" Thou mayest put off whom thou pleasest of them, and take for thee whom thou pleasest" (xxxiii. 5). Mu'adha said to her: What did you say to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) when he sought your permission? She said: I used to say: If it had the option in this I would not have (allowed anyone) to have precedence over me.
The Book of Divorce - Sahih Muslim 1476a
This narration from 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) concerns the verse: "Thou mayest put off whom thou pleasest of them, and take for thee whom thou pleasest" (Qur'an 33:51). This verse granted the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) special marital privileges not given to other believers.
Exegesis of the Verse
The divine permission allowed the Prophet to defer his turn with any of his wives or to resume cohabitation with any without observing the strict sequence of turns that other Muslims must maintain. This was a unique dispensation for the Messenger of Allah.
'A'isha's Response Analysis
When Mu'adha asked what 'A'isha said when the Prophet sought permission regarding this matter, she replied: "If I had the option in this, I would not have allowed anyone to have precedence over me." This demonstrates 'A'isha's deep love for the Prophet and her desire to maximize her time with him, while simultaneously showing her complete submission to Allah's decree.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars explain that this narration shows the wisdom behind this special ruling - it accommodated the Prophet's unique circumstances and responsibilities. 'A'isha's response reflects the natural human emotion of wanting to be favored, yet her ultimate acceptance shows the companions' perfect obedience to divine commandments.
This hadith also illustrates the elevated status of the Prophet's household and the special regulations that applied exclusively to them, which Muslims accept without questioning Allah's wisdom.