When night came, he would return to the house of the wife whose turn it was and spend the night exclusively with her. ‘Ā’ishah said:

“He did not favour any of us over the others in the time he spent with us when allocating our turns. Rarely did a day pass without his visiting us all, drawing close to each wife without intercourse, until he reached the one whose day it was (1), with whom he would spend the night” (2).

He allotted turns to eight of his wives, but not to the ninth. In Sahīh Muslim (3), ‘Atā’ is reported as saying that the wife to whom he did not allot a turn was Safiyyah bint Huyayy. This was an error on the part of ‘Atā’—may Allah have mercy on him (4). It was in fact Sawdah, who, when she grew old, gave her day to ‘Ā’ishah (5). The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would allot ‘Ā’ishah both her own day and Sawdah’s day.

The reason for this mistake—and Allah knows best—was that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had been displeased with Safiyyah over something. She said to ‘Ā’ishah, “Would you be willing to restore the Messenger of Allah’s good pleasure with me, in return for my giving you my day?” She replied, “Yes.” ‘Ā’ishah then sat beside the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, on Safiyyah’s day. He said, “Move away from me, ‘Ā’ishah, for this is not your day.” She replied, “That is Allah’s bounty, which He grants