*Today is 22nd of Rabee’l Awwal 1448AH (4 September 2026) and a Day of Jumu’ah (Friday)*
*The Book of Dress – Kitab al-Libas*
Narrated `Aisha:
(the wife of the Prophet) The wife of Rifa`a Al-Qurazi came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) while I was sitting, and Abu Bakr was also there. She said, ‘O Allah s Apostle! I was the wife of Rifa`a and he divorced me irrevocably. Then I married `AbdurRahman bin Az-Zubair who, by Allah, O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ), has only something like a fringe of a garment, Showing the fringe of her veil. Khalid bin Sa`id, who was standing at the door, for he had not been admitted, heard her statement and said, “O Abu Bakr! Why do you not stop this lady from saying such things openly before Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)?” No, by Allah, Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) did nothing but smiled. Then he said to the lady, *”Perhaps you want to return to Rifa`a? That is impossible unless `Abdur-Rahman consummates his marriage with you.”* That became the tradition after him.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ رِفَاعَةَ الْقُرَظِيِّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا جَالِسَةٌ وَعِنْدَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ تَحْتَ رِفَاعَةَ فَطَلَّقَنِي فَبَتَّ طَلاَقِي، فَتَزَوَّجْتُ بَعْدَهُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ الزَّبِيرِ، وَإِنَّهُ وَاللَّهِ مَا مَعَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ مِثْلُ هَذِهِ الْهُدْبَةِ. وَأَخَذَتْ هُدْبَةً مِنْ جِلْبَابِهَا، فَسَمِعَ خَالِدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ قَوْلَهَا وَهْوَ بِالْبَابِ لَمْ يُؤْذَنْ لَهُ، قَالَتْ فَقَالَ خَالِدٌ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَلاَ تَنْهَى هَذِهِ عَمَّا تَجْهَرُ بِهِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا يَزِيدُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى التَّبَسُّمِ، فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” لَعَلَّكِ تُرِيدِينَ أَنْ تَرْجِعِي إِلَى رِفَاعَةَ، لاَ، حَتَّى يَذُوقَ عُسَيْلَتَكِ وَتَذُوقِي عُسَيْلَتَهُ ”. فَصَارَ سُنَّةً بَعْدُ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5792
*NOTE 📝*
1. al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in his commentary of this hadith discussed the hadith of ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her and her father) concerning the woman of Rifaʿah, particularly her description of her former husband’s inadequate sexual capacity: *“He has nothing except something like a fringe (hudbah).”* Ibn Hajar noted that the detailed explanation of this hadith has already been covered in Kitab at-Talaq (The Book of Divorce). The word hudbah refers to a small strand or tassel hanging from a fringe. — Fathul Baari, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani
2. Ibn Ḥajar then mentioned another related hadith, narrated by Abu Jurayy Jaabir ibn Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with him) and recorded by Abu Dawud. He saw the Prophet ﷺ sitting wrapped in a cloak (shamlah), whose fringe (hudbah) had fallen onto his feet. This provides an example of the word hudbah in its literal sense as a fringe or tassel. — Fathul Baari, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani
3. The hadith establishes that after a third divorce, a woman cannot return to her first husband until she genuinely marries and has intercourse with another husband. It also affirms the woman’s right to marital intimacy, the permissibility of asking sensitive questions when seeking religious guidance, and the Prophet’s ﷺ excellent character and patience in addressing such matters. Finally, it reflects the Companions’ adherence to proper adab in his presence.
*O Allah, adorn us with the beauty of faith, make our clothing a means of covering and well-being, purify our hearts from arrogance and pride, and grant us humility and piety. Make Your blessings upon us a means of helping us obey You, and do not make them a cause of conceit or extravagance. Ãmeen*
🌙 Jumu’ah Mubarak!
Not everything needs to happen today. Some blessings require time, preparation, and patience.
May Allah teach us to trust His timing, appreciate His small favours, and remain hopeful when the bigger picture isn’t clear.
What Allah has written for us will find its way to us. Ameen. 🤲🏽
