[Machine] And the saying of Allah the Exalted: "Say to your wives, 'If you should desire the worldly life and its adornment, then come, I will provide for you and give you a gracious release.'"
وَقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {قُلْ لأَزْوَاجِكَ إِنْ كُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أُمَتِّعْكُنَّ وَأُسَرِّحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلاً}.
Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave us the option (to remain with him or to be divorced) and we selected Allah and His Apostle . So, giving us that option was not regarded as divorce.
خَيَّرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَاخْتَرْنَا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَلَمْ يَعُدَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْنَا شَيْئًا
I asked ʿAisha about the option: She said, "The Prophet ﷺ gave us the option. Do you think that option was considered as a divorce?" I said, "It matters little to me if I give my wife the option once or a hundred times after she has chosen me."
خَيَّرَنَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَفَكَانَ طَلاَقًا قَالَ مَسْرُوقٌ لاَ أُبَالِي أَخَيَّرْتُهَا وَاحِدَةً أَوْ مِائَةً بَعْدَ أَنْ تَخْتَارَنِي