Volume 7, Book 62, Number 55:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar :
‘Umar bin Al-Khattab said, “When Hafsa bint ‘Umar became a widow after the death of (her hus –
band) Khunais bin Hudhafa As-Sahmi who had been one of the companions of the Prophet, and he
died at Medina. I went to ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan and presented Hafsa (for marriage) to him. He said, “I
will think it over.’ I waited for a few days, then he met me and said, ‘It seems that it is not possible for
me to marry at present.’ ” ‘Umar further said, “I met Abu Bakr As-Siddique and said to him, ‘If you
wish, I will marry my daughter Hafsa to you.” Abu Bakr kept quiet and did not say anything to me in
reply. I became more angry with him than with ‘Uthman. I waited for a few days and then Allah’s
Apostle asked for her hand, and I gave her in marriage to him. Afterwards I met Abu Bakr who said,
‘Perhaps you became angry with me when you presented Hafsa to me and I did not give you a reply?’
I said, ‘Yes.’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Nothing stopped me to respond to your offer except that I knew that Al –
lah’s Apostle had mentioned her, and I never wanted to let out the secret of Allah’s Apostle. And if Al –
lah’s Apostle had refused her, I would have accepted her.’ “