The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مَطَرُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كَانَ ابْنٌ لأَبِي طَلْحَةَ يَشْتَكِي، فَخَرَجَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ، فَقُبِضَ الصَّبِيُّ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ قَالَ مَا فَعَلَ ابْنِي قَالَتْ أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ هُوَ أَسْكَنُ مَا كَانَ. فَقَرَّبَتْ إِلَيْهِ الْعَشَاءَ فَتَعَشَّى، ثُمَّ أَصَابَ مِنْهَا، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَتْ وَارِ الصَّبِيَّ. فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبَرَهُ فَقَالَ " أَعْرَسْتُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ ". قَالَ نَعَمْ. قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَهُمَا ". فَوَلَدَتْ غُلاَمًا قَالَ لِي أَبُو طَلْحَةَ احْفَظْهُ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَتَى بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَرْسَلَتْ مَعَهُ بِتَمَرَاتٍ، فَأَخَذَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " أَمَعَهُ شَىْءٌ ". قَالُوا نَعَمْ تَمَرَاتٌ. فَأَخَذَهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَمَضَغَهَا، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ مِنْ فِيهِ فَجَعَلَهَا فِي فِي الصَّبِيِّ، وَحَنَّكَهُ بِهِ، وَسَمَّاهُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ.
Abu Talha had a child who was sick. Once, while Abu Talha was out, the
child died. When Abu Talha returned home, he asked, "How does my son
fare?" Um Salaim (his wife) replied, "He is quieter than he has ever
been." Then she brought supper for him and he took his supper and
slept with her. When he had finished, she said (to him), "Bury the
child (as he's dead)." Next morning Abu Talha came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)
and told him about that. The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to him), "Did you sleep
with your wife last night?" Abu Talha said, "Yes". The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
"O Allah! Bestow your blessing on them as regards that night of
theirs." Um Sulaim gave birth to a boy. Abu Talha told me to take care
of the child till it was taken to the Prophet. Then Abu Talha took the
child to the Prophet (ﷺ) and Um Sulaim sent some dates along with the
child. The Prophet (ﷺ) took the child (on his lap) and asked if there was
something with him. The people replied, "Yes, a few dates." The
Prophet took a date, chewed it, took some of it out of his mouth, put
it into the child's mouth and did Tahnik for him with that, and named
him 'Abdullah.
Narrated by Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Context
This hadith narrates the story of Abu Talha and his wife Um Sulaim, who faced the death of their young son. Upon Abu Talha's return home, Um Sulaim cleverly concealed the child's death to allow him to eat and rest. Afterward, she revealed the truth, and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) blessed their union that night, leading to the birth of another son, whom he named Abdullah after performing Tahnik with dates. The story highlights themes of patience, love, and the significance of blessings in family life.
Modern Application
In today's world, this hadith encourages couples to support each other through difficult times, emphasizing the importance of communication and understanding in marriage. It also illustrates how moments of joy can emerge even in sorrow, reminding parents to cherish their time with children and to seek blessings in their family life.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Blessings in Food and Etiquette of Naming because it illustrates the Prophet's (ﷺ) practice of performing Tahnik with food and naming the child in a blessed manner.
So We restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of the people do not know.
And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."
And there came a company of travelers; then they sent their water drawer, and he let down his bucket. He said, "Good news! Here is a boy." And they concealed him, [taking him] as merchandise; and Allah was knowing of what they did.
This hadith is #5257 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Sacrifice on Occasion of Birth (`Aqiqa). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Anas bin Malik:.
