From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Wives of Muhammad
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid Sawda bint Zama* Aisha* Hafsa bint Umar Zaynab bint Khuzayma Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya Zaynab bint Jahsh Juwayriya bint al-Harith Ramlah bint Abi-Sufyan Safiyya bint Huyayy Maymuna bint al-Harith Maria al-Qibtiyya** *succession disputed **disputed

Muhammad (A.D. 570-632) is regarded by Muslims as the last prophet of God (Allah/الله). He was an Arab religious, political and military leader who founded the Islam and the Muslim community (Arabic: أمة Ummah).

His life is traditionally defined into two epochs: pre-hijra (emigration) in Mecca, a city in northern Arabia, from the year 570 to 622 , and post-hijra in Medina, from 622 until his death in 632. All but two of his marriages were contracted after the migration to Medina.

Contents 1 The perceptions of the concept of marriage 2 Family 2.1 Khadijah bint Khuwaylid 2.2 Aisha bint Abu Bakr 2.3 Sawda bint Zama 2.4 Hafsa bint Umar 2.5 Zaynab bint Khuzayma 2.6 Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya 2.7 Zaynab bint Jahsh 2.8 Juwayriya bint al-Harith 2.9 Ramlah binte Abi-Sufyan 2.10 Safiyya bint Huyayy 2.11 Maymuna bint al-Harith 2.12 Those disputed as Wives 2.13 Maria al-Qibtiyya 2.14 Raihanah bint Zaid 2.15 Muhammad's widows 3 List of Muhammad's wives 4 Views 4.1 Muslim view 4.1.1 Sunni view 4.1.2 Shi'a view 4.2 Monogamy versus 4.3 Muhammad having more than four wives 5 See also 6 Notes

In pre-Islamic Arabia, the institution of marriage was characterized by unquestioned male superiority. Marriage was viewed as a "status". There was no limitations on men's rights to marry or to obtain a divorce. ^{[1] [2]} Upon marriage a bride-price was paid to the girl's father. ^[2] A man could have as many as wives and a woman could have several husbands^{[citation needed]}.

He married 11 or 13 women depending upon the differing accounts of who were his wives (not all at one time). However, not all Muslim scholars agree with these accounts. This article contains only those officially agreed by most Muslim scholars. At the age of 25, Muhammad married a wealthy woman named Khadijah who was 40 years old at the time and the marriage lasted for 25 years.^[3] After her death, Muhammad inherited her wealth. Khadîjah and Zaynab bint Khuzayma - died during his lifetime. Only Khadijah and Maria al-Qibtiyya bore him children.

There is some dispute between Shia scholars regarding the genealogy of the four daughters of Khadija on whether they were born to Khadijah from her marriage to Muhammad, an earlier marriage, or if they were in fact the daughters of a widowed and dead sister of Khadija. Sunnis believe he had four daughters with Khadîjah.

Shi'a accept Fatimah to be Muhammad's only surviving child^{[citation needed]}, while some Sunni question that^{[citation needed]}.

There is also a difference of opinion regarding whether he had two or four sons. The conflict arises from some reports on the sons of Khadijah mentioning two sons called Tahir and Tayyab^{[citation needed]}, and another mentioning one called Abdullah who was also called Tahir and possibly also called Tayyab^{[citation needed]}. Ibrâhîm was the only child borne to him by Maria during his residence in Medina and the last to be born. Abdullâh was born after his prophethood but died during his residence in Mecca. All the other sons died before his prophethood.

Children of Khadijah:

Sons:

• Abd-Allah ibn Muhammad
• Qasim ibn Muhammad

Daughters:

• Ruqayyah bint Muhammad
• Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad
• Zainab bint Muhammad
• Fatima Zahra

Children of Maria:

• Ibrahim ibn Muhammad

Main article: Khadijah bint Khuwaylid

In Makkah — prior to Hijra — Muhammad lived with his wife Khadijah bint Khuwailid. He was twenty-five and she was forty when they got married. She was the first woman he married and his only wife until she died. None of their sons lived long. Their daughters were Zainab, Ruqaiya, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah.

Main article: Aisha

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page.

Aisha was the daughter of Abu Bakr, a close friend confidant of Muhammad, and controversial figure in the differing depictions in Shia and Sunni historical narratives. Muhammad married Aisha before the Hijra, however Muslim scholars differ on whether Muhammad married Sawda or Aisha first. Muhammad married Sawda one month after the death of his first wife Khadija upon suggestion of one of his companions. Regardless, Muhammad did not consummate his marriage with Aisha until she reached the age of nine, and lived with Sawda during that time.^[4]

The age of Aisha at marriage is an unsettled issue, and the subject of increasing attention in recent years because critics of Muhammad who accept the majority tradition that she was as young as nine years old when her marriage was consummated believe this reflects negatively on his character. There are several hadiths (said to have been written by Aisha herself) which state she was six or seven years old when betrothed and nine years old when married or when the marriage was consummated.

Even though the marriage may have been politically motivated, to mark the ties between Muhammad and his companion Abu Bakr, to educate and train Aisha for the purposes of Islam. and to utilise her capabilities for the sake of Islam, it is widely accepted that Aisha was his favorate wife. It is also important to note that the marriage to Aisha is one of the only two marriages that were commanded by Allah by divine revelation, the other being to Zainab bint Jahsh. Shi'a Muslims would disagree with the Sunni assertion of her being his favorite wife, regarding it as politically motivated.

Main article: Sawda bint Zama

Sawdah bint Zam‘a: He married her in Shawwal when she was about 55 years old, in the tenth year of Prophethood, a few days after the death of Khadijah. Prior to that, she was married to a paternal cousin of hers called As-Sakran bin ‘Amr.

Sawda offered to give her turn of Muhammad's conjugal visit to Aisha. The incident is referenced in verse 4:127 of the Qur'an.^[4]

Main article: Hafsa bint Umar

Hafsah bint ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab: She was Aiyim (i.e. husbandless). Her ex-husband was Khunais bin Hudhafa As-Sahmi in the period between Badr and Uhud battles. Muhammad married her in the third year of Al-Hijra.

Main article: Zaynab bint Khuzayma

Zainab bint Khuzaimah: She was from Bani Hilal bin ‘Amir bin Sa‘sa‘a. Was nicknamed Umm Al-Masakeen (roughly translates as the mother of the poor), because of her kindness and care towards them. She used to be the wife of ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh, who was martyred at Uhud, was married to the Muhammad in the fourth year of Al-Hijra, but she died two or three months after the marriage.

Main article: Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya

Umm Salamah Hind bint Abi Omaiyah: She used to be the wife of Abu Salamah, who died in Jumada Al-Akhir, in the fourth year of Al-Hijra. Muhammad married her in Shawwal of the same year.

Main article: Zaynab bint Jahsh

Zainab bint Jahsh bin Riyab: She was from Bani Asad bin Khuzaimah and was Muhammad's paternal cousin. She was married to Muhammad's ex-slave and adopted son, Zayd ibn Harithah. Islam prohibited adopting sons and giving them father's name. (Al-Quran-33:5) After this, Zaid was called ibn Haritha instead of ibn Muhammad. Zaid divorced his wife Zaynab bint Jahsh and later on Muhammad married Zainab. Further revelations from Quran proved that this marriage is valid as there is no longer a concept of adopted son.[Al-Qur'an 33:37, 33:40]

Muhammad married her in Dhul-Qa‘dah, the fifth year of Al-Hijra.

Main article: Juwayriya bint al-Harith

Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith: Al-Harith was the head of Bani Al-Mustaliq of Khuza‘ah. Juwairiyah was among the booty that fell to the Muslims from Bani Al-Mustaliq. She was a portion of Thabit bin Qais bin Shammas’ share. He made her a covenant to set her free at a certain time. Muhammad accomplished the covenant and married her in Sha‘ban in the sixth year of Al-Hijra.

Main article: Ramlah binte Abi-Sufyan

Umm Habibah: Ramlah, the daughter of Abu Sufyan. She was married to ‘Ubaidullah bin Jahsh. She migrated with him to Abyssinia (Ethiopia). When ‘Ubaidullah apostatized and became a Christian, she stood fast to her religion and refused to convert. However, ‘Ubaidullah died there in Abyssinia (Ethiopia). Muhammad dispatched ‘Amr bin Omaiyah Ad-Damri with a letter to Negus, the king, asking him for Umm Habibah’s hand — that was in Muharram, in the seventh year of Al-Hijra. Negus agreed and sent her to Muhammad in the company of Sharhabeel bin Hasnah.

Main article: Safiyya bint Huyayy

Safiyah bint Huyai bin Akhtab was a Jew captured in the battle of Khaybar. Her father, Huyayy ibn Akhtab, the former chief of the Banu Nadir, had been beheaded before the battle along with the Banu Qurayza. Muhammad married her in the seventh year of Al-Hijra.

Main article: Maymuna bint al-Harith

Maimunah bint Al-Harith: The daughter of Al-Harith, and the sister of Umm Al-Fadl Lubabah bint Al-Harith. Muhammad married her after the Compensatory ‘Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage). That was in Dhul-Qa‘dah in the seventh year of Al-Hijra.

• Maria the Coptic- a slave girl sent to him by the ruler of Egypt

Main article: Maria al-Qibtiyya

Maria was a Coptic Christian slave, sent as a gift from Muqawqis, a Byzantine official. Muhammad later freed her, and upon marriage she assumed the title "Mother of the believers", like all his other wives. Maria gave birth to Ibrahim, a short-lived son of Muhammad. [1]

Raihanah bint Zaid An-Nadriyah or Quraziyah - a captive from Bani Quraiza. Acccording to some sources, she was one of his wives. However, Ibn Al-Qaiyim gives more weight to the first version.[2]. She was captured as a slave after the defeat of Bani Qurayza. She later became Muslim but remained a slave.

The prophet's wives were revered as "Umm ul Mo'mayneen" or Mothers of the Believers; it was considered be tantamount to incest for a Muslim to marry one of Muhammad's widows. So far as history knows, none of his widows did remarry.

