"O Prophet, Why Do You Prohibit What Allah Has Made Lawful for You" — The Story of Mariya the Copt

Verse: "O Prophet, why do you prohibit what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives?" (66:1)

Occasion (Sahih — Bukhari): Al-Bukhari (4912) narrated from Aisha: The Prophet would drink honey at Zaynab bint Jahsh's. Aisha and Hafsa conspired that each would say to him: "I smell mughafir on you" — a plant with an unpleasant odor. The Prophet prohibited honey for himself to please his wives. This verse was revealed as a gentle reproach.

A second narration: The incident involved Mariya the Copt when Hafsa found the Prophet with her on Hafsa's day and the Prophet prohibited Mariya for himself. Ibn Al-Qayyim and Ibn Hajar in Al-Fath preferred this second version.

Reliability: Sahih — Al-Bukhari (4912) and others; the second narration is also sahih, narrated by Muslim (1474).

Lesson:

• Prohibiting what is lawful for oneself to please people is forbidden — even for the Prophet
• The Quranic reproach of the Prophet is evidence of revelation's authenticity — had it been his own words he would not have rebuked himself
• An oath's expiation resolves what was prohibited: "Allah has ordained for you the dissolution of your oaths"