Sunan Abi Dawud — Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah)

Ibn Masu’d reported the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) as saying “ A woman should not rub her body directly with the body of another woman so that she describes it to her husband as if he were looking at her.”

Muhairiz said “I entered the mosque and saw Abu Sa’id Al Khudri . I sat with him and asked about withdrawing the penis (while having intercourse). Abu Sa’id said We went out with the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) on the expedition to Banu Al Mustaliq and took some Arab women captive and we desired the women for we were suffering from the absence of our wives and we wanted ransom, so we intended to withdraw the penis (while having intercourse with the slave women). But we asked ourselves “can we draw the penis when the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) is among us before asking him about it? So we asked him about it. He said “it does not matter if you do not do it, for very soul that is to be born up to the Day of Resurrection will be born.”

Yunus bin Jubair said “I asked ‘Abd Allah bin ‘Umar “A man divorced his wife while she was menstruating? He said do you know ‘Abd Allah bin ‘Umar? He said, yes. ‘Abd Allah bin ‘Umar divorced his wife while she was menstruating. So, ‘Umar came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked him (about this matter). He said Command him to take her back in marriage he may the divorce her in the beginning of the waiting period. I (Ibn Jubair) asked him “Will this divorce be counted? He said “Why not?” If he was helpless and showed his foolishness (that would have been counted).

Maimun bin Mihram said “I came to Median and went to Sa’id bin Al Musayyab”. I said (to him) Fathimah daughter of Qais was divorced and she shifted from her house. Sa’id said “This woman has perverted people. She was arrogant so she was placed with Ibn Umm Makhtum, the blind.”

‘Abd Allaah (bin Masud) said “I asked Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) which sin is the gravest?” He replied “That you associate someone with Allaah, while He has created you”. I again asked “Which then?” He replied “That you commit adultery with the wife of your neighbor.” Allaah then revealed the following Qur’anic verse in support of the statement of the Prophet (ﷺ) “Those who invoke not with Allaah any other god nor slay such life as Allaah has made sacred except for just cause nor commit fornication.”

Messenger of Allah, tell me about jihad and fighting. He replied: Abdullah ibn Amr, if you fight with endurance seeking from Allah your reward, Allah will resurrect you showing endurance and seeking your reward from Him, but, if you fight for vain show seeking to acquire much, Allah will resurrect you making a vain show and seeking to acquire much. In whatever you fight or are killed, Abdullah ibn Amr, in that state Allah will resurrect you.

Anas bin Malik said “I brought my brother when he was born to Prophet(ﷺ) to chew something for him and rub his palate with it and found him in a sheep pen branding the sheep, I think, on their ears.”

The tradition mentioned above has also been narrated by Anas bin Malik through a different chain of narrators. He mentioned similar words. Abu Dawud said “the strongest of these traditions is the one of Sa’id bin Abu Al Hasan. The rest are weak.

Abu Musa reported the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) as saying “ When one of you passes our Masjid or our market with an arrow, he should hold its head or hold it with its hand (the narrator is doubtful) so that no harm may be done to any Muslim.”

Yunus ibn Ubayd, client of Muhammad ibn al-Qasim, said that Muhammad ibn al-Qasim sent to al-Bara’ ibn Azib to ask him about the standard of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: It was black and square, being made of a woollen rug.

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) proceeded on journey, he would say: O Allah, Thou art the Companion in the journey, and the One Who looks after the family; O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from the difficulty of travelling, finding harm when I return, and unhappiness in what I see coming to my family and property. O Allah, make the length of his journey short for us, and the journey easy for us.

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was travelling and night came on, he said: O earth, my Lord and your Lord is Allah; I seek refuge in Allah from your evil, the evil of what you contain, the evil of what has been created in you, and the evil of what creeps upon you; I seek refuge in Allah from lions, from large black snakes, from other snakes, from scorpions, from the evil of jinn which inhabit a settlement, and from a parent and his offspring.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) appointed AbuBakr our commander and we fought with some people who were polytheists, and we attacked them at night, killing them. Our war-cry that night was “put to death; put to death.” Salamah said: I killed that night with my hand polytheists belonging to seven houses.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to sacrifice a choice, horned ram with black round the eyes, the mouth and the feet.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: A cow serves for seven, and a camel serves for seven.

I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the embryo. He replied: Eat it if you wish. Musaddad’s version says: we said: Messenger of Allah, we slaughter a she-camel, a cow and a sheep, and we find an embryo in its womb. Shall we throw it away or eat it? He replied: Eat it if you wish for the slaughter of its mother serves its slaughter.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Were dogs not a species of creature I should command that they all be killed; but kill every pure black one.

