I was on a swing, playing with some of my friends, when she called out to me. I went to her, not knowing what she wanted. She took me by the hand and stood me at the door of the house while I was out of breath; when my breathing calmed a little, she took some water, wiped my face and head with it, and then led me inside. There I found several women of the Anṣār who said, “All is for good and blessing, and under the best of omens!” She handed me over to them, and they set about preparing me. Nothing startled me except the sudden arrival of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the forenoon. She entrusted me to him, and on that day I was nine years old.

Imām Aḥmad records in the Musnad of ʿĀʾishah, Mother of the Believers: “Muḥammad ibn Bishr narrated to us; Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr narrated to us; Abū Salamah and Yaḥyā narrated to us:

‘When Khadījah passed away, Khawlah bint Ḥakīm, the wife of ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn, came and said, “O Messenger of Allah, will you not marry?” He asked, “Whom?” She replied, “If you wish, a virgin; and if you wish, a previously married woman.” He said, “Who is the virgin?” She answered, “The daughter dearest to you, ʿĀʾishah bint Abī Bakr.” He asked, “And who is the previously married woman?” She said, “Sawda bint Zamʿah; she has believed in you and followed you.” He said, “Go and mention them to me (on my behalf).”

‘So Khawlah went to the house of Abū Bakr and said, “O Umm Rūmān, what goodness and blessing Allah has brought to you!” She asked, “What is that?” Khawlah replied, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has sent me to seek ʿĀʾishah’s hand for him.” She said, “Wait until Abū Bakr comes.”

‘When Abū Bakr arrived, she said, “O Abū Bakr, what goodness and blessing Allah has brought to you!” He asked, “What is that?” She replied, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has sent me to propose marriage to ʿĀʾishah on his behalf.” He said, “Would she be suitable for him? She is only his brother’s daughter.”

‘Khawlah returned to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and told him what Abū Bakr had said. He said, “Go back to him and say: ‘I am your brother and you are mine in Islam; your daughter is suitable for me.’”

‘She went back and conveyed that to him. He said, “Wait,” and left. Umm Rūmān then said, “Al‐Muṭʿim ibn ʿAdiyy had spoken of her for his son, and, by Allah, Abū Bakr has never broken a promise.”

‘Abū Bakr went to al‐Muṭʿim ibn ʿAdiyy, where his wife—the boy’s mother—was present. She said, “O son of Abī Quḥāfah, perhaps you intend to make our son follow your religion if he marries into your family?” Abū Bakr turned to al‐Muṭʿim and asked, “Is she saying this?” He replied, “She is.” Abū Bakr left, and Allah removed from his heart whatever intention he had regarding the promise he had made.

‘He returned and said to Khawlah, “Summon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for me.” She did so, and he married her (ʿĀʾishah) to him, while ʿĀʾishah at that time…’