- Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on a campaign. When we reached the outskirts of Madinah and were about to enter, he ﷺ said, ‘Hold back until you enter at night—that is, after nightfall—so that the woman with disheveled hair may have time to comb it and the one whose husband has been away may shave (remove unwanted body-hair).’ ” Agreed upon.
In another narration recorded by al-Bukhārī: “When any one of you has been away for a long time, he should not come upon his family by night.” (1)
Vocabulary of the ḥadīth
– amhilū: wait; do not act hastily.
– ʿishāʾan: nightfall, or the period from the Maghrib prayer until the late-night (ʿAtamah) prayer.
– tamtašit: a woman combs her hair with a mišṭ (comb); plural: amšāṭ.
– al-shaʿitha: a woman whose hair is unkempt and spread out.
– tastahidd: she removes the hair whose removal is recommended, using a blade or any other means.
– al-mughība: a woman whose husband is away.
– fa-lā yaṭruq ahlahu laylan: the lexicographers say al-ṭurūq is arriving by night from travel or otherwise, unexpectedly; the mention of “night” is for clarification and emphasis.