𝗠𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (55)

If it is not permissible to have intercourse with a wife other than the one whose turn it is, how should the following ḥadīth be understood? Anas ibn Mālik (may Allāh be pleased with him) said: ((كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَدُورُ عَلَى نِسَائِهِ فِي السَّاعَةِ الْوَاحِدَةِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ، وَهُنَّ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ. قَالَ : قُلْتُ لِأَنَسٍ : أَوَكَانَ يُطِيقُهُ ؟ قَالَ : كُنَّا نَتَحَدَّثُ أَنَّهُ أُعْطِيَ قُوَّةَ ثَلَاثِينَ. وَقَالَ سَعِيدٌ ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ : إِنَّ أَنَسًا حَدَّثَهُمْ تِسْعُ نِسْوَةٍ)). “The Prophet ﷺ would go around to his wives within a single period of the night and the day, and they were eleven. I said to Anas, ‘Did he really have the strength for that?’ He replied, ‘We used to say that he had been given the strength of thirty men.’” Saʿīd reported from Qatādah that Anas told them that they were nine wives. [Reported by Al-Bukhārī] Ibn Ḥajar explained in Fat-ḥ Al-Bāri: "The author cited this as evidence in the Book of Marriage for the recommendation of having many wives, and he alluded to the view that: - the division of time was not obligatory upon him. This is the opinion of groups among the scholars, and it was decisively adopted by Al-Iṣṭakhrī from among the Shāfiʿīs. However, the well-known view among them, and among the majority, is that it was obligatory. Whoever holds this view needs to respond to this ḥadīth. - It has been said in response that this occurred with the consent of the wife whose turn it was, just as he sought their permission to be cared for in the house of ʿĀʾishah. - It is also possible that this took place after he had completed the allotted turns, and that he then resumed the division anew. - Another opinion is that this occurred upon his return from a journey, because when he travelled he would draw lots among them and travel with the one whose name was drawn, and when he returned he would begin the division again; this is more specific than the second possibility. The first explanation is more fitting in light of the ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah, as is the second. - It is also possible that this took place before the obligation of dividing time was instituted, and that it was discontinued thereafter. - Ibn Al-ʿArabī expressed a most unusual view, saying that Allāh singled out His Prophet with certain privileges, among them that He granted him an hour each day in which his wives had no right, during which he could enter upon all of them and do whatever he wished, and then settle with the one whose turn it was. He claimed that this hour was after ʿAṣr, and if it was missed then after Maghrib. However, this detailed claim requires proof." [end of quote] ____ Read Summary ⤵️ https://t.me/madrasatuna/5639