Hadith 631

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi from Abdullah ibn Umarthat the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,said, "Do not ask for a woman in marriage when another muslim hasalready done so."Malik said, "The explanation of thestatement of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant himpeace, according to what we think - and Allah knows best - is that 'Donot ask for a woman in marriage when another muslim has already doneso' means that when a man has asked for a woman in marriage, and shehas inclined to him and they have agreed on a bride-price, which shehas suggested and with which they are mutually satisfied, it isforbidden for another man to ask for that woman in marriage. It doesnot mean that when a man has asked for a woman in marriage, and hissuit does not agree with her and she does not incline to him that noone else can ask for her in marriage. That is a door to misery forpeople."