No. 3507

'Umar b. al-Khattab (Allaah be pleased with him) reported: When Allaah's Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) kept himself away from his wives, I entered the mosque, and found people striking the ground with pebblesand saying: Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) has divorced his wives, and that was before they were commanded to observe seclusion 'Umar said to himself: I must find this (actual position) today. So I went to 'A'isha (Allaah be pleased with her) and said (to her): Daughter of Abu Bakr, have you gone to the extent of giving trouble to Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam)? Thereupon she said: Son of Khattab, you have nothing to do with me, and I have nothing to do with you. You should look to your own receptacle. He ('Umar) said: I visited Hafsa daughter of 'Umar, and said to her: Hafsa, the (news) has reached me that you cause Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) trouble. You know that Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) does not love you, and had I not been (your father) he would have divorced you. (On hearing this) she wept bitterly. I said to her: Where is Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam)? Shesaid: He is in the attic room. I went in and found Rabah, the servant of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), sitting on the thresholds of the window dangling his feet on the hollow wood of the date-palm with the help of which Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) climbed (to the apartment) and came down. I cried: 0 Rabah, seek permission for me from Allaah's Messenger (way sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam). Rabah cast a glance at the apartment and then looked toward me but said nothing. I again said: Rabah, seek permission for me from Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam). Rabah looked towards the apartment and then cast a glance at me, but said nothig. I then raised my voice and said: 0 Rabah, seek permission for me from Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam). I think that Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) is under the impression that I have come for the sake of Hafsa. By Allaah, if Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) would command me to strike her neck, I would certainly strike her neck. I raised my voice and he pointed me to climb up (and get into his apartment). I visited Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), and he was lying on a mat. I sat down and he drew up his lower garment over him and he had nothing (else) over him, and that the mat had left its marks on his sides. I looked with my eyes in the store room of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam). I found only a handful of barley equal to one sa' and an equal quantity of the leaves of Mimosa Flava placed in the nook of the cell, and a semi-tanned leather bag hanging (in one side), and I was moved to tears (on seeing this extremely austere living of the Prophet), and he said: Ibn Khattab, what wakes you weep? I said: Prophet of Allaah, why should I not shed tears? This mat has left its marks on your sides and I do not see in your store room (except these few things) that I have seen; Ceasar and Closroes are leading their lives in plenty whereas you are Allaah's Messenger. His chosen one, and that is your store! He said: Ibn Khattab, aren't you satisfied that for us (there should be the prosperity) of the Hereafter, and for them (there should be the prosperity of) this world? I said: Yes. And as I had entered I had seen the signs of anger on his face, and I therefore, said: Messenger of Allaah, what trouble do you feel from your wives, and if youhave divorced them, verily Allaah is with you, His angels, Gabriel, Mika'il, I and Abu Bakr and the believers are with you. And seldom I talked and (which I uttered on that day) I hoped that Allaah would testify to my words that I uttered. And so the verse of option (Ayat al-Takhyir) was revealed. Maybe his Lord, if he divorce you, will give him in your place wives better than you..." (Ixv. 5). And if you back up one another against him, then surely Allaah is his Patron, and Gabriel and the righteous believers, and the angels after that are the aidera (lvi. 4). And it was 'A'isha, daughter of Abu Bakr, and Hafsa who had prevailed upon all the wives of Allaah's Prophet (way sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) for (pressing them for mote money). I said: Messenger of Allaah, have you divorced them? He said: No. I said: Messenger of Allaah, I entered the mosque and found the Muslims playing with pebbles (absorbed in thought) and saying: Allaah's Messenger has divorced his wives. Should I get down and inform there that you have not divorced them? He said: Yes, if you so like. And I went on talking to him until I (found) the signs of anger disappeared on his face and (his seriousness was changed to a happy mood and as a result thereof) his face had the natural tranquillity upon it and he laughed and his teeth were the most charming (among the teeth) of all people. Then Allaah's Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) climbed down and I also climbed down and catching hold of the wood of the palm-tree and Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) came down (with such ease) as if he was walking on the ground, not touching anything with his hand (to get support). I said: Messenger of Allaah, you remained in your apartment for twenty-nine days. He said: (At times) the month consists of twenty-nine days. I stood at the door of the mosque and I called out at the top of my voice: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) has not divorced his wives (and it was on this occasion that this) verse was revealed:" And if any matter pertaining to peace or alarm comes within their ken, they broadcast it; whereas, if they would refer it to the Prophet and those who have been entrusted with authority amongst them, those of them who are engaged in obtaining intelligence would indeed know (what to do with) it" (iv 83). And it was I who understood this matter, and Allaah revealed the verse pertaining to option (given to the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam in regard to the retaining or divorcing of his wives).

