Ibn ‘Abbas said “Mughith was a slave.” He said “Apostle of Allaah ﷺ make intercession for me to her (Barirah)”. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ said “O Barirah fear Allaah. He is your husband and father of your child”. She said “Apostle of Allaah ﷺ do you command me for that? He said No, I am only interceding. Then tears were falling down on his (her husband’s) cheeks. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ said to ‘Abbas “Are you not surprised with the love of Mughith for Barirah and her hatred for him.”  

يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اشْفَعْ لِي إِلَيْهَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا بَرِيرَةُ اتَّقِي اللَّهَ فَإِنَّهُ زَوْجُكِ وَأَبُو وَلَدِكِ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتَأْمُرُنِي بِذَلِكَ قَالَ لاَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا شَافِعٌ فَكَانَ دُمُوعُهُ تَسِيلُ عَلَى خَدِّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِلْعَبَّاسِ أَلاَ تَعْجَبُ مِنْ حُبِّ مُغِيثٍ بَرِيرَةَ وَبُغْضِهَا إِيَّاهُ  

Ibn ‘Abbas said “The husband of Barirah was a black slave called Mughith. The Prophet ﷺ gave her choice and commanded her to observe the waiting period.”  

أَنَّ زَوْجَ بَرِيرَةَ كَانَ عَبْدًا أَسْوَدَ يُسَمَّى مُغِيثًا فَخَيَّرَهَا يَعْنِي النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَعْتَدَّ  

While relating the tradition about Barirah A’ishah said “her husband was a slave, so the Prophet ﷺ gave her choice. She chose herself. Had he been a free man, he would not given her choice.”  

كَانَ زَوْجُهَا عَبْدًا فَخَيَّرَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَاخْتَارَتْ نَفْسَهَا وَلَوْ كَانَ حُرًّا لَمْ يُخَيِّرْهَا  

A’ishah said “The Prophet ﷺ gave her choice. Her husband was a slave.”  

أَنَّ بَرِيرَةَ خَيَّرَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَكَانَ زَوْجُهَا عَبْدًا