68/5. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5262 — Giving Choice Was Not Divorce
Giving option to the wives.
وَقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {قُلْ لأَزْوَاجِكَ إِنْ كُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أُمَتِّعْكُنَّ وَأُسَرِّحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلاً}.
Hadith About Giving a Wife the Option and Divorce
Sahih Bukhari : 5262
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5262
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمٌ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ خَيَّرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاخْتَرْنَا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ، فَلَمْ يَعُدَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْنَا شَيْئًا.
A'isha Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave us the option (to remain with him or to be divorced) and we selected Allah and His Apostle. So, giving us that option was not regarded as divorce.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5262In-book reference : Book 68, Hadith 12USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 63, Hadith 188
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5262
This Hadith focuses on the meaning of giving a wife a choice. ʿAisha said that Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم gave his wives the option to remain with him or be divorced. They chose Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. Because they chose to stay, that option was not counted as divorce. The core lesson is that words and choices in marriage are understood by their result in the case described here. The wife did not choose separation, so the option itself did not become divorce. This Hadith is often searched as a Hadith about choice in marriage, option of divorce, and whether giving choice counts as talaq.
What we learn from this hadith
- Giving an option did not count as divorce when the wives chose to stay.
- The result of the choice matters in the case described in the Hadith.
- ʿAisha clearly reported that the option was not counted against them.
- Marriage matters need careful understanding of words and outcomes.
