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حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، ذَكَرَ عُرْوَةُ أَنَّ مَرْوَانَ، وَالْمِسْوَرَ بْنَ مَخْرَمَةَ، أَخْبَرَاهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَامَ حِينَ جَاءَهُ وَفْدُ هَوَازِنَ، فَسَأَلُوهُ أَنْ يَرُدَّ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَسَبْيَهُمْ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ مَعِي مَنْ تَرَوْنَ، وَأَحَبُّ الْحَدِيثِ إِلَىَّ أَصْدَقُهُ، فَاخْتَارُوا إِحْدَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ إِمَّا الْمَالَ، وَإِمَّا السَّبْىَ، وَقَدْ كُنْتُ اسْتَأْنَيْتُ بِهِمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم انْتَظَرَهُمْ بِضْعَ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً حِينَ قَفَلَ مِنَ الطَّائِفِ، فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَيْرُ رَادٍّ إِلَيْهِمْ إِلاَّ إِحْدَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ قَالُوا فَإِنَّا نَخْتَارُ سَبْيَنَا‏.‏ فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي النَّاسِ، فَأَثْنَى عَلَى اللَّهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ إِخْوَانَكُمْ جَاءُونَا تَائِبِينَ، وَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَنْ أَرُدَّ إِلَيْهِمْ سَبْيَهُمْ، فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُطَيِّبَ ذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْعَلْ، وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَى حَظِّهِ حَتَّى نُعْطِيَهُ إِيَّاهُ مِنْ أَوَّلِ مَا يُفِيءُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا فَلْيَفْعَلْ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ طَيَّبْنَا ذَلِكَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّا لاَ نَدْرِي مَنْ أَذِنَ مِنْكُمْ مِمَّنْ لَمْ يَأْذَنْ فَارْجِعُوا حَتَّى يَرْفَعَ إِلَيْنَا عُرَفَاؤُكُمْ أَمْرَكُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَرَجَعَ النَّاسُ، فَكَلَّمَهُمْ عُرَفَاؤُهُمْ، ثُمَّ رَجَعُوا إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبَرُوهُ أَنَّهُمْ طَيَّبُوا وَأَذِنُوا، فَهَذَا الَّذِي بَلَغَنَا عَنْ سَبْىِ هَوَازِنَ‏.‏ وَقَالَ أَنَسٌ قَالَ عَبَّاسٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَادَيْتُ نَفْسِي، وَفَادَيْتُ عَقِيلاً‏.‏
Translation
Narrated Ibn Muhairiz

I saw Abu Sa`id and asked him about coitus interruptus. Abu Sa`id said, "We went with Allah's Apostle, in the Ghazwa of Bani Al-Mustaliq and we captured some of the 'Arabs as captives, and the long separation from our wives was pressing us hard and we wanted to practice coitus interruptus. We asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (whether it was permissible). He said, "It is better for you not to do so. No soul, (that which Allah has) destined to exist, up to the Day of Resurrection, but will definitely come, into existence."

Comment

Manumission of Slaves - Sahih al-Bukhari 2542

This narration from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri concerns the permissibility of coitus interruptus ('azl) during the expedition of Bani al-Mustaliq. The companions, experiencing prolonged separation from their wives, sought permission for this practice. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) responded that it is preferable to abstain from it, emphasizing divine decree (qadar) - that every soul destined for existence until the Day of Judgment will inevitably come into being.

Scholarly Commentary

Classical scholars interpret this hadith as indicating the permissibility of 'azl while discouraging it. Imam al-Nawawi explains that the Prophet's words "It is better for you not to do so" suggest makruh (disliked) rather than haram (forbidden), as the companions sought permission, not prohibition.

The theological dimension addresses divine preordainment: since Allah has decreed which souls will be created, practicing 'azl will not prevent what is destined. However, this does not negate human responsibility in taking permissible means while trusting in Allah's ultimate decree.

Scholars note this ruling applies specifically to intercourse with one's wife or concubine with her consent. The context of captives highlights that Islamic rulings accommodate human needs while maintaining spiritual consciousness.

Legal Rulings Derived

The majority of scholars (jumhur) consider 'azl permissible with a wife's consent, based on this and other authentic narrations. The Hanafi, Maliki, and Hanbali schools permit it, while the Shafi'i school considers it makruh.

Consent is essential as the wife has rights to children and sexual fulfillment. Without consent, 'azl would violate her rights and be prohibited.

This ruling demonstrates Islam's balanced approach to marital relations - allowing reasonable family planning while encouraging trust in divine providence and the blessing of children.