Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she used to criticize those women who would offer themselves as a gift to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and Sayyida would say: Does a woman not feel ashamed to offer herself as a gift without a dowry? Upon this, Allah Almighty revealed this verse: {تُرْجِیْ مَنْ تَشَاء ُ مِنْہُنَّ وَ تُؤْوِیْٓ اِلَیْکَ مَنْ تَشَائُ وَمَنِ ابْتَغَیْتَ مِمَّنْ عَزَلْتَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَیْکَ ذٰلِکَ اَدْنٰٓی اَنْ تَقَرَّ اَعْیُنُہُنَّ وَلَا یَحْزَنَّ وَیَرْضَیْنَ بِمَآ اٰتَیْتَہُنَّ کُلُّہُنَّ وَاللّٰہُ یَعْلَمُ مَا فِیْ قُلُوْبِکُمْ وَکَانَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیْمًا حَلِیْمًا۔} … Of them, you may defer whom you will, and you may take to yourself whom you will, and whomsoever you desire of those whom you had set aside, there is no blame upon you. That is more likely that their eyes will be cooled and they will not grieve, and that they will all be satisfied with what you give them. And Allah knows what is in your hearts, and Allah is All-Knowing, Most Forbearing. Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I said, O Prophet of Allah! Your Lord hastens to fulfill your wishes.

It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that even after the revelation of this verse, when it was the turn of any wife, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would seek her permission: {تُرْجِیْ مَنْ تَشَاء ُ مِنْہُنَّ وَ تُؤْوِیْٓ اِلَیْکَ مَنْ تَشَائُ وَمَنِ ابْتَغَیْتَ مِمَّنْ عَزَلْتَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَیْکَ} … "You may put off whom you please of them, and you may take to yourself whom you please, and whomsoever you desire of those whom you had set aside, there is no blame on you." I (Mu’adhah) said: Aisha! When the Prophet (peace be upon him) would ask you, what would you say? She said: I would say: O Messenger of Allah! If this matter is up to me, then I would not give preference to anyone over you.