Musnad Ahmad 1153:1499

Kathir ibn Hisham narrated to us, he said: Ja'far ibn Burqan narrated to us, he said: I asked al-Zuhri about a man who gives his wife the choice (of staying or leaving) and she chooses him. He said: 'Urwah ibn al-Zubayr narrated to me, from 'Aishah, she said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, came to me and said: "I am going to present a matter to you, so there is no harm if you do not hasten in it until you consult your parents." I said: "And what is this matter?" She said: Then he recited to me: {O Prophet, say to your wives, if you desire the worldly life and its adornment, then come, I will provide for you and give you a graceful release. But if you desire Allah and His Messenger and the home of the Hereafter, then indeed, Allah has prepared for the doers of good among you a great reward} [Al-Ahzab: 29]. 'Aishah said: I said: "Is it regarding this that you command me to consult my parents? Rather, I desire Allah, His Messenger, and the home of the Hereafter." She said: The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was pleased with that and it delighted him, and he said: "I will present to your companions what I have presented to you." She said: I said to him: "Do not inform them of what I have chosen." He did not do so, and he would say to them as he said to 'Aishah, then he would say: "'Aishah has chosen Allah, His Messenger, and the home of the Hereafter." 'Aishah said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, gave us the choice, and we did not consider that to be a divorce.