"When Hafsa became a widow," ʿUmar said, "I met Abu Bakr and said to him, 'If you wish I will marry Hafsa bint ʿUmar to you.' I waited for a few days then Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked for her hand. Later Abu Bakr met me and said, 'Nothing stopped me from returning to you concerning your offer except that I knew that Messenger of Allah ﷺ had mentioned (his wish to marry) her, and I could never let out the secret of Messenger of Allah ﷺ . If he had left her, I would have accepted her.' "  

عُمَرُ لَقِيتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَقُلْتُ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْكَحْتُكَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتَ عُمَرَ فَلَبِثْتُ لَيَالِيَ ثُمَّ خَطَبَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَقِيَنِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَمْنَعْنِي أَنْ أَرْجِعَ إِلَيْكَ فِيمَا عَرَضْتَ إِلاَّ أَنِّي قَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ ذَكَرَهَا فَلَمْ أَكُنْ لأُفْشِيَ سِرَّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلَوْ تَرَكَهَا لَقَبِلْتُهَا