It was narrated from ‘Abdurrahmaan ibn Al-Qaasim from his father that ‘Aaishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said:  “We (The wife of the Prophet) set out with Allaah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, on one of his journeys till we reached Al-Baydaa’ or Dhatul-Jaysh, a necklace of mine was broken (and lost). Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, stayed there to search for it, and so did the people along with him. There was no water at that place, so the people went to Abu- Bakr As-Siddeeq and said, “Do not you see what ‘Aaishah has done? She has made Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and the people stay where there is no water and they have no water with them.” Abu Bakr came while Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, was sleeping with his head on my thigh, He said, to me: “You have detained Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and the people where there is no water and they have no water with them.

So he admonished me and said what Allaah wished him to say and hit me on my flank with his hand. Nothing prevented me from moving (because of pain) but the position of Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, on my thigh. Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, got up when dawn broke and there was no water. So Allaah revealed the Divine Verses of Tayyammum (dry ablution). So they all performed Tayyammum. ‘Usayd ibn Hudayr said, “O the family of Abu Bakr! This is not the first blessing of yours.” ‘Aaishah said: “Then the camel on which I was riding was caused to move from its place and the necklace was found beneath it.” (1)

Amongst the lessons drawn from the above-mentioned Hadeeth(2)  are:

1)          It is permissible for women to go to join Jihaad (fighting for the Sake of Allaah The Almighty) with their Dhu-Mahram (individuals of a prohibited degree of kinship) and husbands. Muslim scholars have said: “This is permissible only in the big camp in which they (i.e. women) will be safe. Also, they have pointed out that there is absolutely no doubt that the changes of times, conditions of the people, and the tactics and means of the war have a great effect in changing rulings to protect honors and prohibitions.”

2)          Imaam (leader or governor of Muslims) should take care of the rights of Muslims, even if they are minor ones. The same ruling applies to searching for the lost matters, bury the dead and the like of the interests of his subjects.

3) One should discipline and educate his daughter even if she is married, old and does not live in his house. This also applies to everyone who has authority over some other individuals.  

4) The great virtues of ‘Usayd ibn Al-Hudayr, may Allaah be pleased with him, and that he is one of the great men of Al-Ansaar and his good thinking of the believers and knowing their values and merits. Muslim scholars have said: “He said so other than anyone else because he was the head of those who were sent to search for the missed necklace.

5) The great virtues of ‘Aaishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, for missing her necklace was a reason behind the prescription of Tayyammum that implies concession and easiness for the Islamic nation until the Hour occurs i.e. the Day of Resurrection.

Important Note:

Tayymmum is to strikes the soil with your hands, and wipe your face and hands up to the wrist. In this simple way, Tayymmum is fulfilled. Tayymmum is permissible to be used when the waster is missed or one is unable to use it (i.e. water).

1) Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari no. (3672) and Saheeh Muslim no (842).

2) Refer to Fat-h Al-Baari by Ibn Hajar (2/23) and ‘Umdat Al-Qaari (4/6).

Add comment