The Book of Marriage

كتاب النكاح

Chapter 11: It Is Disliked To Marry One Who Is Infertile

Narrated Ma'qil bin Yasar

It was narrated that Ma'qil bin Yasar said: "A man came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'I have found a woman who is from a good family and of good status, but she does not bear children, should I marry her?' He told him not to. Then he came to him a second time and he told him not to (marry her). Then he came to him a third time and he told him not to (marry her), then he said: 'Marry the one who is fertile and loving, for I will boast of your great numbers.'"

Chapter 12: Marrying An Adulteress

Narrated 'Amr bin Shu'aib

It was narrated from 'Amr bin Shu'aib, from his father, from his grandfather, that Marthad bin Abi Marthad Al-Ghanawi --a strong man who used to take the prisoners from Makkah to Al-Madinah-- said: "I arranged with a man to bring him (from Makkah to Al-Madinah). There was a prostitute in Makkah who was called 'Anaq, and she was his friend. She came out and saw my shadow on the wall, and said: 'Who is this? Marthad? Welcome, O Marthad, come tonight and stay at our place.' I said: 'O 'Anaq, the Messenger of Allah has forbidden adultery.' She said: 'O people of the tents, this porcupine is the one who is taking your prisoners from Makkah to Al-Madinah!' I headed toward (the mountain of) Al-Khandamah, and eight men came after me. They came and stood over my head, and they urinated, and their urine reached me, but Allah caused them not to see me. Then I went to my companion (the prisoner) and brought him to Al-Arak, where I undid his fetters. Then I came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, shall I marry 'Anaq?' He remained silent and did not answer me, then the following was revealed: 'And the adulteress-fornicator, none marries her except an adulterer-fornicator or an idolater.' He called me and recited them to me and said: 'Do not marry her.'"

Chapter 15: The Righteous Woman

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As that the Messenger of Allah said: "This world is all temporary conveniences, and the best temporary convenience of this world is a righteous woman."

Chapter 16: The Jealous Woman

Narrated Anas

It was narrated from Anas that they said: "O Messenger of Allah, why don't you marry a woman from the Ansar?" He said: "They are very jealous."

Chapter 20: Prohibition of Proposing Marriage To A Woman When Someone Else Has Already Proposed To Her

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said

"None of you should propose marriage to a woman when someone else has already proposed to her."

Chapter 21: Proposing Marriage When The Other Suitor Gives Up The Idea Or Gives Permission

'Abdullah bin 'Amr used to say

"The Messenger of Allah forbade offering more for something that has already been bought by his brother, or for a man to propose marriage to a woman when someone else has already proposed to her, unless the previous suitor gave up the idea or gave him permission."

It was narrated from Muhammad bin 'Abdur-Rahman bin Thawban that they asked Fatimah bint Qais about her story and she said

"My husband divorced me three times, and he used to provide me with food that was not good." She said: "By Allah, if I were entitled to maintenance and accommodation I would demand them and I would not accept this." The deputy said: "You are not entitled to accommodation or maintenance." She said: "I came to the Prophet and told him about that, and he said: 'You are not entitled to accommodation nor maintenance; observe your 'Iddah in the house of so-and-so.' She said: 'His Companions used to go to her.' Then he said: 'Observe your 'Iddah in the house of Ibn Umm Maktum, who is blind, and when your 'Iddah is over, let me know.'" She said: "When my 'Iddah was over, I let him know. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Who has proposed marriage to you?' I said: 'Mu'awiyah and another man from the Quraish.' He said: 'As for Mu'awiyah, he is a boy among the Quraish and does not have anything, and as for the other he is a bad man with no goodness in him. Rather you should marry Usamah bin Zaid.'" She said: "I did not like the idea." But he said that to her three times so she married him.

Chapter 26: A Woman Doing Istikharah If She Receives A Proposal Of Marriage

It was narrated that Anas said

"When the 'Iddah of Zainab was over, the Messenger of Allah said to Zaid: 'Propose marriage to her on my behalf.' Zaid went and said: 'O Zainab, rejoice, for the Messenger of Allah has sent me to you to propose marriage on his behalf.' She said: 'I will not do anything until I consult my Lord.' She went to her prayer place and Qur'an was revealed, then the Messenger of Allah came and entered upon her without any formalities."

