A Review of the Compilation and Authenticity of Hadith (Part 8)
It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari and other sources that someone asked Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) a question: If a woman gives birth forty days after the death of her husband, has her period ended? Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) replied that her period begins from the time of delivery or from four months and ten days, whichever is later. Abu Salamah and Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with them) were present in the same gathering. Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) stated, “It is mentioned in the Quran: «وَأُوْلَاتُ الأَحْمَال أَجْلُهُن أَنْ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُن» (The period of pregnant women is when they give birth.)”
Abu Salamah’s intention was to clarify that in the aforementioned question, the period had ended. Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I also agree with my nephew.” Then Ibn Abbas sent his servant Kurayb to Hazrat Umm Salamah. Umm Salamah said that Sabia Aslamiya was pregnant when her husband was martyred, and forty days after his martyrdom, Sabia gave birth. At that time, a suitor came, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) married her.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar writes about this incident:
“It is said that Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) has reversed his view. The evidence for this is that the opinion of the followers and students of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) agrees with the majority opinion on this matter.” Therefore, the Sahaba’ recourse to the Sunnah, when there is a difference of opinion or a conflict between two verses, and their acting on the Sunnah has become completely clear and evident.
It is mentioned in Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and other sources that a treaty of non-war was concluded between Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) and the Roman government for a certain period of time. When that period was about to expire, Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) moved with his army towards the enemy’s land and intended to attack them suddenly as soon as that period had passed. One day, Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a rider from a distance who was saying in a loud voice, “Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! The covenant must be fulfilled, and the covenant must not be broken.” The people looked carefully and saw that the rider was Hazrat Amr ibn Anbasah (may Allah be pleased with him), a Sahabi. Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him, “What is the matter?” He said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saying: ‘Whoever makes a covenant with people should not act contrary to it—unless the term of the treaty expires, or he informs the people that the treaty has been breached.’” When Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) heard this, he returned to the land of Islam with his army.
