Explanation of the Book of Hajj-02b
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The reciter: Abdullah ibn Yusuf narrated to us, Malik informed us, from Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Qasim, from his father, from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said: Sahih al-Bukhari 1539
The Shaykh : Her saying "the wife of the Prophet," how is "zawj" (husband) masculine here! Is it "zawj" or "zawj" (wife)? I ask, is she a "zawj" or a "zawj"?
The students: "Zawj" (wife).
The Shaykh : She is a "zawj" (wife), but in formal Arabic, "zawj" is used for both the man and the woman. However, the scholars of inheritance (may Allah have mercy on them) agreed to call the female "zawj" (wife) and the male "zawj" (husband) so that the ruling would not be confused when dividing the inheritance. If one were to say: "A person died leaving behind a 'zawj' (husband), a daughter, and a brother," then in the terminology of the scholars of inheritance, the "zawj" refers to the male, and the female cannot be called a "zawj" (husband). It is not possible that it is intended that the man died leaving behind his wife. This is undoubtedly a good convention, and it provides clarification and explanation.
I used to scent Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) when he wanted to assume Ihram and also on finishing Ihram before the Tawaf round the Ka`ba
كنت أطيب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لإحرامه حين يحرم ولحله قبل أن يطوف بالبيتThe Shaykh : Her saying "the wife of the Prophet," how is "zawj" (husband) masculine here! Is it "zawj" or "zawj" (wife)? I ask, is she a "zawj" or a "zawj"?
The students: "Zawj" (wife).
The Shaykh : She is a "zawj" (wife), but in formal Arabic, "zawj" is used for both the man and the woman. However, the scholars of inheritance (may Allah have mercy on them) agreed to call the female "zawj" (wife) and the male "zawj" (husband) so that the ruling would not be confused when dividing the inheritance. If one were to say: "A person died leaving behind a 'zawj' (husband), a daughter, and a brother," then in the terminology of the scholars of inheritance, the "zawj" refers to the male, and the female cannot be called a "zawj" (husband). It is not possible that it is intended that the man died leaving behind his wife. This is undoubtedly a good convention, and it provides clarification and explanation.