The Prophet (ﷺ) asked Abu Bakr for `Aisha's hand in marriage. Abu Bakr said "But I am your brother." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You are my brother in Allah's religion and His Book, but she (Aisha) is lawful for me to marry."
Hadith Text
The Prophet (ﷺ) asked Abu Bakr for `Aisha's hand in marriage. Abu Bakr said "But I am your brother." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You are my brother in Allah's religion and His Book, but she (Aisha) is lawful for me to marry."
Context and Background
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 5081 in the Book of Wedlock and Marriage (Nikaah) addresses Abu Bakr's initial hesitation regarding the proposed marriage due to the established bond of brotherhood (mu'akha) between him and the Prophet (ﷺ).
The mu'akha (brotherhood) established in Medina was a spiritual and social bond, not creating the legal impediments of blood relation (nasab) or milk relation (radaa'). Thus, it did not prohibit marriage.
Legal Ruling (Hukm)
The Prophet's (ﷺ) clarification establishes that spiritual brotherhood or sworn allegiance does not constitute a marital prohibition (mahramiyyah). Only the relationships specified in the Quran (Surah an-Nisa, 4:23-24) create permanent marriage barriers.
This hadith confirms that the only relationships prohibiting marriage are those of blood, milk, and affinity as explicitly defined in Islamic law.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam al-Qurtubi states this hadith demonstrates the perfection of Islamic law, which clearly distinguishes spiritual relationships from legal impediments, preventing unnecessary restrictions on marriage.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that Abu Bakr's hesitation stemmed from his deep respect for the Prophet (ﷺ), fearing that such closeness might make the marriage inappropriate, but the Prophet (ﷺ) clarified the precise legal boundaries.