷺ said: ‘Indeed, Shayṭān flows through the son of Ādam as blood flows, and I feared he might cast some evil thought in your hearts—or he said: cast something.’”Another narration says that she came during the last ten nights of Ramaḍān, conversed for a while, then stood to leave, and he ﷺ walked with her until she reached the door near the house of Umm Salamah.
Vocabulary Explanation:
- لِيَقْلِبَنِي: So that he ﷺ may accompany her back home.
- يَقْلِبُ: He escorts or turns with (present tense).
- مَسْكَن: Dwelling or place of residence.
- عَلَى رِسْلِكُمَا: Slow down; remain at ease.
- مَجْرَى الدَّمِ: The flow of blood; i.e., the veins.
- يَقْذِفُ: To cast or inject (evil thought).
Commentary on the Hadith:
❖ This Hadith proves unanimous agreement that a person in Iʿtikāf may leave the mosque for essential needs, such as:- Answering the call of nature or bathing (when the mosque lacks such facilities).
- Going out for food and drink if not available inside.
- Going to another mosque for Jumuʿah if necessary.
- Visiting someone seriously ill.
Biography of the Narrator:
Umm al-Muʾminīn Ṣafiyyah bint Ḥuyayy رضي الله عنهاShe belonged to the descendants of Hārūn ibn ʿImrān, the brother of Prophet Mūsā عليه السلام. She is therefore referred to as the daughter, niece, and wife of a Prophet. Her mother was Barrah bint Samaw’al. The Prophet ﷺ married her in the month of Ramaḍān, 7 AH, after freeing her from captivity. Her dowry was her emancipation. She passed away in Ramaḍān, 50 AH during the caliphate of Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنه and was buried in Baqīʿ al-Gharqad.
References:
① Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Iʿtikāf,Chapter: Is It Permissible for the Muʿtakif to Reach the Door of the Mosque?
Hadith no.: 2035
② Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Peace,
Chapter: Recommendation for Declaring One's Wife in Privacy to Prevent Doubt,
Hadith no.: 2175
Conclusion: