Mishkat
al-Masabih
مشكاة المصابيح
Clothing
كتاب اللباس
Chapter 4b: Combing the Hair - Section 2
باب الترجل - الفصل الثاني
Mishkat al-Masabih 4467
She told that a woman made a sign from behind a curtain to indicate that she had a letter for God's messenger. The Prophet (ﷺ) closed his hand saying, “I do not know whether this is a man’s or a woman’s hand," and when she declared that it was a woman’s he said, “If you were a woman you would make a difference to your nails," meaning with henna. Abu Dawud and Nasa'i transmitted it.
وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: أَوَمَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ وَرَاءِ سِتْرٍ بِيَدِهَا كِتَابٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَبَضَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَدَهُ فَقَالَ: «مَا أَدْرِي أَيَدُ رَجُلٍ أَمْ يَدُ امْرَأَةٍ؟» قَالَتْ: بَلْ يَدُ امْرَأَةٍ قَالَ: «لَوْ كُنْتِ امْرَأَةً لَغَيَّرْتِ أَظْفَارَكِ» يَعْنِي الْحِنَّاء. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ
In-book reference: Mishkat al-Masabih Book 22 Chapter 4b Hadith 1