No. 3508

Abdullah b. Abbas (Allaah be pleased with tlicm) reported: I intended to ask 'Umar b. al-Khattab (Allaah be pleased with him) about a verse, but I waited for one year to ask him out of his fear, until he went out for Pilgrimage and I also accompanied him. As he came back and we were on the way he stepped aside towards an Arak tree to ease himself. I waited for him until he was free. I then walked along with him and said: Commander of the Faithful, who are the two among the wives of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) who backed up one another (in their demand for extra money)? He said: They were Hafsa and 'A'isha (Allaah be pleased with them). I said to him: It is for one year that I intended to ask you about this matter but I could not date so on account of the awe for you. He said: Don't do that. If you think that I have any knowledge, do ask me about that. And if I were to know that, I would inform you. He (the narrator) stated that 'Umar had said: By Allaah, during the days of ignorance we had no regard for women until Allaah the Exalt- ed revealed about them what He has revealed, and appointed (turn) for them what he appointed. He said: It so happened that I was thinking about some matter that my wife said: I wish you had done that and that. I said to her: It does not concern you and you should not feel disturbed in a matter which I intend to do. She said to me: How strange is it that you, O son of Khattab, do not like anyone to retort upon you, whereas your daughter retorts upon Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) until he spends the day in vexation. 'Umar said: I took hold of my cloak, then came out of my house until I visited Hafsa and said to her: O daughter, (I heard) that you retort upon Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) until he spends the day in vexation, whereupon Hafsa said: By Allaah, we do retort upon him. I said: You should bear in mind, my daughter, that I warn you against the punishment of Allaah and the wrath of His Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam). You may not be misled by one whose beauty has fascinated her, and the love of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) for her. I ('Umar) then visited Umm Salama because of my relationship with her and I talked to her. Umm Salama said to me: Umar b. al-Khattab, how strange is it that you meddle with every matter so much so that you are anxious to interfere between Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and his wives, and this perturbed me so much that I refrained from saying what I had to say, so I came out of her apartment, and I had a friend from the Anar. When I had been absent (from the company of the Prophet) he used to bring me the news and when he had been absent I used to bring him the news, and at that time we dreaded a king of Ghassan. It was mentioned to us that he intended to attack us, and our minds were haunted by him. My friend, the Ansari, came to me, and he knocked at the door and said: Open it, open it. I said: Has the Ghassani come? He said: (The matter is) more serious than that. The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) has separated himself from his wives. I said: Let the nose of Hafsa and 'A'isha be besmeared with dust. I then took hold of my cloth and went out until I came and found Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) in his attic to which he climbed by means of a ladder made of date-palm, and the servant of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) who was black had been sitting at the end of the ladder. I said: This is Umar. So permission was granted to me. I narrated this news to Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and as I narrated the news concerning Umm Salama, Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) smiled. He was lying on the mat and there was nothing between him and that (mat), and under his head there was a pillow made of leather and it was stuffed with plam fibres and at his feet were lying a heap of sant tree (acacia niloctica, meant for dyeing) and near his head there was hanging a hide. And I saw the marks of the maton the side of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), and so I wept. He said: What makes you weep? I said: Messenger of Allaah, the Khusrau and the Ceasars (spendd their lives in) the midst of (luxuries), whereas you being Allaah's Messenger (are leading your life in this poverty). Thereupon Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Don't you like that they should have riches of their world, and you have the Hereafter.

