I used to look down upon those ladies who had given themselves to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and I used to say, "Can a lady give herself (to a man)?" But when Allah revealed: "You (O Muhammad) can postpone (the turn of) whom you will of them (your wives), and you may receive any of them whom you will; and there is no blame on you if you invite one whose turn you have set aside (temporarily).' (33.51) I said (to the Prophet), "I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires." (Using translation from Bukhārī 4788)
كُنْتُ أَغَارُ عَلَى اللَّاتِي وَهَبْنَ أَنْفُسَهُنَّ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَأَقُولُ أَوَ تَهِبُ الْمَرْأَةُ نَفْسَهَا لِلرَّجُلِ؟ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ تَعَالَى {تُرْجِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ مِنْهُنَّ وَتُؤْوِي} [الأحزاب 51] إِلَيْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَمَنِ ابْتَغَيْتَ مِمَّنْ عَزَلْتَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكَ قُلْتُ «وَاللهِ مَا أَرَى رَبَّكَ إِلَّا يُسَارِعُ لَكَ فِي هَوَاكَ»