I add: it was also recorded by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.

Ibn al-Mubārak and Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd al-Umawī transmitted—from Ismāʿīl ibn Abī Khālid, from Qays ibn Abī Ḥāzim, from ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ—that he asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, “Who is dearest to you among the people?” He replied, “ʿĀʾishah.” He asked, “And among the men?” The Prophet said, “Her father.” This is a sound hadith.

It was also reported by al-Nasāʾī and al-Tirmidhī (1), who classed it as fair and singular.

Al-Tirmidhī relates: “Aḥmad ibn ʿUbdah narrated to us; al-Muʿtamir ibn Sulaymān narrated to us, from Ḥumayd, from Anas, who said: It was asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, who is dearest to you among the people?’ He replied, ‘ʿĀʾishah.’ They said, ‘And among the men?’ He said, ‘Her father (2).’” Al-Tirmidhī commented, “This is a fair, singular hadith.”

Her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ:

Hishām narrated from his father, from ʿĀʾishah, who said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ married me after Khadījah had passed away, when I was six years old, and he consummated the marriage with me when I was nine. While I was playing on a swing and my hair was loose (3), some women came to me, prepared me and adorned me (4), then brought me to him (5) ﷺ.”

ʿUrwah said: She stayed with him for nine years.