No. 3509

Ibn Abbas (Allaah be pleased with them) said: I came along with Umar until we reached Marr al-Zahran (the name of a place), and the rest of the hadith is the same as narrated by Sulaiman b. Bilal (except with) the variation (of words) that I said: (What) about these two women? He said: They were Hafsa and Umm Salama. And he made this addition: I came to the apartments and in every apartment there was (the noise) of weeping. And this addition was also made: And he (the Prophet) had taken an oath of remaining away from them for a month, and when twenty-nine days had passed, he visited them.

No. 3510

Ibn Abbas (Allaah be pleased with them) is reported to have said: I intended to ask Umar about those two ladies who had pressed for (worldly riches) during the lifetime of the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), and I kept waiting for one year, but found no suitable opportunity with him until I happened to accompany him to Mecca. And as he reached Marr al Zahran he went away to answer the call of nature, and he said (to me): Bring me a jug of water, and I took that to him. After having answered the call of nature, as he came back, I began to pour water (over his hands and feet), and I remembered (this event of separation of Allaah's Prophet [sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam] from his wives). So I said to him: Commander of the Faithful, who are the two ladies (who had pressed the Prophet [sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam] for providing comforts of life) and I had not yet finished my talk when he said: They were 'A'isha and Hafsa.

No. 3511

Ibn 'Abbas (Allaah be pleased with them) reported. I had always been anxious to ask 'Umar (Allaah be pleased with him) about the two ladies amongst the wives of Allaah's Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) about whom Allaah, the Exalted, said:" If you both turn in repentance to Allaah, then indeed your hearts are inclined (to this)" (Ixvi. 4), until 'Umar (Allaah be pleased with him) set out for Hajj and I also went along with him. And as we were going along a path, 'Umar (Allaah be pleased with hiyn) went aside and I also went aside with him with a jug (of water). He answered the call of nature, and then came to me and I poured water over his hands and he performed ablution I said: Commander of the Faithful, who are the two ladies amongst the wives of Allaah's Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) about whom Allaah, the Exalted and Majestic, said: 'If you both turn to Allaah in repentance, then indeed your heart are inclined to it"? 'Umar (Allaah he pleased with him) said: How strange is it for you, Ibn 'Abbas! (Zuhri said: By Allaah, he disliked what he asked about, but did not keep it a secret.) He ('Umar) said: They are Hafsa and 'A'isha; and he then began to narrate the hadith and said: We were such people among the Quraish who dominated women, and as we reached Medina we found there people who were dominated by their women, and our women began to learn (the habits) of their women. He further said: And my house was situated in the suburb of Aledina in the tribe of Banu Umayya b. Zaid. One day I became angry with my wife and she retorted upon me. I did not like that she should retort upon me. She said: You disapprove of my retorting upon you By Allaah, the wives of Allaah's Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) retort upon him, and one of them detaches herself from him for the day until the night. So I ('Umar) went out and visited Hafsa and said: Do you retort upon Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam)? She said: Yes. I said; Does any one of you detach herself from him from the day to the night? She said: Yes. He said: She who did like it amongst you in fact failed and incurred loss. Does everyone amongst you not fear the wrath of Allaah upon her due to the wrath of His Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), and (as a result thereof) she may perish? So do not retort upon Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and do not ask him for anything, but ask me that which you desire, (and the frank behaviour) of your companion may not mislead you, if she is more graceful and is dearer to Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) than you (meaning 'A'isha) (Allaah be pleased with her). He (Hadrat 'Umar further) said: I had a compalaion from the Ansar and, we used to remain in the company of the Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) turn by turn. He remained there for a day while I remained there on the other day, and he brought me the news about the revelation and other (matter), and I brought him (the news) like this. And we discussed that the Ghassanids were shoeing the horses in order to attack us. Id y companion once attended (the Prophet). and then came to me at night and knocked at my door and called me, and I came out to him, and he said: A matter of great importance