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  4. Sahih Muslim 1477 d
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى التُّجِيبِيُّ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَمَّا أُمِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِتَخْيِيرِ أَزْوَاجِهِ بَدَأَ بِي فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنِّي ذَاكِرٌ لَكِ أَمْرًا فَلاَ عَلَيْكِ أَنْ لاَ تَعْجَلِي حَتَّى تَسْتَأْمِرِي أَبَوَيْكِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ قَدْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ أَبَوَىَّ لَمْ يَكُونَا لِيَأْمُرَانِي بِفِرَاقِهِ قَالَتْ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ ‏{‏ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لأَزْوَاجِكَ إِنْ كُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أُمَتِّعْكُنَّ وَأُسَرِّحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلاً * وَإِنْ كُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالدَّارَ الآخِرَةَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْمُحْسِنَاتِ مِنْكُنَّ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا‏}‏ قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ فِي أَىِّ هَذَا أَسْتَأْمِرُ أَبَوَىَّ فَإِنِّي أُرِيدُ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالدَّارَ الآخِرَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ ثُمَّ فَعَلَ أَزْوَاجُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَ مَا فَعَلْتُ ‏.‏
Translation
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave us the option (to get divorce) and we chose him and he did not count it a divorce.

Comment

The Book of Divorce - Sahih Muslim 1477 d

This narration from Sahih Muslim concerns the matter of khiyār (option) given by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to his wives, wherein they chose to remain with him rather than seek divorce, and this choice was not considered a divorce.

Context and Background

This hadith refers to the incident when Allah revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) to offer his wives the choice between remaining in marriage with him or separating, as mentioned in Surah Al-Ahzab (33:28-29). The wives unanimously chose to remain with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

Legal Ruling (Ḥukm)

Scholars state that this specific option (khiyār) was unique to the Prophet's household and does not constitute a general legal precedent for all Muslims. The choice given did not count as a divorce because it was a special divine instruction, not a regular pronouncement of divorce.

Significance and Wisdom

This event demonstrates the elevated status of the Prophet's wives and tests their commitment to Islam. Their choice affirmed their preference for the Hereafter over worldly comforts. It also illustrates that not every separation offer constitutes a legal divorce—intent and context are essential in Islamic jurisprudence.