Lady Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not pass away until it was made lawful for him that he could marry as many women as he wished.

(Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) There is a possibility that initially it was forbidden for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to marry more women than a specified number, and then before his passing, it was made lawful for him to marry women (without any specified number). This was a special favor bestowed upon him (peace be upon him). In this case, there will remain no contradiction or difference between the hadith and the Book of Allah, and this is indicated by Lady Aisha’s (may Allah be pleased with her) acceptance that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not pass away until it was made lawful for him to marry women (without any specified number). So, by this, Lady Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) means: this was a permission that came after a previous prohibition, as we have mentioned earlier.

Lady Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: I used to get very angry at those women who would offer themselves in marriage to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). I used to think, could any woman offer herself for marriage? When Allah the Exalted revealed this verse: «تُرْجِي مَن تَشَاءُ مِنْهُنَّ وَتُؤْوِي إِلَيْكَ مَن تَشَاءُ وَمَنِ ابْتَغَيْتَ مِمَّنْ عَزَلْتَ» (Al-Ahzab: 51), Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I said, "By Allah! I see that your Lord hastens to fulfill your wishes."