The Book of Marriage

كتاب النكاح

Chapter 19: Proposal of Marriage

Narrated 'Amir bin Shurahbil Ash-Sha'bi

'Amir bin Shurahbil Ash-Sha'bi narrated that he heard Fatimah bint Qais--who was one of the first Muhajir women-- say: 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf proposed marriage to me, along with others of the Companions of Muhammad. And the Messenger of Allah proposed that I marry his freed slave, Usamah bin Zaid. I was told that the Messenger of Allah had said: 'Whoever loves me, let him love Usamah.' When the Messenger of Allah spoke to me I said: 'My affairs are in your hands; marry me to whomever you wish.' He said: 'Go to Umm Sharik.' Umm Sharik was a rich Ansari woman who used to spend a great deal in the cause of Allah, and she always had a lot of guests. I said: 'I will do that.' He said: 'Do not do that, for Umm Sharik has a lot of guests, and I would not like your Khimar to fall off, or your shins to become uncovered, and the people to see something of you that you do not want them to see. Rather go to your cousin (son of your paternal uncle) 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Umm Maktum, who is a man of Banu Fihr.' So I went to him."

Chapter 22: If A Woman Consults A Man Concerning The One Who Has Proposed To Her, Should He Tell Her Of What He Knows?

It was narrated from Fatimah bint Qais that Abu 'Amr bin Hafs issued a final divorce to her while he was absent. His deputy sent some barley to her but she did not like it. He said

"By Allah, you have no rights over us." She went to the Messenger of Allah and told him about that, and he said: "You have no right to maintenance." He told her to observe her 'Iddah in the house of Umm Sharik, then he said: "She is a woman whose house is frequented by my Companions. Observe your 'Iddah in the house of Ibn Umm Maktum, for he is a blind man and you can take off your garment. And when your 'Iddah is over, let me know." She said: "When my 'Iddah was over I told him that Mu'awiyah bin Abi Sufyan and Abu Jahm had proposed marriage to me. The Messenger of Allah said: 'As for Abu Jahm, his stick never leaves his shoulder, and as for Mu'awiyah he is a poor man who has no wealth. Rather you should marry Usamah bin Zaid.' I did not like the idea, then he said: 'Marry Usamah bin Zaid.' So I married him and Allah created a lot of good in him, and others felt jealous of my good fortune."

Chapter 23: If A Man Consults Another Man About A Woman, Should He Tell Him What He Knows?

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"A man of the Ansar came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'I have married a woman.' He said: 'Did you look at her? For there is something in the eyes of the Ansar.'"

Chapter 24: A Man Offering His Daughter In Marriage To Someone Whom He Likes

It was narrated that 'Umar said

"Hafsah bint 'Umar became single when (her husband) Khunais -meaning bin Hudhafah- (died). He was one of the Companions of the Prophet who had been present at Badr, and he died in Al-Madinah. I met 'Uthman bin 'Affan and offered Hafsah in marriage to him. I said: 'If you wish, I will marry you to Hafsah.' He said: 'I will think about it.' A few days passed, then I met him and he said: 'I do not want to get married at the moment.'" 'Umar said: "Then I met Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, and said: 'If you wish, I will marry Hafsah to you.' He did not give me any answer, and I felt more upset with him than I had with 'Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him. Several days passed, then the Messenger of Allah proposed marriage to her, and I married her to him. Abu Bakr met me and said: 'Perhaps you felt upset with me when you offered Hafsah in marriage to me and I did not give you an answer?' I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Nothing prevented me from giving you an answer when you made the offer to me except the fact that I had heard the Messenger of Allah speak of her, and I did not want to disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah; if he had left her, then I would have married her.'"

