The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ صَخْرٍ الْبَيَاضِيِّ، قَالَ كُنْتُ امْرَأً أَسْتَكْثِرُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ لاَ أُرَى رَجُلاً كَانَ يُصِيبُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا أُصِيبُ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ ظَاهَرْتُ مِنِ امْرَأَتِي حَتَّى يَنْسَلِخَ رَمَضَانُ فَبَيْنَمَا هِيَ تُحَدِّثُنِي ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ انْكَشَفَ لِي مِنْهَا شَىْءٌ فَوَثَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا فَوَاقَعْتُهَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْتُ غَدَوْتُ عَلَى قَوْمِي فَأَخْبَرْتُهُمْ خَبَرِي وَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ سَلُوا لِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ . فَقَالُوا مَا كُنَّا لِنَفْعَلَ إِذًا يُنْزِلَ اللَّهُ فِينَا كِتَابًا أَوْ يَكُونَ فِينَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَوْلٌ فَيَبْقَى عَلَيْنَا عَارُهُ وَلَكِنْ سَوْفَ نُسَلِّمُكَ لِجَرِيرَتِكَ اذْهَبْ أَنْتَ فَاذْكُرْ شَأْنَكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ . قَالَ فَخَرَجْتُ حَتَّى جِئْتُهُ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ الْخَبَرَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " أَنْتَ بِذَاكَ " . فَقُلْتُ أَنَا بِذَاكَ وَهَا أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَابِرٌ لِحُكْمِ اللَّهِ عَلَىَّ . قَالَ " فَأَعْتِقْ رَقَبَةً " . قَالَ قُلْتُ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا أَصْبَحْتُ أَمْلِكُ إِلاَّ رَقَبَتِي هَذِهِ . قَالَ " فَصُمْ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَهَلْ دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ مَا دَخَلَ مِنَ الْبَلاَءِ إِلاَّ بِالصَّوْمِ قَالَ " فَتَصَدَّقْ وَأَطْعِمْ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًا " . قَالَ قُلْتُ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ لَقَدْ بِتْنَا لَيْلَتَنَا هَذِهِ مَا لَنَا عَشَاءٌ . قَالَ " فَاذْهَبْ إِلَى صَاحِبِ صَدَقَةِ بَنِي زُرَيْقٍ فَقُلْ لَهُ فَلْيَدْفَعْهَا إِلَيْكَ وَأَطْعِمْ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًا وَانْتَفِعْ بِبَقِيَّتِهَا " .
"I was a man who had a lot of desire for women, and I do not think there was any man who had as great a share of that as me. When Ramadan began, I declared Zihar upon my wife (to last) until Ramadan ended. While she was talking to me one night, part of her body became uncovered. I jumped on her and had intercourse with her. The next morning I went to my people and told them, and said to them: 'Ask the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for me.' They said: 'We will not do that, lest Allah reveal Quran concerning us or the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) says, something about us, and it will be a lasting source of disgrace for us. Rather we will leave you to deal with it yourself. Go yourself and tell the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about your problem.' So I went out and when I came to him, I told him what happened. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Did you really do that?' I said: 'I really did that, and here I am, O Messenger of Allah. (ﷺ) I will bear Allah’s ruling on me with patience.' He said: 'Free a slave.' I said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth, I do not own anything but myself.' He said: 'Fast for two consecutive months.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the thing that happened to me was only because of fasting.' He said: 'Then give charity, or feed sixty poor persons.' I said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truttu we spent last night with no dinner.' He said: 'Then go to the collector of charity of Banu Zuraiq, and tell him to give you something, then feed sixty poor persons, and benefit from the rest.'"
Narrated by It was narrated that Salamah bin Sakhr Al-Bayadi said:
Context
This hadith narrates the story of a man who, after a moment of weakness, sought guidance from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) regarding his actions. The Prophet (ﷺ) provided him with a path to atone for his mistake, emphasizing the importance of accountability and repentance in Islam.
Modern Application
This principle can be applied today by encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their actions and seek forgiveness when necessary. It highlights the importance of making amends and striving for personal growth.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Punishments (Hudud) because it discusses the consequences of actions and the means of atonement in Islamic law.
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.
And those who pronounce thihar from their wives and then [wish to] go back on what they said - then [there must be] the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. That is what you are admonished thereby; and Allah is Acquainted with what you do.
It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous.
For those who swear not to have sexual relations with their wives is a waiting time of four months, but if they return [to normal relations] - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Allah will not impose blame upon you for what is meaningless in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for [breaking] what you intended of oaths. So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your [own] families or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But whoever cannot find [or afford it] - then a fast of three days [is required]. That is the expiation for oaths when you have sworn. But guard your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be grateful.
This hadith is #1796 from Sunan Ibn Majah, in the Book of The Chapters on Divorce. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated that Salamah bin Sakhr Al-Bayadi said:.