THE WILLINGNESS OF WOMEN

8. Polygamy and Islam ~ 187 ~ beard. Seeing him, the Prophet said to me, ‘O ‘Abbas, are you not surprised at Mughith’s love for Burairah and Burairah’s hate for Mughith?’ Then the Prophet said to Burairah, ‘I wish you would take him back.’ Burairah said to the Prophet, ‘Is that a command?’ The Prophet replied, ‘No, it is only a recommendation.’ Then Burairah said, ‘I don’t need your recommendation.’”157 155. Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Bab la Yunkihu aI-Ab wa Ghairuhu aI-Bikra wath-Thayyiba ilIa bi Ridaha (Fath aI-Bari, 9/157). 156. Abu Dawud, Sunan, Kitab an-Nikah, 2/232. 157. Ad-Darimi, Sunnan, Kitab an-Nikah, 2/170. There was an interesting case of polygamy which took place during the Caliphate of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab. A certain widow, Umm Aban bint ‘Utbah had four suitors for marriage. All four — ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, ‘Ali ibn abi Talib, Zubayr and Talhah — were already married. Umm Aban accepted the proposal of marriage made by Talhah and, of course, refused the other three, whereupon she was married to Talhah.158