Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (RA) narrated: I did not cease to long to ask Umar about the two women of the Prophet’s wives of whom Allah said: "If you two turn towards Allah repentant, your hearts are indeed so inclined." (66:4) Umar (RA) performed Hajj and I was with him. While I poured water from a vessel for him and he performed ablution, I asked him, “O Chief of the Believers! Who are the two women of the Prophet’s wives of whom Allah said: "If you two turn towards Allah repentant, your hearts are indeed so inclined." (66:4)He said, “I am surprised at you, O Ibn Abbas!” Zuhri said that Umar felt bad about it but he did not conceal it. He said, “They were Ayshah and Hafsah.” Then he began to narrate to me the Hadith. He said, “We people of Quraysh got our wives under our thumbs, but when we came to Madinah, we came across a people whom their women dominated. Our women picked up their habits. One day, I was angry at my wife when she answered back and I did not like it. She said, “Why do you mind it? By Allah, even the wives of the Prophet (SAW) argue with him and stop speaking to him during the day till nightfall.” I said to myself, “Whoever does so has indeed lost and harms herself.” I was staying at Awali among the Banu Umayyah and had an Ansar as a neighbour, and he and I took turns to serve Allah’s Messenger (SAW) (on alternate days). We used to report to one another about revelation and other things. One day, he came as usual and said that the Ghassan prepared their horses to fight us. He came one day after isha and knocked at my door and I came out to him. He said that a great thing had happened. I asked if the Ghassan had invaded and he said that it was more serious than that, “Allah’s Messenger (SAW) has divorced his wives!” I said too myself that Hafsah has failed and is at a loss. Indeed, I was apprehensive all along that this could happen. When I had offered the fajr salah and put over my garment, I moved out till I was at Hafsah’s home. She was weeping. I asked her if Allah’s Messenger had divorced them and she said that she did not know. She said that he had secluded himself in an upper chamber. I went up and came upon a black slave whom I asked, ‘Seek permission for Umar’. He went in only to say on return that he gave no answer. So, I went to the mosque where a few men sat by the pulpit, weeping. I sat down among them. But I was overcome by thoughts and came back to the slave and asked him to seek permission for Umar. He went in and, on returning, he said, ‘I mentioned you to him but he did not say anything in response’. So, I came back to the mosque and sat down. Again, I was overcome by thoughts, and I came to the slave and requested him to seek permission for Umar. He went in and, on coming out to me, he said, “I mentioned you to him but he made no reply. So, I turned to go away when, suddenly, the slave called me, saying. ‘Go in! Indeed, he has given permission to you’. So, I went in and found the Prophet (SAW) reclining on a mat and I detected its imprints on his sides. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Have you divorced your wives?’ He said, ‘No.’ I exclaimed ‘Allahu Akbar! If you observe, 0 Messenger of Allah, we - the company of Quraysh always got our wives under our thumbs, but when we came to Madinah, we met a people dominated by their wives and our women picked up their traits. One day, as I became angry at my wife for arguing with me, she retorted, ‘Why do you feel bad about it? By Allah, even the Prophet’s (SAW) wives argue with him and do not speak to him throughout a day till night’. I also said to him that I asked Hafsah if she argued with him and she said, ‘Yes and one of us also stops speaking to him all day till it is night’. I told him that I said to her, ‘She among you who does this is at a loss. Could any of you be at peace if Allah is angry at her because of the displeasure of His Messenger? She will be ruined’. The Prophet smiled. I told him that I asked Hafsah not to argue with him and not to demand any thing from him, but she should ask me for whatever she wants; and, ‘Do not let it occupy your mind that your co-wife is more beautiful than you and dearer to Allah’s Messenger (SAW) than you’. He again smiled. I asked him, “O Messenger of Allah, may I stay here a little longer?’ He said, ‘Yes’. I raised my head and I did not find but three pieces of hide (hanging down). I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah. Pray to Allah that He may increase the provision of your ummah, for, it is bestowed liberally to the Persians and Romans while they do not worship Him’. He sat up straight and said, ‘Are you in doubt O Ibn Khattab? They are a people to whom the reward of their good deed is hastened in the life of this world’. The Prophet (SAW) had vowed not go to his wives for a month. Allah asked him about that and commanded him to make expiation for his oath.
Zuhri reported that Urwah informed him on the authority of Sayyidah Ayshah (RA) when twenty-nine days were over, Allah’s Messenger r1J1 3L came to me, beginning (this visits) with me. He said, “O Ayshah, I mention to you something. Do not make haste in giving an answer before you consult your parents.” Then he recited this verse:
"O Prophet, say to your wives, ‘If you desire the life of this world, and its adornment, come I will provide for your comfort and allow you to depart by a fair departing.
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(33:28)
He knew that my parents would never command me to separate from him, so I said, “Shall I consult my parents about this? Desire Allah and His Messenger and the hereafter.’ Ma'mar reported that Ayyub informed him that Sayyidah Ayshah (RA) said to the Prophet (SAW) O Messenger of Allah, do not inform your wives that I have chosen you.” The Prophet (SAW) said, “Indeed, Allah has sent me only to convey and not to put into difficulty.”
[Bukhari 89, Muslim 1479, Nisai 3128, Ahmed 222]
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