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Part of a series on Islam: The Wives of Muhammad
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid Sawda bint Zama* Aisha bint Abi Bakr* Hafsa bint Umar Zaynab bint Khuzayma Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya Zaynab bint Jahsh Juwayriya bint al-Harith Ramlah bint Abi-Sufyan Rayhana bint Amr ibn Khunafa** Safiyya bint Huyayy Maymuna bint al-Harith Maria al-Qibtiyya** *succession disputed ** status as wife or concubine is disputed

Muhammad (A.D. 570-632) is regarded by Muslims as the last prophet of God. He was an Arab religious, political and military leader who founded 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 Hijra (migration to Medina).

Contents 1 The perceptions of the concept of marriage 2 History 2.1 Khadijah bint Khuwaylid 2.2 Hijra 2.3 War widows 2.4 Rumors 2.5 Reconciliation 2.6 Muhammad's widows 3 List of Muhammad's wives and children 4 Views 4.1 Muslim view 4.1.1 Sunni view 4.1.2 Shia view 4.2 Monogamy versus polygamy 5 See also 6 Notes 7 External links

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 several wives^{[citation needed]} but a woman could not have several husbands at one time and could only take another husband after divorce.

Part of a series on Islam: The Wives of Muhammad
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid Sawda bint Zama* Aisha bint Abi Bakr* Hafsa bint Umar Zaynab bint Khuzayma Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya Zaynab bint Jahsh Juwayriya bint al-Harith Ramlah bint Abi-Sufyan Rayhana bint Amr ibn Khunafa** Safiyya bint Huyayy Maymuna bint al-Harith Maria al-Qibtiyya** *succession disputed ** status as wife or concubine is disputed

During his life Muhammad 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.^{[citation needed]}

Main article: Khadijah bint Khuwaylid

At the age of 25, Muhammad married a woman named Khadijah who was 40 years old at the time and the marriage lasted for 25 years.^[3] She was the first woman he married and his only wife until she died. This marriage is described as "long" and "happy," and he relied upon Khadija in many ways.^[4][5] Their sons were Qasim and Abd-Allah (who was nicknamed al Tahir and al Tayyib). Their daughters were Zainab, Ruqaiya, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah. During their marriage, Muhammad asked Khadija to buy Zaid bin Haritha, a slave up for sale. Upon purchase he adopted the young man as his son.^[6]

The death of Khadija left Muhammad lonely, and, before he left for Medina, it was suggested to him that he marry Sawdah bint Zam‘a'. Sawda had suffered many hardships after she became a Muslim. Muhammad married her Sawda bint Zama in Shawwal when she was about 55 years old, in the tenth year of Prophethood, after the death of Khadijah. Prior to that, she was married to a paternal cousin of hers called As-Sakran bin ‘Amr. At about the same period, Aisha (daughter of his close friend Abu Bakr) was betrothed to Muhammad.^[7]

As life became unbearable for him, Muhammad migrated to Medina. Because of Meccan attempts at his life Muhammad traveled only with Abu Bakr and the rest of his family traveled in stages. His wife Sawda and his daughters Fatima and Umm Kulthum traveled with Zayd ibn Harithah, while his other wife Aisha travelled with her brother Abd Allah. Regarding his other daughters: Zaynab's husband prevented her from migrating, and Ruqayyah was with her husband Uthman in Abyssinia and migrated much later.^[8]

In Medina Muhammad consummated his marriage with Aisha. Both Aisha and Sawda, his two wives, were given apartments adjoined to the mosque.^[8] Sawda offered to give her turn of Muhammad's conjugal visit to Aisha, and the incident is referred to in verse ^{[Qur'an 4:127]} of the Qur'an.).^[9]

During the Muslim war with Mecca, many men were killed leaving behind widows and orphans.

