He therefore granted her petition, restored her rights, and dismissed the grievance against her. Then he said, “Lead her into the women’s quarters so they may learn refined conduct from her.” (1)

It is related from one of the Arab women who said: “ʿAzzah once passed by us, and the townswomen gathered around to gaze at her beauty. She was fair-skinned, charming, and delicate; yet she did not strike the women as exceptionally attractive—until she spoke. Then we found her the most eloquent and delightful of speakers, and there remained in our sight no woman who surpassed her in beauty, grace, and sweetness.”

Al-Aṣmaʿī reported on the authority of Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah: ʿAzzah entered upon Sukaynah bint al-Ḥusayn, who said to her, “I would like to ask you something, so speak truthfully. What did Kutheyyir mean by his verse to you:
‘Every debtor I have known has paid his creditor,
while ʿAzzah’s creditor is long deferred and worn’?”
She answered, “I had promised him a kiss, but I kept delaying it.” Sukaynah replied, “Then fulfill it for him, and its sin is upon me.” (2)

Sukaynah bint al-Ḥusayn, moreover, was counted among the most beautiful of women; her beauty became proverbial. (3)

It is also narrated that Umm al-Banīn, the sister of ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, said to her the very same thing. Allah knows best.

Another report relates that ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān wished to marry Kutheyyir to ʿAzzah. She refused, saying, “O Commander of the Faithful, would this be after he has disgraced me before the people and made me famous among the Arabs?” She would have none of it. This was narrated by Ibn ʿAsākir. (4)

A further narration (5) states that she once passed by Kutheyyir while he did not recognize her. She disguised herself, wishing to test him. He made advances, whereupon she asked, “And where is your love for ʿAzzah?”
He answered, “May I be your ransom! If ʿAzzah were my slave-girl I would have bestowed her upon you.”
She replied, “Woe to you—do not do that! Are you not the one who said:
‘Whenever a bond of friendship came to sever us,
we refused and said: the gate-keepers have priority’?”
He said, “May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! Stop mentioning her and listen to what I say:
‘What is ʿAzzah’s union but the union of a wanton?
In the embrace of a wanton there is a substitute for hers.’” (6)
She asked, “Would you care to sit and converse?”
He replied, “And who could make that possible for me?”
She said, “Then what of what you said concerning ʿAzzah?”
He said, “I will recast it, and it will become yours.”
With that she unveiled her face and exclaimed, “Treachery and backtracking, you reprobate! Here she is before you, enemy of Allah!”