Chapter 29: A Man Marrying Off His Young Daughter

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah married her when she was nine and he died when she was eighteen years old.

Chapter 31: Asking A Virgin For Permission With Regard To Marriage

It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that the Prophet said

"A previously married woman has more right to decide about herself (with regard to marriage) than her guardian, and an orphan girl should be consulted, and her permission is her silence."

Chapter 33: Seeking The Consent Of A Previously Married Woman With Regard To Marriage

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said

"A previously married woman should not be married until her permission has been sought, and a virgin should not be married until her consent is sought." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, how does she give her permission?" He said: "Her permission is if she keeps silent."

Chapter 36: Father Marrying Off A Virgin When She Is Unwilling

It was narrated from 'Aishah

"A girl came to her and said: 'My father married me to his brother's son so that he might raise his own status thereby, and I was unwilling.' She said: 'Sit here until the Prophet comes.' Then the Messenger of Allah came, and I told him (what she had said). He sent word to her father, calling him, and he left the matter up to her. She said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I accept what my father did, but I wanted to know whether women have any say in the matter.'"

Chapter 37: The Concession Allowing A Muhrim To Marry

It was narrated from Abu Ash-Sha'tha' that Ibn 'Abbas told him

"The Prophet married Maimunah when he was a Muhrim."

Chapter 42: Conditions In Marriage

It was narrated from 'Utbah bin 'Amir that the Messenger of Allah said

"The conditions that are most deserving of fulfillment, are those by means of which the private parts become allowed to you."

Chapter 45: The Prohibition of Being Married To Both A Mother And Daughter

It was narrated from Zainab bint Abi Salamah that Umm Habibah, the wife of the Prophet said

"O Messenger of Allah, marry the daughter of my father" - meaning her sister. The Messenger of Allah said: "Would you like that?" She said: "Yes; I do not have you all to myself, and I would like to share this goodness with my sister." The Prophet said: "That is not permissible for me." Umm Habibah said: "O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, we have been saying that you want to marry Durrah bint Abi Salamah." He said: "The daughter of Umm Salamah?" I said: "Yes." He said: "By Allah, even if she were not my stepdaughter who is in my care, she would not be permissible for me (to marry), because she is the daughter of my brother through breast-feeding. Thuwaibah breastfed Abu Salamah and I. So do not offer your daughters or sisters to me in marriage."

Chapter 47: Being Married To A Woman And Her Paternal Aunt At The Same Time

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said

"A woman should not be taken as a co-wife to her paternal aunt or her maternal aunt."

Chapter 49: What Becomes Unlawful As A Result Of Breast-feeding

It was narrated from 'Aishah that her paternal uncle through breast-feeding, whose name was Aflah, asked permission to meet her, and she observed Hijab before him. The Messenger of Allah was told about that and he said

"Do not observe Hijab before him, for what becomes unlawful (for marriage) through breast-feeding is that which becomes unlawful through lineage."

Chapter 50: The Daughter Of One's Brother Through Breast-feeding Is Forbidden For Marriage

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said

"Mention was made to the Messenger of Allah of the daughter of Hamzah (as a potential wife). He said: 'She is the daughter of my brother through breast-feeding.'" (One of the narrators) Shu'bah said: "Qatadah heard this from Jabir bin Zaid."

Chapter 51: The Amount Of Breast-feeding That Makes Marriage Prohibited

It was narrated that 'Aishah said

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Suckling once or twice does not make (marriage) prohibited.'"

Sa'eed narrated from Qatadah

"We wrote to Ibrahim bin Yazid An-Nakha'i asking him about breast-feeding. He wrote back saying that Shuraih had narrated that 'Ali and Ibn Mas'ud used to say: 'A little or a lot of breast-feeding makes marriage prohibited.'" In his book, it said that Abu Ash-Sha'tha' Al-Muharibi narrated that 'Aishah had told him that the Prophet of Allah used to say: "Suckling (Al-Khatfah) once or twice does not make (marriage) prohibited."