The extent of Muhammad's property at the time of his death is unclear. Although Quran [2.180] clearly addresses issues of inheritance, Abu Bakr, the new leader of the Muslim ummah, refused to divide Muhammad's property among his widows and heirs, saying that he had heard Muhammad say,

"We (Prophets) do not have any heirs; what we leave behind is (to be given in) charity" [3]

However, Abu Bakr and the succeeding caliphs did make provision for Muhammad's widows and relatives out of the proceeds of the Muslim conquests. One-fifth of the spoils were to be given to the ruler, as public funds. Part of this was devoted to pensions.

Neither the wives nor the relatives were satisfied with this decision, and there are many traditions recounting their complaints to Abu Bakr and succeeding caliphs.

Name	Tribe	Status before marriage	Age	Motive window	Date of marriage	Date of death
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid	Banu Asad	widow	25-40 (disputed)		married in 595	died 619
Sawada bint Zama	Banu Abd Shams	widow	65	Charity, old/poor widowed returned emigree from Abyssinia	married soon after 619	died after Muhammad
Aisha	Banu Taim	virgin	9 (disputed — Aisha's age at marriage)	Cement relations with Abu Bakr. Disputed.[5]	married in 622	died after Muhammad
Hafsa bint Umar	Banu Adi	widow		Cement relations with Umar	married circa 624-625	died after Muhammad
Zaynab bint Khuzayma	Banu ?	widow			married circa 626-627	died soon afterwards
Umm Salama	Banu Umayyah	Uhud War widow	approx. 65	Charity, mother of 4	married in 626	died after Muhammad
Zaynab bint Jahsh	Banu ?	widow and divorcee		differing views	married circa 625-627	died after Muhammad
Juwayriya bint al-Harith	Banu Mustaliq	widow; freed POW		possibly political	married circa 627-628	died after Muhammad
Umm Habibah	Banu Umayyah	divorcee - after the conversion of her husband to christianity in Abyssinia		charity	an early emigree married 629 in absentia by the Abyssinian King	died after Muhammad
Safiyya bint Huyayy	Banu Nadir	widow; freed POW		possibly political	married 629	died after Muhammad
Maymuna bint al-Harith	Banu ?	widow	26		married 629	died after Muhammad
Maria al-Qibtiyya	Egyptian	slave		political	circa 628-629	died after Muhammad

Regarding Maria al-Qibtiyya ("Maria the Copt"): she was a slave given to Mohammad by the ruler of Egypt. Some say that she remained a slave; some say that she was freed and that Muhammad married her; the mother of Muhammad's short-lived son Ibrahim in 630

Muslim title allas Mother of the Believers, a title given to them in the Qur'an.

Sunni's view that all wives were the best of woman, a view they say is supported by the Qur'an.

Shi'a view that there is no merit in itself for being a wife of Muhammad, the merit is in each persons actions.

Muslims report that there is nothing wrong with [[]]. Celibacy is not an Islamic ideal; it is discouraged

Many Muslims defend Muhammad's , and in general, as necessary and useful. Muhammad's marriages are explained either as political marriages, or as acts of charity towards Muslim widows. Muslims also believe that Muhammad brought a complete system of life, it was hence necessary to practically demonstrate the desirable characteristics of a marriage relationship under differing circumstances.

Many of Muhammad's detractors have criticized his conduct in having more wives than his followers. During the Medina period, he received a new revelation telling Muslim men to marry no more than four wives, and that only if they could treat them all equally.

While the Qur'an limits Muslims to a maximum of four wives at any given time, it granted an exemption to Muhammad from the general decree. Two died in his lifetime: Khadijah and the Mother of the poor (Umm Al-Masakeen) — Zainab bint Khuzaima, besides two others with whom he did not consummate his marriage. [4]. Two of whom were old widows with dependents.^{[citation needed]}

• Islam

1. ^ Majid Khadduri, Marriage in Islamic Law: The Modernist Viewpoints, American Journal of Comparative Law, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 213-218
2. ^ ^{a b} John Esposito, Islam: The Straight Path p. 79
3. ^ Esposito (1998), p.18
4. ^ ^{a b} Vacca, V. "Sawda bint Zama ibn Qayyis ibn Abd Shams". Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. Ed. P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN.
5. ^ Sunni view that sha was divinly chosen (Sahih Bukhari 7:62:15), Shi'a reject that hadith as fabricated. Shi'a view it as a political marriage, in order for Muhammad to get a new tribe and protector after Abu Talib died in the Year of Sorrow

• 1.^ Bahishti Zewar by Maulana Ashraf Thanvi
• 2.^ THE SEALED NECTAR Memoirs of the Noble Prophet. Chanpter on the Prophetic Household by Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
• 3.^ THE SEALED NECTAR Memoirs of the Noble Prophet. Chanpter on the Prophetic Household by Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
• 4.^ THE SEALED NECTAR Memoirs of the Noble Prophet. Chanpter on the Prophetic Household by Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
• 5.^ Bahishti Zewar by Maulana Ashraf Thanvi
• 6.^ THE SEALED NECTAR Memoirs of the Noble Prophet. Chanpter on the Prophetic Household by Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri