Select a passage to highlight it. Click or tap a highlight to remove it.
Text and translation
English translation
3551. It was narrated that Muḥammad said: "I was sitting with some people in Al-Kufah in a large gathering of the Anṣâr, among whom was 'Abdur-Raḥmân bin Abî Laila. They spoke about the story of Subai'ah and I mentioned what 'Abdullâh bin 'Utbah bin Mas'ûd had said in meaning." (One the narrators) Ibn 'Awn's saying was: "when she gives birth." Ibn Abî Layla said: 'But his (paternal) uncle did not say that.' I raised my voice and said: 'Would I dare to tell lies about 'Abdullâh bin 'Utbah when he is in the vicinity of Al-Kufah?'" He said: "Then I met Mâlik and said: 'What did Ibn Mas'ûd say about the story of Subai'ah?' He said: 'He said: "Are you going to be too strict with her and not allow her the concession (with regard to the Iddah)? The shorter Surah about women (At-Ṭalâq) was revealed after the longer one (Al-Baqarah)."' (Sahîh)
Your commentary saves automatically in this browser, separate from the published commentary. It stays private unless you include it in a shared study file.
Commentary
1. 'Be too strict?' means if the woman is made to adhere to the ultimate waiting period, then it is placing undue hardship upon her. That means if she gives birth to a child first, then she should complete four months and ten days; and if four months and ten days end first, she should wait for the child to be born. So to speak, 'Abdullâh bin Mas'ûd did not approve of this. For a pregnant woman, he used to stipulate the delivery as the waiting period also.
2. 'Shorter Surah about women' means Surat At-Talâq in which the Verse occurs: "And those who are with child, the end of their waiting period shall come when they deliver their burden (birth of a child)." (An-Nisa: 4)
3. The longer one' signifies that long or detailed Surah in which women's issues have been delineated. This means Surat Al-Baqarah, in which it has been mentioned that a woman whose husband dies, should wait for a period of four
months and ten days (before she may remarry).
4. The purpose of 'Abdullâh bin Mas'ud is that the Command concerning the pregnant woman was mentioned later; therefore, they are exempt from the restriction or command of four months and ten days, and this appears to be the best view.
