Mishkat al-Masabih

“When a man has intercourse with his wife through the vagina, but being on her back, the child will have a squint,” so the verse came down, “Your wives are a tilth to you, so come to your tilth however you will” (Al-Qur’an 2:223). (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said that in the period when the Qur'an was coming down they used to withdraw the penis.* * i.e. before emission of semen, to avoid conception. (Bukhari and Muslim.) Muslim added that the Prophet heard of that and did not prohibit it.

He told of a man who went to God's Messenger and said, “I have a slave-girl who is our servant and I have intercourse with her, but do not want her to conceive.” He replied, “Withdraw your penis from her if you wish, for what is decreed for her will come to her.” After a time the man came and told him the girl had become pregnant, and he said, “I told you that what was decreed for her would come to her.” Muslim transmitted it.

We went out with God’s Messenger on the expedition to the B. al-Mustaliq (an expedition in 6 A.H) and took some Arab women captive, and we desired the women, for we were suffering from the absence of our wives. We liked withdrawing the penis and wanted to do so, but we asked ourselves whether we could do it when God’s Messenger was among us before asking him. So we asked him about that and he replied, “It does not matter if you do not do it, for every soul that is to be born up to the day of resurrection will be born.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said that when God’s Messenger was asked about withdrawing the penis he replied, “The child does not come from all the liquid, and when God intends to create anything nothing can prevent Him.” Muslim transmitted it.

Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas told of a man who came to God's Messenger and said that he withdrew his penis from his wife. He asked him why he did that and the man replied that he feared for her child, so God’s Messenger said, “If that were injurious it would injure the Persians and the Greeks.”* * This is explained as referring to a woman who is suckling a child, and the fear that the child, would be injured if she became pregnant. Muslim transmitted it.

I was with God’s Messenger along with some people when he was saying, “I intended to prohibit suckling during pregnancy* but I considered the Greeks and the Persians and saw that they suckled their children during pregnancy without any injury being caused to their children thereby.” Then they asked him about withdrawing the penis and God’s Messenger replied, “That is the secret burying alive” and reference is made to it in the words, “When the girl buried alive will be asked (Al-Qur’an 81:8).” *(Ghila. It means either suckling during pregnancy, or intercourse with a woman while she is suckling a child. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God's Messenger as saying, “The most serious breach of trust in God’s sight on the day of resurrection ...” A version has, “Among those who will have the worst position in God’s sight on the day of resurrection is the man who has intercourse with his wife, and she with him, and then spreads her secret.”* * i.e. talks about the subject to others, or tells people about defects or beauties he has found in her. Muslim transmitted it.

God’s Messenger received the revelation, “Your wives are a tilth to you, so come to your tilth . . .” (Al-Qur’an 2:223) that means from in front or behind, but avoid the anus and intercourse during menstruation. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Khuzaima b. Thabit reported the Prophet as saying, “God is not ashamed of the truth. Do not have intercourse with women through the anus.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who has intercourse with his wife through her anus is accursed.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God will not look at him who has intercourse with his wife through her anus.” It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God will not look at a man who has intercourse with a man or a woman through the anus.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Asma’ daughter of Yazid said she heard God’s Messenger say, “Do not kill your children secretly, for the milk with which a child is suckled while his mother is pregnant overtakes the horseman and throws him from his horse.”* * It is here said that a child which is suckled while his mother is pregnant will suffer from it in later life, the tradition speaking specifically of his being thrown from his horse and killed. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Umar b. al-Khattab said God’s Messenger forbade withdrawing the penis from a free woman unless she gives permission. Ibn Majah transmitted it.

