Letters to women and their reply

'A'isha bint Talha said, "I spoke to 'A'isha when I was under her protection. people used to visit her from all places. Shaykhs used visit me because of my place with her. Young men used to treat me as a sister and give me presents and write to me from their cities. I said to 'A'isha, 'Aunt, this is a letter from so-and-so and his gift.' 'A'isha told me, 'My girl, answer him and reward him. If you do not have anything to give, I will give you something.' She told her to give it to her."

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ رَافِعٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مُوسَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَتْنَا عَائِشَةُ بِنْتُ طَلْحَةَ قَالَتْ: قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ، وَأَنَا فِي حِجْرِهَا، وَكَانَ النَّاسُ يَأْتُونَهَا مِنْ كُلِّ مِصْرٍ، فَكَانَ الشُّيُوخُ يَنْتَابُونِي لِمَكَانِي مِنْهَا، وَكَانَ الشَّبَابُ يَتَأَخَّوْنِي فَيُهْدُونَ إِلَيَّ، وَيَكْتُبُونَ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الأَمْصَارِ، فَأَقُولُ لِعَائِشَةَ: يَا خَالَةُ، هَذَا كِتَابُ فُلاَنٍ وَهَدِيَّتُهُ، فَتَقُولُ لِي عَائِشَةُ: أَيْ بُنَيَّةُ، فَأَجِيبِيهِ وَأَثِيبِيهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَكِ ثَوَابٌ أَعْطَيْتُكِ، فَقَالَتْ: فَتُعْطِينِي.