English translation
[3690] 29 - (1478) It was narrated that Jābir bin ‘Abdullāh said: “Abū Bakr came in, seeking permission to enter upon the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, and he found the people sitting at his door, and they were not given permission to enter. Permission was given to Abū Bakr and he entered. Then ‘Umar came and asked for permission, and permission was granted. He found the Messenger of Allâh ﷺ sitting silently, with his wives around him. He said: 'I am going to say something to you which will make the Prophet ﷺ smile.' He said: 'O Messenger of Allâh, if you had seen the daughter of Khârijah asking me for (more) maintenance, and I got up and poked her on the neck.' The Messenger of Allâh ﷺ smiled and said: 'They are around me, as you can see, asking me for (more) maintenance.' Abû Bakr got up and poked 'Aîshah on the neck, and 'Umar got up and poked Hâfşah on the neck, and both of them said: 'Are you asking the Messenger of Allâh ﷺ for that which he does not have?' They said: 'By Allâh, we will never ask the Messenger of Allâh ﷺ for something that he does not have.' Then he (ﷺ) stayed away from them for a month or twenty-nine days, then this verse was revealed to him: O Prophet! Say to your wives: "If you desire the life of this world, and its glitter, then come! I will make a provision for you and set you free in a handsome manner (divorce). But if you desire Allâh and His Messenger, and the Home of the Hereafter, then verily, Allâh has prepared for Al-Muhsinât[1] (good doers) amongst you an enormous reward." He started with 'Aîshah. He said: 'O Āishah, I want to suggest something to you, but I want you not to rush to answer until you consult your parents.' She said: 'What is it, O Messenger of Allāh?' He recited this verse to her and she said: 'Do I need to consult my parents (concerning you), O Messenger of Allāh? No, I choose Allāh and His Messenger and the Home of the Hereafter. But I ask you not to tell any of your wives what I have said.' He said: 'None of them will ask, but I will tell her. Allāh did not send me to make things hard for people in the hope that they would make mistakes, rather He sent me to teach and make things easy.'"