'Urwa told on' A’isha’s authority that God’s Messenger said to her concerning Barira, “Take her and set her free.” Now her husband was a slave, so God’s Messenger gave her her choice and she chose to separate from him; but if he had been free he would not have given her her choice. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Barira’s husband was a negro slave called Mughith whom I can still picture going round behind her in the streets of Medina weeping with the tears flowing on his beard. The Prophet said to al- ‘Abbas, “Are you not astonished, ‘Abbas, at Mughith’s love; of Barira and Barira’s hatred of Mughith?" The Prophet expressed a wish that she would take him back, but when she asked whether he was giving her a command and he replied that he was merely interceding, she said, “I have no need of him.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘A’isha said she wanted to set free two slaves of hers who were married, so she consulted the Prophet and he ordered her to begin with the man before the woman. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

She said that Barira became free when she was with Mughith and God’s Messenger gave her her choice saying, “If he has intercourse with you, you will not be allowed to exercise choice.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Sahl b. Sa'd told of a woman who came to God’s Messenger and offered herself to him. When she had stood for a long time (i.e. without receiving an answer) a man got up and said, “Messenger of God, marry her to me if you have no need of her.” He asked him if he had anything to give her as dower, and when he replied that he had nothing but the lower garment he was wearing, he said, “Look for something, even though it should be an iron ring.” Then when the man had sought and found nothing God’s Messenger asked whether he knew any of the Qur'an, and when he replied that he knew surah so and so and surah so and so, he said, “I have given you her in marriage for the part of the Qur’an which you know.” In a version he said, “Go away, for I have given you her in marriage; and teach her some of the Qur'an." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Salama said he asked ‘A’isha how much the Prophet had given as dower, and she replied that his dower to his wives was twelve uqiyas* and a nashsh. She asked whether he knew what a nashsh was, and when he replied that he did not, she said it was half an uqiya; so the total was five hundred dirhams. * The uqiya was 40 dirhams. Muslim transmitted it. Nashsh is in the nominative in Sharh as-sunna and all the sources.

Do not go to extremes in giving women their dower, for if it represented honour in this world and piety in Gods sight, the one of you most entitled to do so would have been God's Prophet. I am not aware of God’s Messenger marrying any of his wives or giving any of his daughters in marriage for more than twelve uqiyas. Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, "If anyone gives as a dower to his wife two handfuls of flour or dates he has made her lawful for him.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Amir b. Rabi'a said that a woman of the B. Fazara was married for a dower of two sandals. When God’s Messenger asked whether she was satisfied with two sandals regarding her person and her property and she replied that she was, he gave his approval. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Alqama quoted Ibn Mas'ud as saying he was asked about a man who had married a woman without fixing any settlement on her or cohabiting with her till he died. Ibn Mas'ud said she should receive the type of dower given to women of her class with so diminution or excess, observe the ‘idda period and have her share of the inheritance. Ma'qil b. Sinan al-Ashja‘i then got up and said, "God’s Messenger gave a decision regarding Birwa’ daughter of Washiq, a woman of our tribe, to the same effect as the decision you have given; and Ibn Mas'ud was pleased about the decision. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i and Darimi transmitted it.

Umm Habiba said she was married to ‘Abdallah b. Jahsh who died in Abyssinia, so the Negus married her to the Prophet, giving her on his behalf a dower of four thousand. (A version has four thousand dirhams.) He sent her to God’s Messenger with Shurahbil b. Hasana. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Anas said that Abu Talha married Umm Sulaim, the dower between them being acceptance of Islam. Umm Sulaim had become a Muslim before Abu Talha, and when he asked her in marriage she said, "I have become a Muslim, so if you become one I shall marry you.” He then accepted Islam and that was the dower arranged between them. Nasa’i transmitted it.

Anas said the Prophet saw the trace of yellow on ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf and asked what that was. He replied, “I have married a woman for a nawat* weight of gold.” He said, “God bless you! Hold a wedding- feast, even if only with a sheep.” *a weight of five dirhams. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said that God's Messenger did not hold such a wedding-feast for any of his wives as he did for Zainab. He held a wedding-feast with a sheep. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said that God’s Messenger held a wedding-feast when he took up cohabitation with Zainab daughter of Jahsh and gave the people their fill of bread and meat. Bukhari transmitted it.

He said that God’s Messenger set Safiya free and married her, making her freedom her dower, and he held a wedding-feast for her with hais (A dish made of dates mixed with clarified butter and dried curd, kneaded and rubbed together. Sometimes flour was added.) (Bukhari and Muslim.)

