Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported regarding the story of Barīrah and her husband: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to her: "If you would take him back?" She said: "O Messenger of Allah, are you ordering me to do so?" He replied: "I am just interceding." So she said: "I have no need for him."
Barīrah's husband was a slave named Mugīth, and Barīrah used to serve ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) before she purchased her, then after ‘Ā’ishah freed her from slavery, she was given the choice whether to stay married to Mugīth or to separate from him (because she had become a free woman while he was still a slave). Barīrah chose to leave him. After this separation, Mugīth used to chase her through the roads of Madīnah crying with his tears flowing down his beard, perchance she would reconsider and go back to him. This was because of his extreme love for her. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to Barīrah: "If you would go back to him, you will receive reward (from Allah) for it." She said: "O Messenger of Allah, are you ordering me to go back to him?" He said: "I am only interceding on his behalf." So she said: "I have no desire or need to go back to him."