It is narrated from Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: When Sayyidah Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) passed away, Khawlah bint Hakim (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of Uthman bin Maz'un, said in Makkah: O Messenger of Allah, will you not marry? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whom?" She said: If you wish, a virgin, and if you wish, a previously married woman. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Who is the virgin?" She said: The daughter of the one most beloved to you of Allah's creation, Aishah bint Abi Bakr. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "And who is the previously married woman?" She said: Sawdah bint Zam'ah bin Qays, who has believed in you and followed the law you brought. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Go and mention me to the two of them." So she came and entered the house of Abu Bakr and said: O Abu Bakr, how much good and blessing Allah has brought to you! The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has sent me to propose to Aishah on his behalf. He said: Call the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to me. So she called him, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) came, and he (Abu Bakr) married her to him. At that time Aishah was seven years old. This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of Imam Muslim, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) proposed marriage to Sayyidah Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "She is still young." Then Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) proposed, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) married her to him. This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it.