Fath al-Rabbani

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that Sayyida Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) was married to Sayyiduna Khunais (may Allah be pleased with him). When she became a widow, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) met Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) and offered him Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) in marriage. But Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said that he had no need for a wife, however, he would think about it. After that, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) met Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and offered him Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) in marriage as well. But he remained silent (and gave no reply). Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) felt displeasure in his heart towards Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). Soon after, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent a proposal for marriage to Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her). After this, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) went to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: I offered Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) in marriage to Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), but he refused. After that, I offered you Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) in marriage, but you remained silent and did not even give me a reply. So I was more angry with you than with Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), because he had at least clearly refused. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: In fact, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had mentioned marrying Sayyida Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her), and this matter of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was still a secret, so I did not consider it permissible to disclose the secret of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). (And so I remained silent).