Fath al-Rabbani

Ja'far bin Burqan says: I asked Imam Zuhri (may Allah have mercy on him) about a man who gives his wife the choice to stay with him or not, and she chooses her husband—what is your opinion about this? Zuhri said: 'Urwah bin Zubair narrated to me that he narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), she says: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to me and said: I am presenting a matter to you, do not be hasty in replying, rather consult your parents. I asked: What is the matter? Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited these verses to me: {یٰٓاَیُّہَا النَّبِیُّ قُلْ لِّاَزْوَاجِکَ اِنْ کُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ الْحَیٰوۃَ الدُّنْیَا وَزِیْنَتَہَا فَتَعَالَیْنَ اُمَتِّعْکُنَّ وَاُسَرِّحْکُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِیْلًا۔ وَاِنْ کُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ اللّٰہَ وَرَسُوْلَہ وَالدَّارَ الْاٰخِرَۃَ فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ اَعَدَّ لِلْمُحْسِنٰتِ مِنْکُنَّ اَجْرًا عَظِیْمًا۔} … O Prophet! Say to your wives: If you desire the life of this world and its adornment, then come, I will provide for you and release you in a gracious manner. But if you desire Allah and His Messenger and the home of the Hereafter, then indeed Allah has prepared a great reward for those of you who do good. Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: I said: What is there in this that I should consult my parents? I prefer Allah, His Messenger, and the home of the Hereafter. At this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was very pleased and liked this very much, and he said: Aisha! The matter I have presented to you, I will present the same to your co-wives. Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: But do not tell my co-wives about what I have chosen. But the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do so; then he presented the same matter to the other wives, and he also told them what Aisha had chosen—that Aisha had chosen Allah, His Messenger, and the Hereafter. So they also gave the same answer as Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave us the choice to stay with him or not, and we chose him, but this was not counted as a divorce.