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THE MARRIAGE OF LADY HAFSAH

692

“When Lady Hafsah the daughter of Omar, may Allah be pleased with them, was widowed Omar met Othman the son of Affan and asked him, ‘If you are willing, I would (like to) give Hafsah to you in marriage.’ Othman replied, ‘I will consider the matter.’ Omar related, ‘I waited for a few days and then Othman met him and said: I don't think I should marry just yet.’

Then Omar met Abu Bakr and asked him, ‘If you are willing I would (like to) give Hafsah to you in marriage.’ Abu Bakr remained silent and did not say a word which was harder for Omar than the reaction of Othman. Omar waited a few more days when the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, asked for her hand in marriage and Omar married her to him.

When Abu Bakr next met Omar he said, ‘Perhaps you were offended when you proposed Hafsah to me and I gave no reply.’ Omar replied, ‘Yes, that is so.’ He said, ‘The only thing that stood in my way was that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, had mentioned her and I could not disclose the Prophet's secret. Had the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, not proposed, I would have accepted the proposal.’"

Bukhari with a chain up to Abdullah, the son of Omar who related this hadith.