26.

The Book of Marriage

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كتاب النكاح

Umar (رضي الله تعالى عنه) narrated that Hafsah bint 'Umar (رضي الله تعالى عنها) became single when (her husband) Khunais (Hudhafah) died. He was one of the companions of the Prophet who had been present at Badr, and he died in Madinah. I met Uthman bin Affan (رضي الله تعالى عنه) and offered Hafsah (رضي الله تعالى عنها) in marriage to him. I said, 'if you wish, I will marry you to Hafsah (رضي الله تعالى عنها).' He said, 'I will think about it.' A few days passed, then I met him, and he said, 'I do not want to get married at the moment.' 'Umar (رضي الله تعالى عنه) said, ‘then I met Abu Bakr (رضي الله تعالى عنه), and said, 'if you wish, I will marry Hafsah ( رضي الله تعالى عنها) to you.' He did not give me any answer, and I felt more upset with him than I had with 'Uthman (رضي الله تعالى عنه). Several days passed, then the Apostle of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) proposed marriage to her, and I married her to him. Abu Bakr (رضي الله تعالى عنه) met me and said, 'perhaps you felt upset with me when you offered Hafsah (رضي الله تعالى عنها) in marriage to me and I did not give you an answer?' I said, 'yes.' He said, 'nothing prevented me from giving you an answer when you made the offer to me except the fact that I had heard the Apostle of Allah ( صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) speak of her, and I did not want to disclose the secret of the Apostle of Allah ( صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم); if he had left her, then I would have married her.'