Question

What is the grade of this narration?

Three matters done in seriousness are serious and their being done jokingly are serious; marriage, divorce and taking back a wife.

Answer

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

There are three things which, whether undertaken seriously or in jest, are treated as serious; Marriage, divorce and taking back a wife (after a revocable divorce)

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1184, Sunan Abi Dawud: Hadith: 2194 and Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 2039)

Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has classified the above Hadith as sound (hasan).

Note: Some versions of this narration mention “freeing a slave” in place of taking back a wife after a revocable divorce.

(Refer: Nasbur Rayah, vol. 3, pg. 293/294)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar