Sunan Ibn Majah
The Chapters on Marriage
كتاب النكاح
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) contracted marriage while in a state of ihram.
Chapter 45
الْمُحْرِمِ يَتَزَوَّجُ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Uthman ibn Affan said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘A person in ihram must not marry, arrange a marriage for another, or propose marriage.’
Chapter 46
الأَكْفَاءِ
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Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When someone whose character and religious commitment you approve comes to you, marry him. If you do not, there will be turmoil in the land and widespread corruption.’
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Aishah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Choose carefully for your offspring, marry suitable matches, and give your women in marriage to suitable men.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The source uses nuṭaf (‘seed’ or ‘seminal fluid’) figuratively for offspring and al-akfa’ for compatible or suitable spouses.
Chapter 47
الْقِسْمَةِ بَيْنَ النِّسَاءِ
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever has two wives and favors one over the other will come on the Day of Resurrection with one side of his body drooping.’
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Aishah reported that whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) traveled, he drew lots among his wives.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Aishah said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) divided his time among his wives and acted justly. Then he would say, ‘O Allah, this is my action in what I control, so do not blame me for what You control and I do not control.’
Chapter 48
الْمَرْأَةِ تَهَبُ يَوْمَهَا لِصَاحِبَتِهَا
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Aishah said: When Sawdah bint Zam‘ah grew older, she gave her day to me, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would assign Sawdah’s day to me.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Aishah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was upset with Safiyyah bint Huyayy about something. Safiyyah said, ‘Aishah, would you appease the Messenger of Allah on my behalf, and I will give you my day?’ She said, ‘Yes.’ Safiyyah took a head-covering of hers dyed with saffron and sprinkled it with water so its scent would spread. Then she sat beside the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet said, ‘Aishah, move away from me; this is not your day.’ She replied, ‘That is Allah’s favor; He grants it to whomever He wills.’ Then she told him what had happened, and he was pleased with Safiyyah.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The source does not specify what had upset the Prophet.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Aishah said: The verse ‘Reconciliation is better’ was revealed concerning a man whose wife had been with him a long time and borne him children. He wanted to replace her, so she reached an agreement with him to remain with him without him allotting her a turn.
Chapter 49
الشَّفَاعَةِ فِي التَّزْوِيجِ
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Abu Ruhm reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Among the best forms of intercession is to intercede between two people regarding marriage.’
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Aishah said: Usamah tripped on the doorway threshold and split his face. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, ‘Wipe the dirt away from him.’ I found it repulsive, so he began sucking the blood from the wound and spitting it away from his face. Then he said, ‘If Usamah were a girl, I would adorn and clothe him until I found him a husband.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The final verb unaffiquhu is rendered as ‘find him a husband’ in the sense of arranging a marriage; its exact nuance is uncommon.
فَتَقَذَّرْتُهُ فَجَعَلَ يَمَصُّ عَنْهُ الدَّمَ وَيَمُجُّهُ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " لَوْ كَانَ أُسَامَةُ جَارِيَةً لَحَلَّيْتُهُ وَكَسَوْتُهُ حَتَّى أُنَفِّقَهُ " .
The verb unaffiquhu at the end is uncommon and its precise meaning in this context is uncertain.
Does it mean to make him attractive or to arrange his marriage?
Chapter 50
حُسْنِ مُعَاشَرَةِ النِّسَاءِ
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Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family.’
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abdullah ibn Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘The best of you are the best of you to their wives.’
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Aishah said: The Prophet (ﷺ) raced me, and I beat him.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Aishah said: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) arrived in Medina as a newlywed with Safiyyah bint Huyayy, women of the Ansar came and told us about her. I disguised myself and veiled my face, then went to look. The Messenger of Allah looked at my eyes and recognized me. He turned around, and I quickened my pace. He caught up with me, embraced me, and asked, ‘How did you find her?’ I replied, ‘A Jewish woman among Jewish women!’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
Aishah’s final phrase is left as a literal exclamation; its intended implication is not explained in the report.
قَالَتْ قُلْتُ أَرْسِلْ يَهُودِيَّةٌ وَسْطَ يَهُودِيَّاتٍ .
The phrase arsilu yahudiyyatun wasaṭa yahudiyyāt (‘a Jewish woman among Jewish women’) is elliptical and its intended implication is not stated.
Is Aishah commenting on Safiyyah’s appearance, identity, or her place among the other women?
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Aishah said: I did not realize what was happening until Zaynab entered without permission, angry. She said, ‘Messenger of Allah, do you think it is enough for you when Abu Bakr’s little girl waves her little arms at you?’ Then she turned toward me. I turned away from her, until the Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘Go ahead; answer her in kind.’ I turned toward her and kept replying until I saw that her mouth had gone dry and she could not answer me. Then I saw the Prophet’s face beaming.
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The expression about Abu Bakr’s daughter turning her little arms is rendered as a gesture; it is a taunt whose precise nuance is not explicit.
ثُمَّ قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَحَسْبُكَ إِذَا قَلَبَتْ لَكَ بُنَيَّةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ذُرَيْعَتَيْهَا .
The phrase qalabat laka dhira‘ayha (‘turns/waves her two little arms for you’) is figurative and its exact nuance is unclear.
Should this be read as a taunt about Aishah’s gestures or as another expression of reproach?
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Aishah said: I used to play with dolls while I was with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He would let my girl companions come to me and play with me.
Chapter 51
ضَرْبِ النِّسَاءِ
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Abdullah ibn Zam‘ah said: The Prophet (ﷺ) delivered a sermon and admonished the people concerning women. He then said, ‘Why would one of you beat his wife as he would beat a slave, when perhaps he will lie with her at the end of that same day?’
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Aishah said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) never struck a servant or a woman, nor did he ever strike anything with his hand.