Hafsah, daughter of ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab, was widowed at battle of Badr when her husband Khunais bin Hudhafa As-Sahmi was killed in action. Muhammad married her in 3 A.H./625 C.E.^[10] Zaynab bint Khuzayma was also widowed at the battle of Badr. She was the wife of 'Ubaydah b. al-Hārith,^[11] a faithful Muslim and from the tribe of al-Muttalib, for which Muhammad had special responsibility.^[12] When her husband died, Muhammad aiming to provide for her, married her 4 A.H. She was nicknamed Umm Al-Masakeen (roughly translates as the mother of the poor), because of her kindness and charity.^[13]

Close to Aisha's age, both Hafsa and Zaynab were welcomed into the household. Sawda, who was much older, extended her motherly benevolence to the younger women. Aisha and Hafsa had a lasting relationship. As for Zaynab, however, she fell ill and passed away eight months after her marriage.^[14][15][16]

The death of Zaynab coincided with the that of Abu Salamah, a devoted Muslim, as a result of his wounds from the Battle of Uhud.^[15] Abu Salamah's widow, Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya also a devoted Muslim, had none but her young children. Her plight reportedly saddened the Muslims, and after her iddah some Muslims proposed marriage to her; but she declined. When Muhammad proposed her marriage, she was reluctant for three reasons: she claimed to suffer from jealousy and pointed out the prospect of an unsuccessful marriage, her old age, and her young family that needed support. But Muhammad replied that he would pray to God to free her from jealousy, that he too was of old age, and that her family was like his family. She married Muhammad.^[17]

In 626, Raihanah bint Zaid, entered Muhammad's household as a widow, as her husband had been executed along with the men of Banu Qurayza. The sources regarding his status differ, but she eventually converted to Islam and was married by Muhammad.^[18] The marriage didn't take place until 628.^{[citation needed]}

After Muhammad's final battle against his Meccan enemies, he diverted his attention stopping the Bani Mustaliq's raid on Medina. During this skirmish, Medinan dissidents begrudging over Muhammad's influence attempted to attack him in the more sensitive areas of his life.^[19] Muhammad's marriage to Zaynab bint Jahsh, and allegations against his wife Aisha were the two key events.

Zaynab bint Jahsh was Muhammad's cousin, being the daughter of one of his father's sisters.^[20] Upon arriving in Medina, Muhammad expressed his wish that Zaynab marry his adopted son Zayd ibn Harithah; the two followed Muhammad's wish though they disliked the marriage. Soon Zaynab and Zayd's marriage unraveled, and he divorced her. When her waiting period was complete, Muhammad married her.^[21]

Soon rumors were spread by Muhammad's opponents (commonly referred to as "Hypocrites"), regarding this marriage. It was criticized as being incest, since the Arabs considered an adopted son the same as a biological son.^[22] However, this marriage was justified by verse 33:37 of the Qur'an,^[22] which implied that treating adopted sons as real sons was objectionable, and that there should now be a complete break with the past.^[23] Another rumor spread that, prior to marriage, Muhammad met Zaynab in Zayd's absence and was "swept off of his feet" by her beauty. Watt considers doubts the accuracy of this report since it does not occur in the earliest source, and that it is unlikely that Muhammad was attracted since Zaynab (after Khadija) was the most elderly woman Muhammad married.^[22][24]

Aisha had accompanied Muhammad on his skirmish with Bani Mustaliq. On the way back, Aisha lost her wedding necklace (a treasured possession), and Muhammad required the army to stop so that it could be found. Many in the army were indignant over the requirement, and the incident proved to be an embarrassment. The necklace was found, but during the same journey, Aisha lost it again. This time, she quietly slipped out in search for it, but by the time she recovered it, the caravan had moved on. She was eventually taken home by Safw'an b. Mu'attal.^[25]

Although the two didn't speak during the journey, nor share the same camel,^[19] rumors spread that something untoward may have occurred. Disputes arose, and the community was split into factions. Meanwhile, Aisha had been ill, and unaware of the stories. At first Muhammad himself was unsure of what to believe, but eventually trusted Aisha's protestations of innocence.^[25] Eventually verses were revealed, establishing her innocence, and condemning the slanders and the libel. Although the episode was uneasy for both Muhammad and Aisha, in the end it reinforced their mutual love and trust.^[26]

One of the captives from the skirmish with the Bani Mustaliq was Juwayriya bint al-Harith, was the daughter of the tribe's chieftain. When made captive, Juwayriya went to Muhammad requesting she, as the daughter of the lord of the Mustaliq, be released. Meanwhile her father approached Muhammad with ransom to secure her release. Muhammad after freeing Juwayriya gave her the choice of marriage and she accepted. When it became known that that tribespersons of Mustaliq were kinsmen of the prophet of Islam through marriage, the Muslims began releasing them. Because of Muhammad's marriage, nearly a hundred families were released from captivity.^[27][28]