Chapter 27: How To Do Istikharah

It was narrated that Jabir bin 'Abdullah said

"The Messenger of Allah used to teach his Companions to perform Istikharah in all matters, just as he used to teach them Surahs from the Qur'an. He said: 'If any one of you is deliberating about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two Rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say: Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi 'ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as'aluka min fadlika, fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allam al-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amra khayrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa aqibati amri faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li fihi. Allahumma, wa in kunta ta'lamu annahu sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri fasrifhu 'anni wasrifni 'anhu waqdur li al-khayr haythu kana, thumma radini bihi. (O Allah, I seek Your guidance (in making a choice) by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if in Your knowledge, this matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: both in this world and in the Hereafter), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: for me both in this world and the next), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be and make me pleased with it.)"

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

It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that the Prophet said

"The guardian has no right (to force) the previously married woman (into a marriage). And an orphan girl should be consulted, and her silence is her approval."

Chapter 37: The Concession Allowing A Muhrim To Marry

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said

"The Messenger of Allah married Maimunah bint Al-Harith when he was a Muhrim." According to the Hadith of Ya'la (one of the narrators): "In Sarif."

It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that the Messenger of Allah married Maimunah when he was a Muhrim.

Chapter 40: What Is Disliked In The Khutbah

It was narrated that 'Adiyy bin Hatim said

"Two men recited a Tashahhud before the Prophet and one of them said: 'Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has been guided aright and whoever disobeys them has gone astray.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'What a bad speaker you are!'"

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

It was narrated from 'Irak bin Malik that Zainab bint Abi Salamah told him, that Umm Habibah said to the Messenger of Allah

"We have been saying that you want to marry Durrah bint Abi Salamah." The Messenger of Allah said: "As a co-wife to Umm Salamah? Even if I were not married to Umm Salamah, she would not be permissible to me, for her father is my brother through breast-feeding."

Chapter 46: The Prohibition Of Being Married To Two Sisters

It was narrated from Umm Habibah that she said

"O Messenger of Allah, what do you think of my sister?" He said: "What for?" She said: "For marriage." He 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." He said: "She is not permissible for me (to marry)." She said: "But I heard that you want to marry Durrah, the daughter of Umm Salamah." He said: "The daughter of Umm Salamah?" She said: "Yes." He said: "By Allah, even if she were not my stepdaughter she would not be permissible for me (to marry), because she is the daughter of my brother through breast-feeding. Do not offer your daughters and sisters to me in marriage."

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

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Messenger of Allah said: '(A man should not be married to) a woman and her paternal aunt nor to a woman and her maternal aunt at the same time.'"

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah forbade being married to a woman and her paternal aunt or maternal aunt at the same time.

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Messenger of Allah forbade taking a woman as a co-wife to her paternal aunt or her maternal aunt."

Chapter 48: The Prohibition Of Being Married To A Woman And Her Maternal 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."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Messenger of Allah forbade taking a woman 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 the Prophet said

"What becomes unlawful (for marriage) through birth becomes unlawful through breast-feeding."

It was narrated that 'Amrah said

"I heard 'Aishah say: The Messenger of Allah said: 'What becomes unlawful (for marriage) through breast-feeding is that which becomes unlawful through birth.'"

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

It was narrated that 'Aishah said

"One of the things that Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed" -(one of the narrators) Al-Harith said (in his narration): "One of the things that were revealed in the Qur'an"- "was that ten known breast-feedings make marriage prohibited, then that was abrogated and changed to five known breast-feedings. Then the Messenger of Allah passed away when this was something that was still being recited in the Qur'an."

Chapter 52: The Breast Milk Belongs To The Husband

It was narrated from 'Amrah that 'Aishah told her that the Messenger of Allah was with her, and she heard a man asking permission to enter Hafsah's house. 'Aishah said

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, there is a man asking permission to enter your house.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'I think it is so-and-so the paternal uncle of Hafsah through breast-feeding.' 'Aishah said: If so-and-so (her own paternal uncle through breast-feeding) were alive, would he be allowed to enter upon me?' The Messenger of Allah said: 'What becomes unlawful (for marriage) through breast-feeding is that which becomes unlawful through birth.'"