Mamar relates that Zuhri relates that Abdullah bin Abdullah bin Abi Thawr said:

I heard Ibn Abbaas saying

“I remained eager to ask Umar about the two women from the wives of the Prophet, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, about whom Allah said:

“If you repent to Allah, for your hearts have inclined” (Qur’aan Chapter 66 Verse 4)

The outcome of repentance is not mentioned. It is:

If you repent to Allah, It will be better for you, for your hearts have inclined (towards the displeasure of Allah and his messenger).

Until Umar performed Hajj and I performed Hajj with him. So I poured for him from a utensil so he performed ablution.”

I said: “Leader of the believers! Who are the two women from the wives of the prophet, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, about whom Allah says: “If you repent to Allah, for your hearts have inclined”?

So he said to me: “I am amazed at you Ibn Abbaas!”

Zuhri said: “And he disliked, by Allah, about what he had asked him and he did not conceal it” so he (Umar) said to me (Ibn Abbaas): “They are Aisha and Hafsa.”

Ibn Abbaas said: “Then he began relating an incident to me.

He said”: “We were a group of Quraish who would dominate our women. So when we came to Madina we found a people whose women dominated them. So our women began learning from their women. So one day I expressed anger at my wife and all of a sudden she was answering me back. I found it strange that she was answering me back. So she said: “What do you find strange from that? For by Allah, the wives of the Prophet, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, surely answer him back and one of them leaves him in the day till the night.” Umar said: “so I thought to myself: The one who does that from them has indeed been deprived and has lost out.”

(Umar) said: “My house was on the outskirts of Banu Umayyah (an area in Madina). And I had a neighbour from the Ansaar (the muslims who migrated to Madina were known an Muhajir and the ones who already lived in Madina from before were known as Ansaar). We would take turns in going to the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace.” (Umar) said: “So he would go one day and would bring me news of the revelation and other things. And I would go on the alternate day and bring him it’s like.”

(Umar) said: “We would discuss that Gassaan is bridling the horses to march against us.” (Gassaan was the name of a tribe at that time. It was possible that they would attack the muslims, however this did not happen). (Umar) said: “He came to me one day in the evening and knocked on the door, so I came out before him. Then he said: “A great incident has occurred.” I said: “Have Gassaan come?” He said: “Greater than that. The messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, has divorced his wives.” (Umar) said: “so I thought to myself: Hafsa has indeed been deprived and has lost out. I knew this would happen.”

(Umar) said: “When I had performed the Morning Prayer I tightened my clothes around myself. Then I set out until I reached Hafsa (as she was crying). (Hafsa was the daughter of Umar and also the wife of the messenger, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace). So I said: “Has the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, divorced you?” She said: “I don’t know. He is there, separate, in this hut.”

(Umar) said: “So I set out and came to a black boy. So I said: “Seek permission for Umar.” (Umar) said: “He went in then came out to me. (The boy) said: “I mentioned you to him and he did not say anything.” (Umar) said: “So I set out to the mosque and around the Mimbar people were crying, so I sat with them. Then what I felt overcame me, so I came to the boy and I said: “Seek permission for Umar.” So he went in then came out to me. (The boy) said: “I mentioned you to him and he did not say anything.” (Umar) said: “I turned on my heels setting out when all of a sudden the boy was calling out to me. (The boy) then said: “Enter. For he has just granted you permission.”

(Umar) said: “So I entered and the Prophet, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, was leaning on a strapped mat. I saw its impression on his side. So I said: “Messenger of Allah! Have you divorced your wives?” He said: “No.” I said: “Allah is the greatest! If only you could see us, messenger of Allah.”

“We were a group of Quraish who would dominate the women. So when we came to Madina we found a people whose women dominate them. So our women began learning from there women. So one day I expressed anger at my wife and all of a sudden she was answering me back. I found that strange. So she said: “what do you find strange? For by Allah, the wives of the prophet, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, surely answer him back and one of them leaves him in the day till the night.”

(Umar) said: “I asked Hafsa: “Do you answer back to the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace?” She said: “Yes. And one of us leaves him in the day till the night.” (Umar) said: I said: “The one who does that from you has indeed been deprived and has lost out. Is one of you content that Allah becomes angry at her due to the anger of the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, and consequently she is destroyed?” So the Prophet, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, smiled.

(Umar) said: “So I said to Hafsa: “Don’t answer back to the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, and don’t ask him for anything, and ask me what seems appropriate for you. And don’t let this deceive you that your companion (Aisha) is more beautiful than you and more beloved to the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace.”

(Umar) said: “So he gave another smile. So I said: “Messenger of Allah! May I become comfortable?” He said: “Yes.” So I raised my head and I did not see except three animal skins (yet to be tanned) in the house.” So I said: “Messenger of Allah! Pray to Allah that he showers abundance (of wealth) upon your Ummah, for he has showered abundance upon Persia and Rome when they don’t worship him.”

“Then he sat up straight and said: “Are you in doubt Ibn Khattaab? They are people for whom there good has been bought quickly for them in the worldly life.” (Umar) said: “And he had taken an oath that he would not visit his wives for a month, so Allah reprimanded him for that, and fixed the expiation of (breaking) an oath for him.”

Zuhri said: Urwa informed me from Aisha that she said: “When 29 days had passed the Prophet, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, visited me. He began with me. He said: “Aisha! I am going to mention something to you so don’t hasten until you consult with your parents.” She said: “Then he recited this verse:

“Messenger of Allah! Say to your wives…” till the end of the verse.

The translation of the full verse is:

“Messenger of Allah! Say to your wives: “If you wish for the worldly life and its adornment, then come, I shall equip you and dismiss you in a good manner (referring to divorce). And if you wish for Allah, his messenger, and the abode of the hereafter, then Allah has definitely prepared a great reward for the good doers from you.” (Qur’aan Chapter 33 Verses 28 and 29)

She said: “He knew, by Allah, that my parents would not instruct me of his separation.” She said: so I said: “Regarding this I should consult my parents? For indeed I want Allah, his messenger and the abode of the hereafter.”

Mamar said: Ayoob informed me that Aisha said to him (the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace): “Messenger of Allah! Don’t inform your wives that I have chosen you.” (She did not want the other wives to know that she had chosen him because she wanted him all to herself). So the prophet, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, said: “Allah has only sent me as a conveyor, and has not sent me as one to cause difficulty.”