In the same year, Muhammad signed a peace treaty with his Meccan enemies, the Quraysh, effectively ending the state of war between the two parties. He soon married the daughter of the Quraysh leader Abu Sufyan, aimed at further reconciling his opponent.^[29] He sent a proposal for marriage to Ramlah binte Abi-Sufyan who was in Abyssinia at the time, when he learned her husband had died. She had previously converted to Islam (in Mecca) against her father's will. After her migration to Abyssinia her husband had apostated to Christianity, and although she remained a steadfast Muslim, perhaps Muhammad feared that she too may apostate.^[30] 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.^{[citation needed]}

Later that year, the Muslims fought the Battle of Khaybar, emerging victorious. Safiyya bint Huyayy bin Akhtab was the only surviving member of the ruling family. Muhammad married her in order to reconcile the people of her tribe.^[31][32]

As part of the agreement of Hudaybiyah, Muhammad visited Mecca for the lesser pilgrimage. There he married the sister in law of Abbas, a long time ally of his. By marrying Maymuna, Muhammad also established kinship ties with the Makhzum, his previously fierce opponents.^[33]

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. [1] After Khadija, Maria was the only wife with whom Muhammad had a child. Called Ibrahim, his birth brought Muhammad great joy. Ibrahim, however, died in his infancy.^{[citation needed]}

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 and none of them did remarry.^{[citation needed]}

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"^[34]

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 and 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	The women's status before marriage	Number of marriage	Muhammad's age	Her Age	Motive	Date of marriage	Date of death
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid	Bani Assad	widow	First marriage	25	40	Impressed with his good character, she proposed to him	married in 595	died 619
Sawda bint Zama	Banu Abd-Shams	widow	Second marriage (after his first wife died)	50	65	Charity, old/poor widowed returned émigré from Abyssinia	married soon after 619	died after Muhammad
Aisha	Banu Taym	single		53	6	Cement relations with Abu Bakr. Disputed.[35]	married in 622	died after Muhammad
Hafsa bint Umar	Banu Adi	widow		56		Cement relations with Umar	married circa 624-625	died after Muhammad
Zaynab bint Khuzayma	Banu Hilal	widow		58		Zaynab asked Muhammad to marry her. She died eight months after the marriage	married circa 626-627	died soon afterwards
Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya	Banu Makhzum	Uhud War widow		58	approx. 65	Charity, mother of 4	married in 626	died after Muhammad
Zaynab bint Jahsh	Bani Assad	widow and divorcee		58	35	differing views	married circa 625-627	died after Muhammad
Juwayriya bint al-Harith	Banu Mustaliq	widow; freed POW		59		possibly political	married circa 627-628	died after Muhammad
Ramlah bint Abi-Sufyan	Umayyad	divorcee - after the conversion of her husband to Christianity in Abyssinia		61		charity	an early émigré married 629 in absentia by the Abyssinian King	died after Muhammad
Safiyya bint Huyayy	Banu Nadir	widow; Ma malakat aymanukum (freed POW)		61	17	possibly political	married 629	died after Muhammad
Maymuna bint al-Harith	Banu Hashim	widow		60	36		married 629	died after Muhammad
Maria al-Qibtiyya	Copt	slave		61	20	political	circa 628-629	died after Muhammad

Regarding Maria al-Qibtiyya ("Maria the Copt"): she was a slave given to Muhammad 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.^[18][36]

Children of Khadijah:

Sons:

• Qasim ibn Muhammad
• Abd-Allah ibn Muhammad

Daughters:

• Ruqayyah bint Muhammad
• Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad
• Zainab bint Muhammad
• Fatimah

Children of Maria:

• Ibrahim ibn Muhammad

Muslims title all Muhammad's wives as Mother of the Believers, a title given to them in the Qur'an.

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

The Shia view is that there is no merit in itself for being a wife of Muhammad, the merit is in each of the wives' individual actions.

According to Islam, being married is the natural state of a grown-up person. A man is even allowed to have up to four wives if he can sustain them. Celibacy is not an Islamic ideal; it is discouraged as unrealistic.

Many Muslims defend Muhammad's polygamy, and polygamy 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 at once, and that only if they could treat them all equally.

• Islam
• Criticism of Muhammad

1. ^ Khadduri, Majid (1978). "Marriage in Islamic Law: The Modernist Viewpoints". American Journal of Comparative Law 26 (2): pp. 213-218. The American Society of Comparative Law. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Esposito, John (1998). Islam: The Straight Path. Oxford University Press, p. 79. ISBN 0-19-511233-4. 
3. ^ Esposito (1998), p.18
4. ^ Bullough, Vern; Brenda Shelton, Sarah Slavin (1998). The Subordinated Sex: A History of Attitudes Toward Women. University of Georgia Press, p. 119. ISBN 978-0820323695. 
5. ^ Reeves, Minou (2003). Muhammad in Europe: A Thousand Years of Western Myth-Making. NYU Press, p. 46. ISBN 978-0814775646. 
6. ^ Haykal, Muhammad Husayn. The Life of Muhammad: "From Marriage to Prophethood." Translated by Isma'il Razi A. al-Faruqi
7. ^ Watt, W. Montgomery "Aisha bint Abu Bakr". Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. Ed. P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN. 
8. ^ ^{a b} Nomani (1970), pg. 257-9
9. ^ 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. 
10. ^ Nomani (1970), pg. 360
11. ^ Watt(1956), pg.393
12. ^ Watt(1956), pg.287
13. ^ Lings (183), p. 201
14. ^ Lings (183), p. 165
15. ^ ^{a b} Lings (183), p. 206
16. ^ Nomani (1970), pg. 345
17. ^ Umm Salamah. Courtesy of ISL Software. University of Southern California.
18. ^ ^{a b} al-Baghdadi, Ibn Sa'd. Tabaqat, vol VIII, pg. 92-3. 
19. ^ ^{a b} Mubarakpuri, Chapter:Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum:Bani Al-Mustaliq (Muraisi‘) Ghazwah, Sha‘ban 6 Hijri
20. ^ Montgomery Watt, Muhammad, Prophet and Statesman. Oxford University Press 1961, page 156.
21. ^ Watt, page 156.
22. ^ ^{a b c} Watt (1961), page 158.
23. ^ Watt, page 159.
24. ^ Nomani (1970). Sirat al-Nabi.
25. ^ ^{a b} Peterson (2007), page 169-71
26. ^ Ramadan (2007), p. 121
27. ^ Nomani, pg. 365-6
28. ^ Lings (1983), pg. 241-2
29. ^ Watt (1961), p. 195
30. ^ Umm Habibah: Ramlah Bin Abi Sufyan. IslamOnline.
31. ^ Nomani, vol.II, pg. 171
32. ^ Watt (1964) p. 195
33. ^ Ramadan (2007), p. 1701
34. ^ The Book of Jihad and Expedition (Kitab Al-Jihad wa'l-Siyar). USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts, Chapter 16, Book 019, Number 4351. University of Southern California. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.
35. ^ Sunni view that she was divinely chosen (Sahih al-Bukhari 7:62:15), Shia reject that hadith as fabricated. Shia view it as a political marriage, in order for Muhammad to get a new tribe and protector after Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib died in the Year of Sorrow
36. ^ Guillaume, Alfred (1955). The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah. Oxford University Press, p. 446. ISBN 0-1963-6033-1. 

• 1.Why was the prophet polygamous?
• 2.^ Bahishti Zewar by Maulana Ashraf Thanvi
• 3.^ THE SEALED NECTAR Memoirs of the Noble Prophet. Chapter on the Prophetic Household by Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
• 4.^ THE SEALED NECTAR Memoirs of the Noble Prophet. Chapter on the Prophetic Household by Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
• 5.^ THE SEALED NECTAR Memoirs of the Noble Prophet. Chapter on the Prophetic Household by Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
• 6.^ Bahishti Zewar by Maulana Ashraf Thanvi
• 7.^ THE SEALED NECTAR Memoirs of the Noble Prophet. Chapter on the Prophetic Household by Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri