When people hear that the prophet had many wives they conclude without much
thought that the prophet was a sensuous man. However, a quick historical review
of his marriages, proves otherwise.
When he was twenty-five years old he married for the first time. His wife,
Khadijah, was fifteen years older than he. She remained the only wife of the
prophet for the next twenty-five years, until she died (may Allah be pleased
with her).
Only after her death, did the prophet marry other women. Now, it is obvious
that if the prophet was after physical pleasure he did not have to wait until he
was more than fifty years old to start marrying more wives. He lived in a
society in which it was quite acceptable to have many wives. But the prophet
remained devoted to his only wife for twenty-five years. When she died she was
sixty-five years old.
His later marriages were for various reasons. Some marriages were with the
view to help the women whose husbands had been killed while they were defending
their faith. Others were with a view to cement relationships with devoted
followers like Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him. Yet others were to build
bridges with various tribes who were otherwise at war with the Muslims. When the
prophet became their relative through marriage, their hostilities calmed down,
and much bloodshed was averted.
Recent non-Muslim writers who had the opportunity to study the life of the
prophet first-hand reach a similar conclusion about his plural marriages.
John L. Esposito, Professor of Religion and Director of the Centre for
International Studies at the College of the Holy Cross, says that most of these
marriages had "political and social motives" (Islam: The Straight Path, Oxford
University Press, 1988, p. 19). This he explained as follows: "As was customary
for Arab chiefs, many were political marriages to cement alliances. Others were
marriages to the widows of his companions who had fallen in combat and were in
need of protection" (John L. Esposito, Islam: The Straight Path, pp. 19-20).
Esposito reminds us of the following historical fact: "Though less common,
polygyny was also permitted in biblical and even in postbiblical Judaism. From
Abraham, David, and Solomon down to the reformation period, polygyny was
practiced" (p. 19).
Another non-Muslim Caesar E. Farah writes as follows: "In the prime of his
youth and adult years Muhammad remained thoroughly devoted to Khadijah and would
have none other for consort. This was an age that looked upon plural marriages
with favor and in a society that in pre-Biblical and post-Biblical days
considered polygamy an essential feature of social existence. David had six
wives and numerous concubines (2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, 14:3) and
Solomon was said to have had as many as 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings
11:3). Solomon's son Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines (2 Chronicles
11:21). The New Testament contains no specific injunction against plural
marriages. It was commonplace for the nobility among the Christians and Jews to
contract plural marriages. Luther spoke of it with toleration" (Caesar E. Farah,
Islam: Beliefs and Observances, 4th edition, Barron's, U.S. 1987, p. 69). Caesar
Farah then concluded that Muhammad's plural marriages were due "partly to
political reasons and partly to his concern for the wives of his companions who
had fallen in battle defending the nascent Islamic community" (p. 69).
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KHADIJAH: She was 40 years old when she
proposed to marry the Prophet when he was 25 years old. After 15years of their
marriage he became a prophet. She had been married twice before she married
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Her first husband was Aby Haleh Al Tamemy and her
second husband was Oteaq Almakzomy. They had both died leaving Khadijah a
widower. Khadijah died in 621A.D. This was the same year the Prophet ascended
into heaven (Meraj).
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SAWDA BINT ZAM'A: Her first husband
was Al Sakran Ibn Omro Ibn Abed Shamz. He died within a few days after his
return from Ethiopia. She was 65 years old, poor, and had no one to care for
her. This was why Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) married her.
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AISHA SIDDIQA: A woman named Kholeah Bint Hakeem
suggested that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) marry Aishah, the daughter of Aby Bakr,
to form a close relationship with Aby Bakr's family. She was already engaged to
Jober Ibn Al Moteam Ibn Oday. At this time Jober was not yet a Muslim. The
people of Makkah did not object to Aishah becoming married because although she
was young, she was mature enough to understand the responsibility of marriage.
Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) was engaged to Aishah for 2 years before he married her.
Aby Bakr was the first leader after Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) death.
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HAFSAH BINT U'MAR: She was the daughter of Omar, the
second Calipha. Omar asked Othman to marry Hafsah. Othman refused because his
wife had recently died and Othman did not want to remarry. Omar then went to Aby
Bakr but he also refused to marry Hafsah. Aby Bakr knew that the Prophet had
already considered marrying Hafsah. Omar then went to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
and complained that Othman and Aby Bakr did not want to marry his daughter. The
Prophet told Omar that his daughter will marry and Othman will also remarry.
Othman married the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Om Kolthoom, and Hafsah
married the Prophet. This made Omar and Othman both happy.
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ZAYNAB BINT KHUZAYMA: Her husband died in the
battle of Uhud, leaving her poor and with several children. She was old when
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) married her. She died 3 months after she married the
Prophet 625 A.D.
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SALAMA BINT UMAYYA:
Her husband, Abud Allah Abud Al Assad Ibn Al Mogherah, died leaving Hend poor
and with many children. Hend was at least 65 years old at the time. Aby Bakr and
several others asked her to marry them, but because she loved her husband very
much, she refused the marriage's offers. But finally she accepted Prophet
mohammad's offer to marry her and take care of her children.
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ZAYNAB BINT JAHSH: She was the daughter of
Prophet Muhammad's aunt, Omameh Bint Abud Almutaleb. The Prophet arranged for
Zaynab to marry Zayed Ibn Hareathah Al Kalby. This marriage did not last and the
Prophet received a verse in the Quran which stated that if they became divorced,
then the Prophet must marry Zaynab (Sura 33:37).
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JUWAYRIYA BINT AL-HARITH: Her first husband's
name was Masafeah Ibn Safuan. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) wanted Juayreah's tribe
(Beni Al Mostalag)to convert to Islam. Juayreah became a prisoner after the
Muslims won the Battle of Al Mostalaq. Juayreah's father came to the Prophet and
offered a payment for her return. The Prophet asked her father to give her a
choice. When she was given a choice she said she accepted Islam and Prophet
Muhammad as the last God's Messenger. The Prophet then married her. Her tribe of
Beni Almostalag accepted Islam.
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SAFIYYA BINT HUYAYY: She was from the
tribe of Beni Nadir, who were from the children of Levi (Israel). She was
married twice before, then she married Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Her first
husband Salam Ibn Moshkem, and her second husband was Kenanah Ibn Al Rabeeah.
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UMMU HABIBA BINT SUFYAN: Her
first husband was Aubed Allah Jahish. He was the son of the aunt of Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh). Aubed Allah died in Ethiopia. The king of Ethiopia arranged the
marriage of Ramelah to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
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MAYAMUNA BINT AL-HARITH: She was 26years old
when she married Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Her first husband was Abu Rahma Ibn
Abed Alzey. When the Prophet opened Makkah in 630 AD , she came to the Prophet,
accepted Islam and proposed to marry him. Her actions encouraged Many Makkahans
to accept Islam and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
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MARIA AL-QABTIYYA: She was sent to Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) as a hand maid servant from the king of Egypt. Maria had a son
from the Prophet. His name was Ibrahim.