has happened. I said: What is that? Have the Ghassanids come? He said: No, but even more serious and more significant than that: the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) has divorced his wives. I said: Hafsa has failed and has incurred loss. and I feared that it would happen. When it was dawn I observed the dawn prayer and dressed myself, and then came there (in the house of the Prophet) and visited Hafsa, and she was weeping. I said: Has Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) divorced you (all)? She said: I do not know. He has, however, separated himself in his attic. I came to a black servant and said to him: Seek permission for 'Umar. He went in and then came to me and said: I made mention of you to him, but he kept quiet. I then went to the pulpit and sat there, and there was a group of people sitting by it and some of then were weeping. I sat there for some time, until I was overpowered (by that very idea) which was in my mind. I then came back to the boy and said to him: Seek permission for Umar. He went in and came to me and said: I made mention of you to him but he kept quiet. I was about to turn back when the boy called me and said: Go in; permission has been granted to you. I went in and greeted Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and he was reclining against the couch of mat and it had left its marks upon his side. I said: Messenger of Allaah, have you divorced your wives? He raised his head towards me and said: No. I said: Allaah is the Greatest. Messenger of Allaah, I wish if you had seen how we the people of Quraish had domination over women but when we came to Medina we found people whom their women dominated. So our women began to learn from their women. One dily I became angry with my wife and she began to retort upon me. I did not approve that she should retort upon me. She said: You do not like that I should retort upon you, but, by Allaah. the wives of Allaah's Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) retort upon him and any one of them separates herself from him for a day until night. I said: He who did that amongst them in fact failed and incurred loss. Does any of them feel sate from the wrath of Allaahupon her due to the wrath of Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), and she has certainly perished. Allaah's Messtnger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) smiled, I said: Messenger of Allaah, I visited Hafsa and said: (The behaviour) of your companion ('A'isha) may not mislead you, If she is more graceful than you and is dearer to Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) than you. Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) smiled for the second time. I said: Allaah's Messenger, way I talk to you about agreeable things? He said: Yes. I sat down and lifted my head (to see things) in the house and, by Allaah, I did not see anything significant besides three hides. I said: Messenger of Allaah, supplicate the Lord that He should make (life) prosperous for your Ummah as He has made plentiful for the people of Persia and Rome (in spite of the fact) that they do no, worship Allaah, the Exalted and Majestic, whereupon he (Allaah's Messenger) sat up an I then said: Ibn Khattab, do you doubt that they are a nation whom their nice things have been given immediately in the life of this world. I said: Allaah's Messenger! seek pardon for me. And he (Allaah's Messenger) had taken an oath that he would not visit them for a month due to extreme annoyance with them until Allaah showed His displeasure to him (Allaah's Messenger). Zuhri said: 'Urwa informed me that 'A'Isha (Allaah be pleased with her) said: When twenty-nine nights were over, Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) visited me, and he began (his visit) with me. I said: Messenger of Allaah, you had taken an oath that you would not visit us for a month, while you have visited after I have counted only twenty-nine (nights). Thereupon he said: The month may also be of twenty-nine (days). He then said: 'A'isha, I am going to talk to you about a matter, and you should not be hasty in it (and do not give your final decision) until you have consulted your parents. He then recited this verse to me:" O Prophet, say to your wives" till he reached" mighty reward" (xxxiii. 28). 'A'isha (Allaah be pleased with her) said: By Allaah, he knew that my parents would not allow me to separate from him. I said: Is there any need to consult my parents in this matter? I in fact choose Allaah and His Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and the abode in the Hereafter. Ma'mar said: Ayyub reported to me that 'A'isha said: Don't inform your wives that I have chosen you, whereupon Allaah's Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Verily Allaah has sent me as a conveyer of message, and He has not sent me as a source of hardship (to others). Qatada said:" Saghat qulubukum" means" Your hearts have inclined."