Ubaid Allah bin Abdullah bin ‘Utbah said that his father wrote (a letter) to Abd Allaah bin Al Arqam Al Zuhri asking him to visit Subai’ah daughter of Al Harith Al Aslamiyyah and ask her about her story and what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to her when she asked his opinion (about her). So, Umar bin Abdullah wrote in reply to Abdullah bin ‘Utbah informing him what she told him. She told that she was under (i. e., the wife of) Saad bin Khawlah who belonged to Banu Amir bin Luwayy. He was one of those who participated in the battle of Badr. He died at the Farwell Pilgrimage while she was pregnant. Soon after his death she gave birth to a child. When she was purified from her bleeding after child birth she adorned herself for seekers in marriage. Then Abu Al Sanabil bin Ba’kah a man from Banu Abd Al Dar entered upon her and said to her “What is the matter seeing you adorned, perhaps you are seeking marriage? I swear by Allah you cannot marry until four months and ten days pass away. Saubai’ah said “When she said this to me, I gathered my clothes on me when the evening came and I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and asked him about that. He told me that I became lawful when I had delivered a child. He suggested me to marry if I wished. Ibn Shihab said “I do not see any harm if she marries when she gives birth to the child, even though she had the bleeding after the child birth, but her husband should not have sexual intercourse till she is purified.

Narrated Abdullah ibn Masud: I can invoke the curse of Allah on anyone who wishes: The smaller surat an-Nisa (i. e. Surat at-Talaq) was revealed after the verse regarding the waiting period of four months and ten days had been revealed.