The Book of Divorce

Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna narrated to us: Hafs ibn Ghiyath narrated to us: Hisham narrated to us from his father, from Fatima bint Qays, who said: I said, “Messenger of Allah, my husband has divorced me three times, and I fear that someone may break in upon me.” He ordered her to move.

Muhammad ibn Hatim narrated this to me: Yahya ibn Said narrated to us from Ibn Jurayj. Muhammad ibn Rafi also narrated this to us: Abd al-Razzaq narrated to us from Ibn Jurayj. Harun ibn Abdullah narrated this to me—the wording is his: Hajjaj ibn Muhammad narrated to us and said: Ibn Jurayj said, “Abu al-Zubayr informed me that he heard Jabir ibn Abdullah say: My maternal aunt was divorced and wanted to harvest her date palms. A man scolded her for going out. She went to the Prophet, who said, ‘Yes, go and harvest your date palms, for perhaps you will give charity or do some good.’”

Abu Tahir and Harmala ibn Yahya narrated this to me; their wording was similar. Harmala said, “Ibn Wahb narrated to us,” and Abu Tahir said, “Ibn Wahb informed us.” Ibn Wahb said: Yunus ibn Yazid informed me from Ibn Shihab, who said: Ubayd Allah ibn Abdullah ibn Utba ibn Masud informed me that his father wrote to Umar ibn Abdullah ibn al-Arqam al-Zuhri, instructing him to visit Subaya bint al-Harith al-Aslamiyya and ask her about her report and what the Messenger of Allah had told her when she sought his ruling. Umar ibn Abdullah wrote to Abdullah ibn Utba, informing him that Subaya had told him: I was married to Saad ibn Khawla, a man of Banu Amir ibn Luayy and one of those who took part in Badr. He died during the Farewell Pilgrimage while I was pregnant. It was not long after his death before I gave birth. When I had recovered from childbirth, I adorned myself for suitors. Abu al-Sanabil ibn Baakak, a man from Banu Abd al-Dar, came in and said to me, “Why do I see you dressed up? Perhaps you are hoping to marry. By Allah, you may not marry until four months and ten days have passed.” Subaya said: When he said that to me, I gathered my clothes around me at evening and went to the Messenger of Allah to ask him about it. He ruled that my waiting period had ended when I gave birth, and told me that I could marry if I wished. Ibn Shihab said: I see no harm in her marrying as soon as she has given birth, even if she is still bleeding, except that her husband must not approach her until she is purified.