Question

Is this Hadith reliable?

Sayyiduna ‘Abu Sa’id Al Khudri (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “A woman came to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) while we were with him. She said: O Messenger of Allah, my husband, Safwan ibn al-Mu’attal, beats me when I pray, makes me break my fast when I keep a fast and he does not offer Fajr Salah until the sun rises.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked Safwan (radiyallahu ‘anhu), who was present, about what she had said. He replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, as for her statement ‘He beats me when I pray’, she recites two Surahs [in Salah] and I have prohibited her [to do so]. He (Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: If one surah is recited [in Salah], that is sufficient for the people.

(Safwan radiyallahu ‘anhu continued) As for her saying ‘He makes me break my fast’, she fasts; I am a young man, I cannot restrain myself. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said on that day, ‘A woman should not fast except with the permission of her husband.’

(Safwan radiyallahu ‘anhu said), As for her statement that I do not offer Fajr Salah until the sun rises, we are a people belonging to a class, and that [our profession of supplying water throughout the entire night] is already known about us. We do not awake until the sun [almost]  rises. He said: When you awake, offer your prayer.

 

Answer

Imam Abu Dawud (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith.

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 2451)

 

Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith authentic. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has also declared the chain authentic (sahih)

(Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 1488, Al Isabah, vol. 5 pg. 280)

 

Note:

1) ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) was of the view that this was not Safwan ibn Mu’attal (radiyallahu ‘anhu), rather it was another Sahabi by the name of Safwan.

(Refer: Siyaru A’alamin Nubala, vol. 2 pg. 550, Fathul Bari, Hadith: 4750, vol. 8 pg. 462, footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah hafizahullah on Abu Dawud and Al Isabah)

 

2) I have merely answered your question regarding the authenticity of the Hadith in question. Kindly refer to a reputable Mufti/Darul Ifta regarding the Fiqh laws deduced from this Hadith.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar