The Wives of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

Assalamalaikum wa Rehmatullahi wa Barakatuh!

The topic of this jummah's khutabah was Alhamdullilah addressed by Dr. Amer Kaissi and is a topic that non-Muslims LOVE to jump on and begin to critique with harsh words and filthy insinuations. Sometimes even we, as Muslims, may fall into Shaitan's traps and began to doubt or question some of these things. However, after attending the khutbah today by Dr. Kaissi, I realized that these doubts and these insinuations are nothing than a result of ignorance and lack of knowledge about the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who is and always will be the most perfect example of Islam.

So, one of the top misconceptions that people have about Islam is regarding polygamy, which will be discussed in another blog. In Surah Nisa, Ayah 3, Allah says "If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice." 
Why then did Prophet Muhammad have 12 wives throughout his life, then when in the Qur'an Allah gives permission for up to four wives WITH THE CONDITION that a man treats them equally, but monogamy is recommended. 


The first way in understanding this issue is by looking at the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Many people attribute him having many wives due to "hyper-sexuality" or lust. However, when you look at the life of the Prophet and the ages at which the marriages occurred, this ignorant accusation has absolutely no truth behind it. 


-The first wife of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, May Allah be pleased with her,who had proposed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) for his hand in marriage. At this time, she was 40 and twice widowed where as he was 25.  If those that make the claim that he married for sexual reasons, why then would he marry someone that was 15 years his elder, twice widowed, and had children of her own? Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) loved Khadijah and from the time of their marriage to the time of Khadijah's death, May Allah be pleased with her, Prophet Muhammad took no other wives. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was 50 when Khadijah, May Allah be pleased with her, passed away. For the next two years, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) spent in grief and suffered much hardship. It was at this time that Surah Al-Duha was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad:

In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate

By the morning hours, and by the night when it is stillest, Your Lord has not forsake you nor does He hate you, And truly what comes after will be better for you than what has come before, And truly your Lord will give to you so that you will be content. Did he not find you an orphan and protect you? Did he not find you wandering and guide you? Did he not find you destitute and enrich you? So do not oppress the orphan, And do not drive the beggar away, And speak about the blessings of Your Lord. (Quran 93:1-11)

-From the age of 53 to the age of 60 is when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had 11 wives. If Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had the intention of lust, Astagfarullah, or as some insinuate his marriages due to "hyper-sexuality", why then would he not marry multiple wives at a younger age then in his late 50's? It is a clear scientific fact that sexuality decreases the older a man gets. The sexual peak for men is at age 18 and the older a man gets, the less sexual he gets. For one, the Prophet did not even marry Khadijah till he was 25, which at the time was a pretty late age to get married, and did not marry his other 11 wives until well in his 50's. It is a complete insinuation against the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) resulting from ignorance. His 11 marriages between the ages of 53 to 60 were, instead, for various reasons and purposes. One great point that Dr.Kaissi brought up was that Muhammad, the man, had only one wife. He loved her solely and during his marriage to her, he had no other wives. Muhammad, the Prophet, peace be upon him, had 11 wives, each one had a purpose or reason which was part of his Prophethood.

-Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) marriages each had a different reason. Some of his wives like Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya, Zaynab bint Khuzayma, and Hafsa bint 'Umar were widowed after their husbands had died in battles that were going on at the time. By marrying widows, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) set an example to his society to encourage them to take care of widows and support them. Each one of his marriages also had some political reason or reason for social reform, except for his marriage to Aisha, May Allah be pleased with her, which will be briefly discussed later in this blog and then inshAllah, we will dedicate an entire blog to this marriage, because it one that non-Muslims LOVE to wave red flags. Anyways, back to the reasons behind the Prophet's marriages....

-Some of the marriages of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) were for social reform. For example, Juwayriya bint al-Harith, May Allah be pleased with her, was from the Banu Mustaliq tribe who was defeated by the Muslims. By marrying 

Juwayriya bint al-Harith, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) created peace between the Muslim and the Banu Mustaliq tribes, all prisoners were released, and the Banu Mustaliq tribe entered Islam with honor. 

-Some of the marriages of Prophet Muhammad for political reasons. For example, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) married Umm Habiba Ramla bint Abi Sufyan, who was the daughter of the chief of Mecca, and this marriage played a very important role in the Congress of Mecca. 

-Prophet Muhammad married Aisha, May Allah be pleased with her, at a very young age. His marriage to Aisha was a normal marriage like that with Khadijah, May Allah be pleased with her. Where as Khadijah was much older than him and he was younger, Khadijah, May Allah be pleased with her was not able to live long enough to take note of the Prophet's actions through out his life. By marrying Aisha, who was very young when the Prophet was in his 50's, Aisha, May Allah be pleased with her, was able to live until Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) died and long after and was able to narrate many of his private actions and because of her, there are over 2,000 hadiths that have been passed regarding the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). She is seen as one of the most important sources of information regarding the Prophet's life because she was young and was able to remember better and was able live long enough to witness the life and death of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). By witnessing so much of his life, she was able to narrate a vast amount of information about the man who is the most perfect example of Islam, our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. 

After learning all this from one the most enlightening khutbahs that I have heard, my knowledge and my iman has strengthened that much more and may Allah give us all the ability to seek knowledge about the matters that we are unclear about, especially matters that non-Muslims like to bring up to critique Islam. InshAllah after reading this, some of the questions or doubts created by Shaitan are cleared and inshAllah you can fight off these tools that Shaitan uses. InshAllah, after reading this, you have realized that the insinuations made by many are the results of ignorance, not reality.

Dr. Amer Kaissi ended this khutbah with a very important take home message: Everytime a doubt of question arises in your mind, do not let it manifest and sit there in the back of your mind. Allah gave us all the ability to seek knowledge and implement it, so instead of sitting there get up and seek the answers from the right sources and scholars so that you are not of those that are ignorant. Allah says in the Quran,  "

This day I have perfected your deen for you and have completed My blessing on you, and have chosen Islam for you as your deen. (Quran 5:3)", so rush to seek knowledge, rush to understand matters that you do not understand or are unclear about because Islam is perfect, it is we that are imperfect. 

I end this blog  by thanking Allah (SWT) for giving me the opportunity to go to Jummah today and learn so much from Dr. Amer Kaissi, May Allah bless him and his family with Jannah for his efforts. Through Allah's mercy and help, I sit here sharing this knowledge with you and inshAllah you will benefit from it. Alhmadullilah, all praise is to the one, the supreme only. 

Jazakallakhair!

-Razz :) 

ps. if you want more information about this topic, there is an excellent article I found that goes into this matter with much detail: http://www.islamawareness.net/Muhammed/ibn_kathir_wives.html. 

Salam :)