The hadith states that a woman presented herself in the service of the Prophet ﷺ
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari:5113)
. This is against the greatness of the Prophet ﷺ and the status of women.① First Point
Before considering this hadith objectionable, it should be known that this issue is also mentioned in the Holy Quran.
وَامْرَأَةً مُؤْمِنَةً إِنْ وَهَبَتْ نَفْسَهَا لِلنَّبِيِّ إِنْ أَرَادَ النَّبِيُّ أَنْ يَسْتَنْكِحَهَا خَالِصَةً لَكَ مِنْ دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Reference: (Al-Ahzab:50)
Translation: And any believing woman who offers herself to the Prophet ﷺ as a gift, if the Prophet ﷺ wishes to marry her, this ruling is specific to you, not for the general Muslims.
But this issue, whether in the Holy Quran or in the hadiths, is not objectionable in any way. Further details are presented in the following points.
② Second Point
It should be clear that this matter is exclusive to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. And it was not sufficient for the woman to merely offer herself as a gift; after that, an offer and acceptance (ijab and qubool) were also necessary.
③ Third Point
In this matter, which is specific only to the person of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the Quran and Sunnah mention only permissibility; there is no example that the Holy Prophet ﷺ actually took advantage of this leave. Rather, the matter is quite the opposite: if women even offered to gift themselves, the Holy Prophet ﷺ arranged their marriage to a companion.
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 5029)
Whereas he said to a woman:
ما لي في النساء من حاجة
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 5029)
Translation: Now I have no need to marry women.
Some of the pure wives wished that a woman from their relatives might become one of the pure wives, and when they expressed this intention to the Prophet ﷺ, he forbade it.
From these evidences, it is understood that despite this permission granted by Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and the desire and wish of many people, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not contract such a marriage.
④ Fourth point
In reality, this issue explains the rights of women in Islam. Before Islam, during the dark ages and in many civilizations even now, the status of women was like that of owned property; the tribal chiefs, kings, and religious leaders had complete authority over women. There was no concept of a woman's will or rights at that time. Islam granted women these rights, which some women expressed, but despite having permission and leave, the Holy Prophet ﷺ did not act upon it.
