For deeper study, the complete text is available on Sunnah.com.
A superficial reading of the hadith might suggest that the woman was disrespectful to the Prophet, declaring "I seek refuge with Allah from you" as if she found him repulsive or threatening. However, classical scholars, including Shaykh Irshaad Sedick of SeekersGuidance, have clarified this misunderstanding. The hadith is authentic, but the woman’s behavior must be understood in light of her mental condition. The Prophet married a woman based on her father’s testimony only to discover she was mentally challenged. Her strange responses—claiming to be a princess, calling the Prophet an "ordinary man," recoiling from his calming gesture—were symptoms of her condition, not intentional insolence.
Sahih Bukhari 5255 highlights the expiatory effect of performing the five daily prayers and attending Friday prayers. By observing these obligatory acts of worship, Muslims can expiate for minor sins committed between these prayers. This Hadith underscores the significance of regular prayer performance in Islam, demonstrating how these acts of worship can serve as a means of spiritual cleansing and renewal.
In Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), the laws governing marriage and divorce are meticulously detailed to protect the sanctity of the family unit and the rights of both spouses. Among the foundational texts addressing these laws is . Located within the Kitab al-Talaq (Book of Divorce), this specific narration provides critical insight into how the Prophet Muhammad evaluated statements of divorce, particularly when issued under extreme emotional distress or conditions that impair a person's intent and free will. The Context and Placement in Sahih al-Bukhari
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ غَسِيلٍ، عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ أَبِي أُسَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي أُسَيْدٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى انْطَلَقْنَا إِلَى حَائِطٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ: الشَّوْطُ، حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى حَائِطَيْنِ فَجَلَسْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «اجْلِسُوا هَا هُنَا» وَدَخَلَ، وَقَدْ أُتِيَ بِالْجَوْنِيَّةِ، فَأُنْزِلَتْ فِي بَيْتٍ فِي نَخْلٍ فِي بَيْتِ أُمَيْمَةَ بِنْتِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ شَرَاحِيلَ، وَمَعَهَا دَايَتُهَا حَاضِنَةٌ لَهَا، فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «هَبِي نَفْسَكِ لِي» قَالَتْ: وَهَلْ تَهَبُ المَلِكَةُ نَفْسَهَا لِلسُّوقَةِ؟ قَالَ: فَأَهْوَى بِيَدِهِ يَضَعُ يَدَهُ عَلَيْهَا لِتَسْكُنَ، فَقَالَتْ: أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْكَ، فَقَالَ: «قَدْ عُذْتِ بِمَعَاذٍ» ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا فَقَالَ: «يَا أَبَا أُسَيْدٍ، اكْسُهَا رَازِقِيَّتَيْنِ، وَأَلْحِقْهَا بِأَهْلِهَا» sahih bukhari 5255
The Prophet immediately ended the union when she expressed discomfort.
The event takes place when the Prophet and his companions, including Abu Usaid, go out to a garden called
The narration recounts an incident where the Prophet (ﷺ) entered upon a lady from Bani Jaun (the Jauniyya) who, upon being asked by him to offer herself in marriage, expressed reluctance and sought refuge in Allah. The Prophet (ﷺ) immediately respected her decision, and instructed Abu Usaid to provide her with two white linen dresses and arrange for her return to her family. Key Aspects and Scholarly Interpretations
The Prophet immediately accepted her words and ordered her return to her family, serving as an example of direct divorce. For deeper study, the complete text is available on Sunnah
Imam Bukhari placed this hadith in the chapter titled: "Should a man tell his wife face to face that she is divorced" .
Scholars highlight this narration as a primary source for validating a woman's right to consent in Islamic law. The Prophet immediately respected her desire, showcasing the importance of female autonomy, notes Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani .
The Prophet Muhammad recognized the validity of her emotional state. He did not force her to remain in an unhappy union, nor did he reprimand her. Instead, he asked a practical question: "Will you return his garden to him?"
The person is angry but remains in full control of their mental faculties. They know exactly what they are saying, mean it, and understand the consequences. Verdict: The divorce is valid and counts. The hadith is authentic, but the woman’s behavior
Do you need assistance understanding the used in this chapter?
To understand the weight of Hadith 5255, one must recall the famous incident of the three men who came to the Prophet’s wives asking about his private worship. One said, "I will pray all night, never sleeping." Another said, "I will fast continuously, never breaking my fast." A third said, "I will never marry women." The Prophet reacted with anger, declaring, "I am the most God-fearing among you, yet I pray and sleep, fast and break my fast, and marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me."
"The five daily prayers and the Friday prayer to the next Friday prayer are an expiation for what is between them." (Sahih Bukhari 5255)