The Holy Prophet (PBUH) felt lonely after the death of our mother, Hazrat Khadija. Both our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions were aware of this situation. One day, Hazrat Uthman bin Maz’un’s wife, Lady Hawla, came to the presence of our Holy Prophet (PBUH) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! When I came to your presence I suddenly sensed Khadijah’s absence.” To which our Holy Prophet (PBUH) replied, “Yes, she was the mother of my children as well as the guardian of my home,” signifying that Hazrat Khadija’s transition to the eternal world had left a gap. Afterwards, the following conversation occurred between them:

“Oh Allah’s Apostle! Would you like to get married?”

“To Whom?
“To Abu Bakr’s daughter, Aisha, or Sawda bint Zama.”

“Go and speak to them about me!” Upon this, Lady Hawla rushed to Hazrat Abu Bakr’s home. Umm Ruman, Hazrat Aisha’s mother, was there. “O Umm Ruman, do you know what blessings and benevolence Allah has granted you?” Lady Ruman asked, “What?”

Lady Hawla replied, “Allah’s Apostle (PBUH) has sent me to ask for Aisha’s hand in marriage” to which Lady Ruman said, “Wait until Abu Bakr returns.” When Hazrat Abu Bakr came, Hawla asked in the same manner, “O Abu Bakr, do you know what blessings and benevolence Allah has granted you?” Abu Bakr replied, “What are they?” “Allah’s Apostle has sent me to ask for Aisha’s hand in marriage.”

After thinking for some time, Hazrat Abu Bakr asked, “Considering that Aisha is his brother’s daughter, would it be permissible for him to marry her?” Hawla immediately returned to our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) presence and explained the situation to him. Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) answered: “Return to Abu Bakr. Tell him that “me being your brother and you being mine [does not include siblinghood through blood and milk] is brotherhood in Islam. For that reason, your daughter is lawful for me.” When Hawla returned and made this known, Hazrat Abu Bakr’s worries were lifted. He engaged and wed his daughter Hazrat Aisha to our Holy Prophet (PBUH) in the month of Shawwal. However, the wedding was postponed until a later date. 1

1. Ibn Sa'd, Tabaqat 8/58; Bukhari, 2/329; Musnad, 6/211