[Machine] I proposed to a woman, and I mentioned her to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ . He asked me, "Have you looked at her?" I said, "No." He said, "Then look at her, for it is more likely to foster love and compatibility between you." So, I went to her, and her parents were with her while she was wearing a veil. I said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has commanded me to look at you." Both she and her parents fell silent. Then, the girl lifted a corner of her veil and said, "If the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded you to look at me, then look. But if he did not command you, then do not look." I looked at her, and then I married her. I have never been with a woman who surpassed her in status. I have married seventy or seventy-one women.

خَطَبْتُ امْرَأَةً فَذَكَرْتُهَا لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي هَلْ نَظَرْتَ إِلَيْهَا؟ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَانْظُرْ إِلَيْهَا فَإِنَّهُ أَحْرَى أَنْ يُؤْدَمَ بَيْنَكُمَا فَأَتَيْتُهَا وَعِنْدَهَا أَبَوَاهَا وَهِيَ فِي خِدْرِهَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَنْظُرَ إِلَيْهَا قَالَ فَسَكَتَا قَالَ فَرَفَعَتِ الْجَارِيَةُ جَانِبَ الْخِدْرِ فَقَالَتْ أُحَرِّجُ عَلَيْكَ إِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَمَرَكَ أَنْ تَنْظُرَ إِلِيَّ لَمَا نَظَرْتَ وَإِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَمْ يَأْمُرْكَ أَنْ تَنْظُرَ إِلِيَّ فَلَا تَنْظُرْ قَالَ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهَا ثُمَّ تَزَوَّجْتُهَا قَالَ فَمَا وَقَعَتْ عِنْدِي امْرَأَةٌ بِمَنْزِلَتِهَا وَلَقَدْ تَزَوَّجْتُ سَبْعِينَ أَوْ بِضْعًا وَسَبْعِينَ امْرَأَةً