I fell ill, and the Prophet (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr came to me on foot to visit me. As I was unconscious, I could not speak to him. He performed ablution and sprinkled water on me ; so I became conscious. I said: Messenger of Allah, how should I do in my property, as I have sisters? Thereafter the verse about inheritance was revealed: “They ask thee for legal decision. Say: Allah directs (thus) about those who leave no descendants or ascendants as heirs.”

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet (ﷺ) gave three instructions saying “Expel the polytheists from Arabia, reward deputations as I did”. Ibn ‘Abbas said “He either did not mention the third or I have been caused to forget it. Al Humaidi said on the authority of Sufyan that Sulaiman said “I do not know whether Sa’id mentioned the third and I forgot or he himself did not mention it.”

Jabir bin ‘Abd Allah said that he was told by ‘Umar bin Al Khattab that he heard the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) say “I will certainly expel the Jews and the Christians from Arabia and I shall leave only Muslims in it.”

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Prepare food for the family of Ja’far for there came upon them an incident which has engaged them.

Muhammad b. Sirin used to learn how to wash the dead from Umm ‘Atiyyah: he would was with lotus leaves twice and with water and camphor for the third time.

The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed over the martyrs of Uhud after eight years like a man who bids farewell to the living and dead.

I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) forbid to sit on the grave, to plaster it with gypsum, and to build any structure over it.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded him to equip an army, but the camels were insufficient. So he commanded him to keep back the young camels of sadaqah, and he was taking a camel to be replaced by two when the camels of sadaqah came.

The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade selling fruits years ahead, and commanded that unforeseen loss be remitted in respect of what is affected by blight. Abu Dawud said: The attribution of the tradition regarding the effect of blight is one-third of the produce to the Prophet (ﷺ) is not correct. This is the opinion of the people of Medina.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone sows in other people’s land without their permission, he has no right to any of the crop, but he may have what it cost him.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade muzabanah, muhaqalah and thunya except it is known.

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to send Abdullah ibn Rawahah (to Khaybar), and he would assess the amount of dates when they began to ripen before they were eaten (by the Jews). He would then give choice to the Jews that they have them (on their possession) by that assessment or could assign to them (Muslims) by that assignment, so that the (amount of) zakat could be calculated before the fruit became eatable and distributed (among the people).

When Allah bestowed Khaybar on His Prophet (ﷺ) as fay’ (as a result of conquest without fighting), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) allowed (them) to remain there as they were before, and apportioned it between him and them. He then sent Abdullah ibn Rawahah who assessed (the amount of dates) upon them.

That a bedouin told him that he brought a milch she-camel in the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He alighted with Talhah ibn Ubaydullah (and wanted to sell his milch animal to him). He said: The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade a townsman to sell for a man from the desert. But go to the market and see who buys from you. consult me thereafter, and then I shall ask you (to sell) or forbid you.

In the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) a man suffered loss affecting fruits he had bought and owed a large debt, so the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Give him sadaqah (alms). So the people gave him sadaqah (alms), but as that was not enough to pay the debt in full, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Take what you find. But that is all you may have.

The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade payment for dog and cat.

Ibn Mas’ud sold slaves to al-Ash’ath b. Qais. He then narrated the rest of the tradition to the same effect with some variation of words.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Act equally between your children; Act equally between your sons.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) decided a case of a woman from the Ansar to whom an orchard of date-palms was given by her son. She then died. Her son said: I gave it to her for her life, and she has brothers. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: It belongs to her during her life and after death. He then said: I gave a sadaqah (charity to her. He replied: It is more unexpected from you.

Avoid that which produces intoxication.

Shut your door and make mention of Allah’s name, for the devil does not open a door which has been shut; extinguish your lamp and make mention of Allah’s name, cover up your vessel even by a piece of wood that you just put on it and make mention of Allah’s name, and tie up your water-skin mentioning Allah’s name.

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Nafi’ to the same effect through the chain of narrators as mentioned in Ayyub.

I read in the Torah that the blessing of food consists in ablution before it. So I mentioned it to the Prophet (ﷺ). He said: The blessing of food consists in ablution before it and ablution after it. Sufyan disapproved of performing ablution before taking food. Abu Dawud said: It is weak.

The Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) we eat but we are not satisfied. He said: Perhaps you eat separately. They replied: Yes. He said: If you gather together at your food and mention Allah’s name, you will be blessed in it. Abu Dawud said: If you are invited to a wedding feast before you, do not take it until the owner of the house (i.e. the host) allows you (to eat).

