Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Hasan Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 311 in the Book of Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah).

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

‹

#310

#311

Sunan Abu Dawud

#312

›

Sunan Abu Dawud #311

Q: What is Sunan Abu Dawud 311 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah)), narrated by Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin:, states: "The woman having bleeding after delivery (puerperal haemorrhage) would refrain (from prayer) for forty days or forty nights; and we would anoint our faces with an aromatic herb called wars to remove d…"

Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah)

Hasan Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، أَخْبَرَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ أَبِي سَهْلٍ، عَنْ مُسَّةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَتِ النُّفَسَاءُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَقْعُدُ بَعْدَ نِفَاسِهَا أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً وَكُنَّا نَطْلِي عَلَى وُجُوهِنَا الْوَرْسَ يَعْنِي مِنَ الْكَلَفِ ‏.‏

The woman having bleeding after delivery (puerperal haemorrhage) would refrain (from prayer) for forty days or forty nights; and we would anoint our faces with an aromatic herb called wars to remove dark spots.

Narrated by Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin:

Context

This hadith narrated by Umm Salamah describes the practice of women who experienced postpartum bleeding during the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. They would refrain from prayer for a period of forty days or nights. Additionally, they would use an aromatic herb called wars to enhance their appearance by applying it to their faces. This highlights the cultural practices surrounding childbirth and recovery in early Islamic society.

Modern Application

In today's context, understanding the significance of postpartum recovery is essential for new mothers. It emphasizes the importance of self-care and the need for support during this transitional period, allowing women to focus on their health and well-being before resuming their daily activities, including prayer.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Family because it discusses the practices related to prayer during a woman's postpartum period and reflects the family dynamics and support systems in early Islamic society.

Prayer Family

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ الطَّلَاقِ

At-Talaaq (Divorce)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَٱلَّٰٓـِٔى يَئِسْنَ مِنَ ٱلْمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَآئِكُمْ إِنِ ٱرْتَبْتُمْ فَعِدَّتُهُنَّ ثَلَٰثَةُ أَشْهُرٍۢ وَٱلَّٰٓـِٔى لَمْ يَحِضْنَ ۚ وَأُو۟لَٰتُ ٱلْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ يُسْرًۭا

And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women - if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him of his matter ease.

سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ

Al-Baqara (The Cow)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًۭى فَٱعْتَزِلُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فِى ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٰبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

And they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."

وَٱلْمُطَلَّقَٰتُ يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَٰثَةَ قُرُوٓءٍۢ ۚ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَهُنَّ أَن يَكْتُمْنَ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ فِىٓ أَرْحَامِهِنَّ إِن كُنَّ يُؤْمِنَّ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۚ وَبُعُولَتُهُنَّ أَحَقُّ بِرَدِّهِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ إِنْ أَرَادُوٓا۟ إِصْلَٰحًۭا ۚ وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَيْهِنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌۭ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

Divorced women remain in waiting for three periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allah has created in their wombs if they believe in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands have more right to take them back in this [period] if they want reconciliation. And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority]. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

سُورَةُ الأَحۡقَافِ

Al-Ahqaf (The Dunes)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ إِحْسَٰنًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرْهًۭا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًۭا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُۥ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ ثَلَٰثُونَ شَهْرًا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةًۭ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَٰلِحًۭا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِى فِى ذُرِّيَّتِىٓ ۖ إِنِّى تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

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."

سُورَةُ النَّحۡلِ

An-Nahl (The Bee)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِٱلْأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُۥ مُسْوَدًّۭا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌۭ

And when one of them is informed of [the birth of] a female, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.

Common Words

149 total126 unique12 repeated

من5x

إن4x

ٱلله4x

فى4x

ٱلمحيض3x

أن3x

وٱلـى2x

ثلثة2x

ولا2x

حتى2x

كرها2x

عليهن2x

يئسن1x

نسائكم1x

ٱرتبتم1x

فعدتهن1x

أشهر1x

لم1x

يحضن1x

وأولت1x

Scroll to explore ayah details

Related Hadiths

About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #311 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah). It is graded Hasan Sahih and narrated by Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin:.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #311

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sunan Abu Dawud

About This Hadith