The Lives of the Prophet's Wives

During the period when the events of the previous two chapters occurred, Chapter 15 & Chapter 16, the Prophet Muhammad married Zaynab bint Khuzayma, then he married Umm Salama bint Abi Umayya ibn Al-Mughira, and later he married Zaynab bint Jahsh after she was divorced by Zaid ibn Haritha. This Zaid is the one whom Muhammad had adopted and freed from slavery when he was purchased by Khadijah.

Here, some Orientalists and critics exclaim, "Look! Muhammad, who was in Mecca preaching contentment, asceticism, monotheism, and detachment from worldly desires, has become a man of desires who cannot control his lust. He does not content himself with the three wives we mentioned earlier but marries these three additional women. Furthermore, he ardently desires Zaynab bint Jahsh, who was under the guardianship of Zaid ibn Haritha and marries her after her divorce from Zaid. All of this is for nothing but his attraction to her beauty. He even exclaimed, 'Glory be to the One who changes the hearts!' and repeated this phrase when he saw her dressed in her finest attire, captivated by her beauty. Then he married her".

The question, "What kind of prophet is this? How can he allow himself what he forbids to others? Why doesn't he adhere to the law revealed by Allah? Why does he create this fascination with women, reminiscent of extravagant kings, instead of reminding people of the righteous and reforming prophets?"

Critics are astonished at how Muhammad could permit himself to marry Zaynab, especially after her divorce from Zaid, which was considered taboo in pre-Islamic society. They argue that he allowed it to satisfy his own desires and due to his love for her.

The Controversy Surrounding Zaynab bint Jahsh

Critics and Orientalists often let their imaginations run wild when discussing the history of the Prophet Muhammad in this context. Some of them depict Zaynab as being partially or almost completely naked when the Prophet saw her, with her hair flowing over her alluring body, suggesting all kinds of romantic and sensual connotations. Others mention that when the door of Zaid's house was opened, the wind played with the curtains of Zaynab's room, revealing her in her nightwear. These depictions are imaginative and often baseless, and they rely on some accounts from biographical sources and hadith literature, which they then use to create fanciful narratives about Muhammad's relationships with women, particularly his marriages.

The Great Ones Are Not Bound by Law

We could easily respond to all these statements by saying: Let them be true. What harm is there in them that would undermine the greatness of Muhammad or his prophethood and message? The laws that govern ordinary people have no jurisdiction over the great ones, and even more so, they should not have authority over the messengers and prophets. Did not Moses—peace be upon him—settle a dispute between two men, one from his followers and the other from his adversaries? He sided with the one from his adversaries and slew the other, even though this killing was forbidden outside of wartime or its equivalent, and it contradicted the law. Nonetheless, Moses did not submit to the law, and this did not cast doubt on his prophethood or his message. His case was indeed an exceptional one, but it serves as a vivid illustration of the fact that great individuals, particularly the prophets and messengers, are not subject to ordinary laws.

Jesus, on the other hand, went even further in his contravention of the law compared to Moses and Muhammad and all the prophets and messengers. His miraculous conception and birth defied the laws of nature and biology. He was born of the Virgin Mary without a human father, and even though some Jews object to this belief and have tried to link Jesus to Joseph the Carpenter, some scholars, like Renan, still adhere to this view today. The greatness of Jesus, his prophethood, and his message lie in the miraculous way he challenged the natural order and the laws of creation. It should not be surprising that Christians call for belief in this exceptional departure from the order of the universe and nature in the case of Jesus while criticizing Muhammad for acts that were well within the norm.

We could easily use this argument to refute all these claims, and undoubtedly, it would undermine the arguments put forth by both the missionaries and some Orientalists. Nevertheless, by doing so, we would be ignoring history, and the greatness of Muhammad, and the majesty of his message. Contrary to the portrayals by both groups, Muhammad was not a man swayed by his desires, nor did he marry multiple wives out of lust or infatuation. While some Muslim writers in various eras may have allowed themselves to make such statements and presented them to adversaries with the best of intentions, they did so because they were influenced by materialistic thinking and wanted to depict Muhammad as great in every aspect, even in matters of worldly desires. This is an incorrect portrayal that is vehemently rejected by the entirety of Muhammad's life and actions.

He Married Only Khadijah for Over Fifty Years

The Messenger Muhammad married Khadijah when he was twenty-three years old, at the height of his youth, vigor, handsomeness, and masculinity. Yet, Khadijah remained his only wife for twenty-eight years until he surpassed the age of fifty. This was at a time when polygamy was common among the Arabs of that era. Despite this, Muhammad remained monogamous with Khadijah, even though they did not have any sons, and daughters were not generally considered as heirs at the time. Muhammad stayed with Khadijah for seventeen years before his prophethood and eleven years after it without ever contemplating taking another wife alongside her.

There is no record or indication that Muhammad was ever attracted to other women during his marriage to Khadijah, a time when women did not wear veils, and they adorned themselves with what was later prohibited by Islamic law. Therefore, it is unnatural to suddenly imagine that after reaching the age of fifty, he would experience such a radical transformation that he could hardly restrain himself when seeing Zainab bint Jahsh while having five other wives, including Aisha, whom he loved and continued to love throughout his life. It is also unnatural to suggest that he would marry more than seven wives in five years and a total of nine wives in seven years out of sheer desire for women, an image propagated by some Muslim writers and followed by certain Western authors. Such a portrayal is unfitting for a man whose mission changed the course of history and whose message transcended time and place, and it remains ready to change the world once again and reshape history in a new era.

Khadijah Alone Followed

Moreover, if it is considered strange and unnatural that Muhammad would exhibit such behavior, it is equally perplexing to imagine that only Khadijah bore children for him, even though he married other women who were young and capable of bearing children during his lifetime. Maria bore him Ibrahim when he was in his sixties, and yet, no other wife besides Khadijah and Maria had children for him. All the other wives of the Prophet Muhammad were still in their prime, and age was no obstacle for them to conceive and give birth. Some were young, while others were older and had previously borne children. How can this phenomenon be explained, which appears extraordinary in the life of the Prophet, transcending the natural laws for all nine of his wives?

Considering that Muhammad, as a human being, would naturally desire to have children despite his spiritual role as the father of all Muslims, this raises questions about the uniqueness of Khadijah's status in his life and the exceptional nature of their relationship.

Marriage to Saudah bint Zam'ah

Furthermore, the history and the logic of these events provide a more accurate witness than the fabricated narratives presented by the proponents and orientalists regarding the Prophet's marriages. As we have mentioned, Muhammad did not marry anyone else while Khadijah was alive for twenty-eight years. When Allah took her unto Himself, Muhammad married Saudah bint Zam'ah, the widow of Sakran ibn 'Amr ibn 'Abd Shams. There is no record that Saudah possessed exceptional beauty, wealth, or status that would make her marriage to him desirable for any worldly gain. Instead, she was the widow of a man who embraced Islam early on, suffered for the sake of the faith, and emigrated to Abyssinia on the Prophet's command, leaving her with the hardships and trials they faced together.

Muhammad married Saudah after her conversion to Islam and her emigration out of compassion and to elevate her status to that of the Mother of the Believers. This noble act deserves the utmost respect and commendation.

As for Aisha and Hafsah, they were the daughters of his close companions, Abu Bakr and Umar. Muhammad married them due to their fathers' significant roles in the early Islamic community. This union was part of a broader strategy to strengthen the bonds within the emerging Muslim community, just as he established a familial connection with Uthman and Ali by marrying their daughters to his two sons-in-law. If it is indeed true that Muhammad had a special affection for Aisha, it developed after their engagement when she was only nine years old, and they did not marry until two years later.

Therefore, it is illogical to argue that he loved her deeply when she was still so young. This is further supported by his marriage to Hafsah, as she had previously been married to someone else before marrying Muhammad. Umar himself confirmed that their marriages were not rooted in love, as he stated that in the pre-Islamic era, they did not give much consideration to their daughters' opinions in marriage decisions.

Likewise, the marriage to Zainab bint Khuzaimah and Umm Salamah was not based on physical attraction or desire but on noble intentions. Zainab was previously married to Ubaidah ibn al-Harith, who died in the Battle of Badr. She was known for her kindness and generosity and was referred to as the "Mother of the Poor". Muhammad married her to emphasize the importance of supporting the families of martyrs. As for Umm Salamah, she was married to Abu Salamah and had several children with him. When he died, Muhammad married her to care for her and her children and to set an example of responsibility towards widows and their families.

In contrast to the misconceptions propagated by proponents and orientalists, these marriages were not driven by lust or personal desire but were motivated by broader social, familial, and humanitarian considerations, all of which reflected Muhammad's deep sense of responsibility and commitment to the welfare of his community.

Historical Examination and Its Implications

What can an honest historical examination deduce from what has been presented? It deduces that the Prophet Muhammad advised having only one wife in ordinary life. He called for this based on his own example, which he set during his marriage to Khadijah. The Quran also revealed the verse: "Then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hand possesses..". (Quran 4:3). This verse was revealed in the eighth year of the migration after he had already married several wives. It was revealed to specify the maximum number of wives (four), and there was no limit before that. This refutes the claims of those who say that Muhammad allowed himself what he prohibited to others.

This verse was also revealed to emphasize the virtue of having only one wife and recommended it due to the difficulty of maintaining justice between multiple wives, even though the ideal was to be just. Muhammad recognized that in exceptional circumstances, such as wars, epidemics, or revolutions, where large numbers of men died, polygamy might be necessary to provide care and protection for widows and orphans. He advocated polygamy to ensure justice in such situations.

Can you confidently argue that limiting marriage to one wife when wars, epidemics, or revolutions claim thousands of men's lives is better than allowing polygamy under exceptional circumstances? Can the people of Europe, in this post-World War era, claim that the monogamous system is effectively enforced by the law? Doesn't the economic and social unrest that followed the war result from the lack of legitimate cooperation between the sexes through marriage, which could have helped restore some economic balance? I do not intend to make a final judgment, but I leave the matter for thoughtful consideration, always emphasizing that when normal life returns, the best way to ensure family and societal happiness is for a man to have only one wife.

The Story of Zainab bint Jahsh

As for Zainab bint Jahsh and the embellishments added by some narrators, orientalists, and sensationalists, turning it into a tale of romance and infatuation, authentic history judges that she was one of Muhammad's noble accomplishments. He, the perfect example of faith, applied the hadith that conveys the meaning: "None of you has faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself". He set the example by establishing regulations that erased the traditions of ignorance and customs of that era. These regulations affirmed the new order that God had sent as guidance and mercy to all humankind.

To dismantle the entire story you've heard from its foundation, consider that Zainab bint Jahsh was the daughter of Ummiama bint Abd al-Muttalib, the paternal aunt of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). She was raised under his care and supervision, almost like a daughter or a younger sister. He was well aware of her and knew whether she possessed beauty or not before she married Zaid. He watched her grow from childhood to youth and into adulthood. It was he who proposed her marriage to Zaid, his freed slave. Once you understand these facts, it becomes evident that all the fantasies and myths about him visiting Zaid's home and suddenly falling in love with Zainab should be dismissed.

What does history also confirm? It confirms that Muhammad proposed the marriage of his cousin Zainab to his adopted son Zaid. However, her brother Abdullah ibn Jahsh opposed it because she belonged to the prestigious Hashemite clan and was the daughter of the Prophet's paternal aunt. Moreover, she had once been a slave but was later freed by Khadijah and then adopted by Muhammad himself. This marriage would have been a significant social leap for her. Such a leap was indeed substantial in Arab society. The noble women of noble families did not marry former slaves, even if they had been freed. However, Muhammad wanted to abolish such notions of tribalism and superiority, emphasizing that the only distinction between people should be based on piety. "The most noble among you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you". (Quran 49:13)

He also did not want to force a woman into a marriage she did not desire. So, let Zainab bint Jahsh, the daughter of his paternal aunt, be the one who bears this departure from Arab traditions and customs, and let her be the one who endures the criticism and gossip from people. Zaid, his adopted son, who had rights like any other son in inheritance and lineage according to Arab customs, should be the one to marry her. Muhammad's insistence on this union would further emphasize the new principle that tribal lineage did not determine a person's worth.

