Sahih al-Bukhari
Sahih al-Bukhari 5113
Is it permissible for a woman to present herself for marriage to somebody?
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كَانَتْ خَوْلَةُ بِنْتُ حَكِيمٍ مِنَ اللاَّئِي وَهَبْنَ أَنْفُسَهُنَّ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ أَمَاتَسْتَحِي الْمَرْأَةُ أَنْ تَهَبَ نَفْسَهَا لِلرَّجُلِ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَتْ {تُرْجِئُ مَنْ تَشَاءُ مِنْهُنَّ} قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا أَرَى رَبَّكَ إِلاَّ يُسَارِعُ فِي هَوَاكَ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْمُؤَدِّبُ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ وَعَبْدَةُ عَنْ هِشَامٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ يَزِيدُ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ
Translation
Narrated Hisham's father
Khaula bint Hakim was one of those ladies who presented themselves to the Prophet (ﷺ) for marriage. `Aisha said, "Doesn't a lady feel ashamed for presenting herself to a man?" But when the Verse: "(O Muhammad) You may postpone (the turn of) any of them (your wives) that you please,' (33.51) was revealed, " `Aisha said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I do not see, but, that your Lord hurries in pleasing you.' "