18/4. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1477e — Choosing the Prophet Was Not Divorce
Giving one's wife the choice does not count as a divorce, unless it is intended as such
Hadith About Choosing the Prophet and Divorce
Sahih Muslim : 1477e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1477e
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ خَيَّرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاخْتَرْنَاهُ فَلَمْ يَعْدُدْهَا عَلَيْنَا شَيْئًا .
A'isha Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave us the option (to get divorce), but me made a choice of him and he did not count anything (as divorce) in regard to us.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1477eIn-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 37USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 9, Hadith 3504
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1477e
This hadith about choosing the Prophet teaches a clear point about the option given to the wives of Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. Aisha, Allah be pleased with her, says that Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم gave them the choice, and they chose him. She then explains that this choice was not counted as anything against them as divorce. The main message is simple: being given an option did not itself make a divorce happen when the wife chose to remain. The hadith focuses on choice, marriage, and the status of divorce in this specific case. It also shows Aisha's clear love and loyalty, as she chose Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم when the choice was placed before her.
What we learn from this hadith
- A choice given in marriage does not automatically count as divorce in this narration.
- Aisha chose to remain with Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- The hadith separates being given an option from an actual divorce.
