In Defence of Prophet's Multiple Marriages Part 4

by Hiba Khan

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Marrying daughters of the enemy
Not only was the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam marrying divorced and widowed women in order to give them a protective, stable and peaceful home environment, but he also married women from among the People of the Book - women from the enemy at the time. This had great political and religious benefits as, in the Arab culture, strong ties between families were established through ties of marriage alone.

 8. Safiyyah bint Huyayy ibn Akhtab (r.a.a.)
9. Juwayriyah bint al-Haarith (r.a.a.)

 Captives turn wives of the Prophet
Safiyyah and Juwayriyah were both prisoners of war. They belonged to Jewish tribes and both were the daughters of chieftains. Their tribes were staunch enemies of Islam. When the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam freed the two ladies respectively, they converted to Islaam out of their own will and then he married them. He even gave them the option to go back to their respective tribes, but they chose to stay with the Messenger of Allaah.

Hostility between the tribes die down
Through these marriages, the enmities abated. Because they had become the in-laws of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, the enemies were freed - and because of this mercy, their hearts melted, and thus they converted to Islaam too!

No room for favouritism

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam treated these wives as kindly as he treated the others. When the other wives would taunt Safiyyah regarding her Jewish lineage, the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam would console her with the most comforting words:

“Did you not say to them: ‘How can you be better than I, when my father is Haaroon (Aaron), my uncle is Moosaa (Moses), and my husband is Muhammad?’”

10. Ramlah bint Abi Sufyaan a.k.a. Umm Habeebah (r.a.a.)

Another daughter of another foe
Ramlah was the daughter of Abu Sufyaan, who was one of the staunchest enemies of Islam. While he was an important and affluent chieftain, she was helpless; yet her faith was such that even her father could not stop her from accepting the Religion.

An early believer
At a time of brutal persecution, Ramlah was among the second group of migrants to Abyssinia with her husband, Ubaydullaah bin Jahsh.

A desperate situation
How was Ramlah to cope with a husband who had become a drunkard and reverted to the religion of Christianity? Although she worried for her future, she busied herself in prayers and the upbringing of their daughter, Habeebah – thus her name ‘Umm (mother of) Habeebah’. Later her husband died in the state he had been in.

The Prophet’s proposal
The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, upon hearing the distressful situation of Umm Habeebah – a formerly rich woman now living with meager means – offered to marry her, much to her delight. The king of Abyssinia arranged the marriage.

The ripple effect
This marriage eventually subsided the enmity between the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam and her father. By the time of the conquest of Makkah, Abu Sufyaan and his sons had accepted Islam.

11. Maymoonah bint al-Haarith (r.a.a.)

A gift to the Prophet

Maymoonah was a divorced and widowed woman who gifted herself in marriage to the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam due to her ardent desire to be among the Ummahaat ul Mu’mineen.

The last woman he married
Maymoonah was his last wife; so, the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam finally stopped marrying at the age of 60.

"Not lawful to you, [O Muhammad], are [any additional] women after [this], nor [is it] for you to exchange them for [other] wives, even if their beauty were to please you, except what your right hand possesses. And ever is Allaah, over all things, an Observer." [Al-Qur'aan - Soorat-ul-Ahzaab 33: 52]

An appeal to reflect
O people, open your minds! And accept the fact that there was a purpose and long-term benefit for every marriage of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, whether religious, political or social. All these marriages came to be only after inspiration from his Lord, and were not based on his vain desires, as the ignorant claim.

“Your companion (Muhammad) has neither gone astray nor has he erred,
Nor does he speak of [his own] desire. It is only an inspiration that is inspired.” [Al-Qur'aan – Soorat-un-Najm 53: 2-4]

Allaahumma salli wa sallim ’alaa nabiyyinaa Muhammad.
[O Allaah, send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad]

Please take this discussion forward with me and post your views regarding this issue in the comments section!

Posted in: Hiba,Islam,Marriage,polygamy,Relationships,Women,Writers