The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَيْفٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُجَاهِدٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ أَبِي لَيْلَى، أَنَّ كَعْبَ بْنَ عُجْرَةَ، حَدَّثَهُ قَالَ وَقَفَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالْحُدَيْبِيَةِ، وَرَأْسِي يَتَهَافَتُ قَمْلاً فَقَالَ " يُؤْذِيكَ هَوَامُّكَ ". قُلْتُ نَعَمْ. قَالَ " فَاحْلِقْ رَأْسَكَ ـ أَوْ قَالَ ـ احْلِقْ ". قَالَ فِيَّ نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ {فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِ أَذًى مِنْ رَأْسِهِ} إِلَى آخِرِهَا. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " صُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ، أَوْ تَصَدَّقْ بِفَرَقٍ بَيْنَ سِتَّةٍ، أَوِ انْسُكْ بِمَا تَيَسَّرَ ".
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood beside me at Al-Hudaibiya and the lice were falling from my head in great
number. He asked me, "Have your lice troubled you?" I replied in the affirmative. He ordered me to
get my head shaved. Ka`b added, "This Holy Verse:--'And if any of you is ill, or has ailment in his
scalp (2.196), etc. was revealed regarding me. "The Prophet (ﷺ) then ordered me either to fast three days,
or to feed six poor persons with one Faraq (three Sas) (of dates), or to slaughter a sheep, etc.
(sacrifice) whatever was available.
Narrated by Narrated Ka`b bin `Umra:
Context
This hadith recounts an incident during the Hudaibiya pilgrimage when Ka'b bin `Umra faced discomfort from lice. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) advised him to shave his head and provided options for atonement, which were later revealed in the Quran. This scenario highlights the compassionate nature of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the importance of following divine guidance in matters of worship.
Modern Application
Today, this hadith serves as a reminder that challenges may arise during religious observances, and seeking guidance and support is essential. It encourages individuals to approach their difficulties with patience and to rely on the wisdom of their faith.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Revelation because it relates to the revelation of guidance regarding atonement for those who face difficulties during pilgrimage.
And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs 'umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.
Certainly has Allah showed to His Messenger the vision in truth. You will surely enter al-Masjid al-Haram, if Allah wills, in safety, with your heads shaved and [hair] shortened, not fearing [anyone]. He knew what you did not know and has arranged before that a conquest near [at hand].
And he who does not find [a slave] - then a fast for two months consecutively before they touch one another; and he who is unable - then the feeding of sixty poor persons. That is for you to believe [completely] in Allah and His Messenger; and those are the limits [set by] Allah. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.
If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah - that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
This hadith is #1747 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Pilgrims Prevented from Completing the Pilgrimage. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Ka`b bin `Umra:.