❖ Authored by: Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Anwar Zāhid ḥafiẓahullāh
❖ The Story As Commonly Narrated
It is commonly narrated by jurists that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه would patrol the streets of Madinah at night. On one such night, he heard a woman reciting poetry, yearning for her husband who had gone on a journey. The poetry expressed her loneliness and longing. A translated essence of her words is:
“Alas! In these long, dark nights, my husband is not with me—someone with whom I could laugh and speak. By Allah! Had it not been for the fear of Allah, the legs of this bed would have moved (i.e., I would have committed a sin).”
After hearing this, ʿUmar رضي الله عنه reportedly went to his daughter, Umm al-Muʾminīn Ḥafṣah رضي الله عنها, and asked her:
“How long can a woman remain patient in the absence of her husband?”
She replied: “Four to six months.”
Upon this, ʿUmar رضي الله عنه said:
“I will issue a directive that Muslim soldiers should not stay away from their wives for longer than this period.”
Some versions of this story include additional details. It is widely known and often cited.
❖ Ḥadīth Verification
⟹ The chain of narration is weak (إسناده ضعيف).
- This story is mentioned in Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, under the explanation of Sūrah al-Baqarah, verse 227.
- Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله has attributed it to al-Muwaṭṭaʾ of Imām Mālik, but it cannot be found in any known editions of al-Muwaṭṭaʾ.
- The narration includes ʿAmr ibn Dīnār narrating from ʿUmar رضي الله عنه, while ʿAmr ibn Dīnār never met ʿUmar رضي الله عنه. This indicates a broken chain (انقطاع).
- Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr himself acknowledges:
"There are many chains for this report, but all of them are weak."
❖ Conclusion
This well-known story about ʿUmar رضي الله عنه setting a limit on separation between husband and wife lacks a sound chain of transmission.It cannot be classified as ḥasan (fair) or ṣaḥīḥ (authentic).
Therefore, this incident, despite its popularity, should not be presented as a verified or authoritative narration in matters of Sharīʿah without clarification of its weakness.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