The Prophet stayed three nights between Khaibar and Medina when he took up cohabitation with Safiya, and I called the Muslims to his wedding-feast which included no bread or meat. He just ordered some cloths to be spread, and dates, dried curd and clarified butter were thrown on them. Bukhari transmitted it.

Safiya daughter of Shaiba said the Prophet held a wedding-feast for one of his wives with two muds of barley. Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you is invited to a wedding-feast he must attend it.” In a version by Muslim he said, “He must accept, whether it is a wedding-feast or something of that nature.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you is invited to a meal he must accept. If he wishes he may eat, but if he wishes he may leave the food alone.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The worst kind of food is that at a wedding-feast to which the rich are invited and from which the poor are left out. If anyone rejects an invitation he has disobeyed God and His Messenger.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

One of the Ansar whose kunya was Abu Shu'aib had a servant who sold meat. He said, “Prepare for me food which will be enough for five; perhaps I shall invite the Prophet along with other four.” He prepared a small meal for him, and then he went and invited him. A man followed them, and the Prophet said, “A man has followed us, Abu Shu'aib, so if you wish you may let him join us, but if you wish you may leave him outside.” He replied, “No, I shall let him join us.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said the Prophet held a wedding-feast for Safiya with meal and dates. Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Safina told that 'Ali b. Abu Talib prepared food for a man who was his guest, and Fatima said, "I wish we had invited God’s Messenger and he had eaten with us.” They invited him and when he came he put his hands on the side-posts of the door, but when he saw the figured curtain which had been put at the end of the house he went away. Fatima said she followed him and asked, “What turned you back, Messenger of God?” He replied, “It is not fitting for me or for any prophet to enter a house which is decorated.” Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. 'Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who does not accept an invitation which he receives has disobeyed God and His Messenger, and he who enters without an invitation enters as a thief and goes out as a raider.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

A companion of God’s Messenger reported him as saying, “When two people come together to issue an invitation accept that of the one who lives nearer you, but if one of them comes before the other accept the invitation of the one who comes first.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The food on the first day is a duty, that on the second is a sunna, but that on the third day is to make men hear of it; and if anyone makes men hear of what he does God will make him heard of” (i.e. will publish his hypocrisy on the day of resurrection). Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Ikrima, on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas, said the Prophet forbade that the food of two people who were rivalling one another should be eaten. Abu Dawud transmitted it. Muhyi as-Sunna said the sound version is that it comes from ‘Ikrima from the Prophet in mursal form.

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “The invitations of two people who are rivalling one another should not be accepted, and the food they provide should not be eaten.” The imam Ahmad said it means two people who are competing with one another in providing a feast out of self-glory and ostentation. Baihaqi transmitted in Shu'ab al-iman

‘Imran b. Husain said God’s Messenger forbade accepting invitations to food provided by profligates. Baihaqi transmitted in Shu'ab al-iman

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “When one of you visits his brother Muslim he should eat of his food without asking questions and drink from what he provides without asking questions.” Baihaqi transmitted the three traditions in Shu'ab al-iman, saying that if is sound, it is because a Muslim would obviously give him only food and drink which were lawful in his opinion.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that when God’s Messenger died he left nine wives, eight of whom he used to visit equally. (The next tradition explains this) (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’isha told that when Sauda became old she said, “Messenger of God, I appoint to ‘A'isha the day you visit me” (Cf. the last tradition in this chapter). So God’s Messenger allotted two days to ‘A’isha, hers and Sauda’s. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She said that during the illness of which God’s Messenger died he was asking, “Where do I go tomorrow? Where do I go tomorrow?” That was on ‘A’isha’s day. His wives therefore permitted him to go where he wished, and he stayed in ‘A’isha’s house till he died there. Bukhari transmitted it.

She said that when God’s Messenger intended to go on a journey he cast lots among his wives and the one who was chosen by lot went on it with him. (Bukhari and Muslim.)