
In this version, the Prophet prohibits himself from being intimate with his concubine wife to please his other wives. Moreover, Aisha was the direct witness about whom the verses speak, so she would know best what really happened.Īn alternative explanation of the passage has been narrated by others. Al-Bukhari included it in his explanation of Sūrat al-Taḥrīm. The authenticity of this narration is agreed upon according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim. Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1474, Grade: Sahih Why do you forbid yourself from what Allah has made lawful for you? (66:1) I have taken a honey drink at Zainab’s house and I will not do it again. Hafsa and I agreed that whomever the Prophet visited first, we would say, “I notice a strong odor of mimosa gum on you.” The Prophet visited one of them and she said this to him, so the Prophet said: Allah revealed the verses telling the Prophet not to prohibit what is lawful.Īisha reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would spend time with his wife Zainab bint Jahsh and he would drink a concoction of honey. The Prophet did not want to offend his wives, so he swore an oath never to drink it again. Aisha and Hafsa were upset that the Prophet was spending more time with his wife Zainab on account of a honey drink she would serve him, so they secretly agreed to pretend to be offended by the odor.

It has been authentically narrated on the authority of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Prophet prohibited himself from drinking honey to please his wives. The classical commentators provide two opinions: one is strong and authentic, and the other is weaker and provokes controversy.

The opening verses of Sūrat al-Tahrim describe an incident in which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prohibited himself from something in order to please his wives. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