God revealed the verse, "Allah has not made for a man two hearts in his interior. And He has not made your wives whom you declare unlawful your mothers. And he has not made your adopted sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allah tells the truth, and He guides to the [right] way". (Quran 33:4) This meant that it was permissible for a claimant to marry the wife of the one he claimed as his son. How could this be achieved without undermining the deeply rooted tribal customs held by all Arabs? After the revelation of this verse, Abdullah and his sister Zainab had no choice but to accept the Prophet's wish. They said, "We accept, O Messenger of Allah". Zaid, after enduring a troubled marriage with Zainab, eventually divorced her.

The wisdom of the divine law was that it aimed to negate the common belief among Arabs that those who claimed lineage had the right to the women associated with that lineage. It sought to separate the social and economic aspects of tribal traditions from the sacred realm of lineage and family rights, redefining the understanding of kinship and family bonds. Muhammad himself, with his determination and deep understanding of Allah's wisdom in this matter, found it challenging to carry out this divine command. He had to overcome the fear of what people might say about his departure from deeply entrenched customs and traditions. In this, God revealed, "And you concealed within yourself what Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him". (Quran 33:37)

How Did Muhammad Marry Zainab?

However, Muhammad was the role model in carrying out all that Allah commanded and what He revealed to him to convey to the people. He did not fear what people would say about his marriage to Zainab, the wife of his adopted son, Zaid. His concern for people's opinion was secondary to his fear of Allah and his commitment to executing Allah's command. He married Zainab to set an example regarding the rights annulled by the wise legislations of adoption and claims of lineage.

In this regard, Allah revealed the following verse (Quran, Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 37): "And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor, and you bestowed favor, 'Keep your wife and fear Allah,' while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him. So when Zayd no longer had any need for her, we married her to you in order that there would not be any discomfort upon the believers concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer had need of them. And ever is the command of Allah accomplished".

This is the authentic historical account of Zainab bint Jahsh and Muhammad's marriage to her. She was his cousin, and he knew her and recognized her beauty even before she married Zaid. It was the Prophet Muhammad who proposed her marriage to Zaid. He continued to see her even after her marriage to Zaid, at a time when the concept of hijab (veiling) was not yet established. Due to the kinship and the fact that she was married to Zaid, whom the Prophet Muhammad had called his son, she was able to communicate with him for her needs and complaints.

These rulings reaffirm the elevated status of adopted persons to that of free individuals and invalidate the rights of claimants. They were applied practically when Zaid divorced Zainab, and Muhammad married her. These regulations remove any doubt or ambiguity. Thus, these stories, often repeated by orientalists and critics, lose their impact. They are driven by a desire to criticize Islam, either blatantly or under the guise of scholarship. This criticism stems from centuries-old animosity toward Islam, originating from the Crusades, and has influenced many writers, including Muir, Irving, Springer, Vail, Darmangeat, and Lammens, among others, who have written about the life of Muhammad.

The Nobility of Muhammad Regarding Women

If what they claimed were true, we could have responded that greatness is not subject to human laws. Prophets like Moses, Jesus, and Jonah before Muhammad had transcended the bounds of nature and societal norms. Some of them were elevated above the ordinary from birth, and others during their lifetime. This did not diminish their greatness. However, Muhammad placed societal norms in line with the revelations of his Lord and executed them by the command of his Lord. He set the highest example and the best model for implementing the instructions of his Lord.

Did those critics intend for him to divorce his wives, thus not exceeding the limit of four, as allowed for Muslims after marrying them all? Were they forgiving of his actions at that time? Muhammad's treatment of his wives was characterized by the utmost nobility, as seen in the anecdote of Umar ibn al-Khattab, which we have mentioned before and will continue to explore throughout this book. This story serves as a testament that no one respected women as Muhammad did, and he did not place women in their rightful position as Muhammad did.