The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) forbade the flesh of domestic asses on the day of Khaibar, but permitted horse flesh.

I went with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to fight at the battle of Khaybar, and the Jews came and complained that the people had hastened to take their protected property (as a booty), so the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The property of those who have been given a mules, every fanged beast of prey, and every bird with a talon are forbidden for you.

Salman said: The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) was asked about locusts. He replied in a similar way(as mentioned above) saying: The most numerous of Allah’s host. The narrator ‘Ali said: His name is Fa’id, that is the name of al-Awwam. Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted by Hammad b. Salamah, from Abu al-Awwam from Abu uthman, from the Prophet (ﷺ). He did not mention salman (i.e., the companions).

We live in the neighbourhood of the People of the Book and they cook in their pots(the flesh of) swine and drink wine in their vessels. The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: If you find any other pots, then eat in them and drink. But if you do not find any others, then wash them with water and eat and drink (In them).

(the narrator other than Musa said that Kayyisah daughter of AbuBakrah) She said that her father used to forbid his family to have themselves cupped on a Tuesday, and used to assert on the authority of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that Tuesday is the day of blood in which there is an hour when it does not stop.

The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade to cauterise; we cauterised but they (cauterisation) did not benefit us, nor proved useful for us. Abu Dawud said: He used to hear the salutation of the angels: When he cauterized, it stopped. When he abandoned, it returned to him.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: You are more entitled to his price, and Allah has no need of it.

When I came to the Prophet (ﷺ), he was sitting with his hands round his knees wearing the cloak the fringe of which was over his feet.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade wearing clothes in two styles: that a man sits in a single garment with his hands round his knees and uncover his private parts towards heaven and that he wears his garment while one of his sides is uncovered, and puts the garment on his shoulders.

Asma, daughter of AbuBakr, entered upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wearing thin clothes. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma’, when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to his face and hands. Abu Dawud said: This is a mursal tradition (i.e. the narrator who transmitted it from ‘Aishah is missing) Khalid b. Duraik did not see ‘Aishah.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade (the use of) the skins of beasts of prey.

The sandals of the Prophet (ﷺ) had two thongs.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: None of you should walk with one sandal, but should wear a pair or should put off both of them.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fixed forty days to shave the pubes, paring the nails, clipping the moustaches, and plucking the hair under the armpit. Abu Dawud said: Ja’far b. Sulaiman transmitted it from Abu ‘Imran on the authority of Anas. In this version he did not mention the Prophet (ﷺ). He said: Forty days were fixed for us. This is a more correct version.

The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: Jews and Christians do not dye (their beards), so act differently from them.

Marwan gave him some lashes and let him go.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Cutting of hand is not to be inflicted on one who plunders, but he who plunders conspicuously does not belong to us.

Ma’iz ibn Malik came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and admitted fornication twice. But he drove him away. He then came and admitted fornication twice. But he drove him away. He then came and admitted fornication twice. He (the Prophet) said: You have testified to yourself four times. Take him away and stone him to death.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said to Ma’iz ibn Malik: Perhaps you kissed, or squeezed, or looked. He said: No. He then said: Did you have intercourse with her? He said: Yes. On the (reply) he (the Prophet) gave order that he should be stoned to death. The narrator did not mention “on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas”. This is Wahb’s version.

A part of tradition has also been transmitted by al-Lajlaj from the Prophet (ﷺ) through a different chain of narrators.

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and confessed before him that he had committed fornication with a woman whom he named. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent for the woman and asked her about it. But she denied that she had committed fornication. So he inflicted the prescribed punishment of flogging on him, and let her go.

He called the witnesses who testified.

The prophet of Allah (ﷺ) ascended Uhud, and Abu Bakr, ’Umar and ‘Uthman followed him. It began to shake with them. The prophet of Allah (ﷺ) struck it with his foot and said: Be still, for only a prophet, an ever-truthful and two martyrs are on you.

Faith has over seventy branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the removal of a bone from the road. And modesty is a branch of faith.

when the Prophet(ﷺ) walked, it looked as if he bent forwards.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: My sonny. Abu Dawud said: I heard Yahya b. Ma’in praising the transmitter Muhammad b. Mahbub, and he said: He transmitted a large number of traditions.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The vision flutters over a man as long as it is not interpreted , but when it is interpreted, it settles. And I think he said: Tell it only to one who loves (i.e. friend) or one who has judgment.