أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ حِينَ تَأَيَّمَتْ حَفْصَةُ قَالَ عُمَرُ لَقِيتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَقُلْتُ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْكَحْتُكَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتَ عُمَرَ. فَلَبِثْتُ لَيَالِيَ ثُمَّ خَطَبَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَقِيَنِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَمْنَعْنِي أَنْ أَرْجِعَ إِلَيْكَ فِيمَا عَرَضْتَ إِلاَّ أَنِّي قَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ ذَكَرَهَا فَلَمْ أَكُنْ لأُفْشِيَ سِرَّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَوْ تَرَكَهَا لَقَبِلْتُهَا.
"When Hafsa became a widow," `Umar said, "I met Abu Bakr and said to him, 'If you wish I willmarry Hafsa bint `Umar to you.' I waited for a few days then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked for her hand. LaterAbu Bakr met me and said, 'Nothing stopped me from returning to you concerning your offer exceptthat I knew that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had mentioned (his wish to marry) her, and I could never let out thesecret of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . If he had left her, I would have accepted her.' "