65/33.7. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4788 — Aisha and the Verse of Choice
The Statement of Allah the Most High: "You (O Muḥammad pbuh) can postpone (the turn of) whom you will of them (your wives), and you may receive whom you will. And whomsoever you desire of those whom you have set aside (her turn temporarily), it is no sin on you (to receive her again)..." (V.33:51)
قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: {تُرْجِئُ} تُؤَخِّرُ. أَرْجِئْهُ أَخِّرْهُ.
Hadith About Aisha and the Prophet’s Household Ruling
Sahih Bukhari : 4788
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4788
حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، قَالَ هِشَامٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كُنْتُ أَغَارُ عَلَى اللاَّتِي وَهَبْنَ أَنْفُسَهُنَّ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَقُولُ أَتَهَبُ الْمَرْأَةُ نَفْسَهَا فَلَمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {تُرْجِئُ مَنْ تَشَاءُ مِنْهُنَّ وَتُؤْوِي إِلَيْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَمَنِ ابْتَغَيْتَ مِمَّنْ عَزَلْتَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكَ} قُلْتُ مَا أُرَى رَبَّكَ إِلاَّ يُسَارِعُ فِي هَوَاكَ.
A'isha Narrated from:
I used to look down upon those ladies who had given themselves to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and I used to say, "Can a lady give herself (to a man)?"But when Allah revealed: "You (O Muhammad) can postpone (the turn of) whom you will of them (your wives), and you may receive any of them whom you will; and there is no blame on you if you invite one whose turn you have set aside (temporarily).' (33.51)I said (to the Prophet), "I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4788In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 310USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 311
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4788
This hadith about Aisha and the Prophet’s household reports her own words. She said she used to feel dislike toward the women who gave themselves to Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and asked, can a woman give herself? Then Allah revealed the verse saying the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم could postpone whom he willed among them, receive whom he willed, and invite one whose turn had been set aside without blame. Aisha then said she felt that his Lord hastened in fulfilling his wishes. The hadith centers on the verse and Aisha’s reaction to it. It should be read as a report about that specific statement and situation, not as a broad ruling beyond the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- Aisha reported her own reaction to women who offered themselves.
- The verse mentioned choice given to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in this matter.
- The hadith records Aisha’s words after the verse was revealed.
