The Wives of the Prophet are the Most Superior of all Women
April 21, 2026Common Merits of the Ummahat al Mu’minin
April 21, 2026BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
The Wisdom Behind the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Having Multiple Wives
The life of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam provides the perfect pattern for the believers as stated in the Glorious Qur’an:
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern.[1]
Moreover, his Sunnah is one of the significant sources of the Shari’ah.
The presence of individuals inside the pure home of Nubuwwah who will transmit his Sunnah was essential. This is one of the wisdoms behind the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam having multiple wives; so that they may transmit the domestic, marital rulings and etiquettes, as well as laws exclusive to the believing women.
Moreover, the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam nurturing and refining them made them the ideal, excellent examples for the believing women of every era. And this is exactly what was obtained; and to Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala belongs all praise and grace. They became the perfect models for every believing female. This is another wisdom behind him having multiple wives. Have a look at Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha; one of the distinguished transmitters of Hadith from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Furthermore, since Islam was in its early stages, there was a definite need to strengthen ties with the various Arab tribes and families, to pave the way for the Islamic Call. For instance, his marriage to Sayyidah Juwayriyah radiya Llahu ‘anha led to the Islam of the entire Banu al Mustaliq tribe radiya Llahu ‘anhum.
Another reason was to strengthen his connection with his esteemed Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum and confer upon them dignity and reputation. He married the daughters of Sayyidina Abu Bakr and Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma, viz. Sayyidah ‘Aisha and Sayyidah Hafsah radiya Llahu ‘anhuma respectively. Likewise, he honoured Sayyidina ‘Uthman and Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhuma by marrying his daughters to them.
His marriage to some of them was the reason behind establishing a Shar’i law. For example, his marriage to Sayyidah Zainab bint Jahsh radiya Llahu ‘anha was to reject the man-made laws of adoption.
For others, there was a specific need and social obligation. Sayyidah Saudah bint Zam’ah radiya Llahu ‘anha was bereaved of her husband; the husband of Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha was martyred and left behind orphans; and the husband of Sayyidah Umm Habibah radiya Llahu ‘anha passed away in Abyssinia and she was left single in a strange land. His marriage to them was a means of consolation and comfort.
Had these marriages been for the gratification of lust, as claimed by the Orientalists and their followers, his wives would all have been virgins or young in age. Yet, there is only one virgin among them, Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha, while the rest are either divorced or widowed with children. This is in absolute polarity with lust and passion.
NEXT⇒ Common Merits of the Ummahat al Mu’minin
[1] Surah al Ahzab: 21.
BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
The Wisdom Behind the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Having Multiple Wives
The life of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam provides the perfect pattern for the believers as stated in the Glorious Qur’an:
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern.[1]
Moreover, his Sunnah is one of the significant sources of the Shari’ah.
The presence of individuals inside the pure home of Nubuwwah who will transmit his Sunnah was essential. This is one of the wisdoms behind the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam having multiple wives; so that they may transmit the domestic, marital rulings and etiquettes, as well as laws exclusive to the believing women.
Moreover, the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam nurturing and refining them made them the ideal, excellent examples for the believing women of every era. And this is exactly what was obtained; and to Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala belongs all praise and grace. They became the perfect models for every believing female. This is another wisdom behind him having multiple wives. Have a look at Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha; one of the distinguished transmitters of Hadith from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Furthermore, since Islam was in its early stages, there was a definite need to strengthen ties with the various Arab tribes and families, to pave the way for the Islamic Call. For instance, his marriage to Sayyidah Juwayriyah radiya Llahu ‘anha led to the Islam of the entire Banu al Mustaliq tribe radiya Llahu ‘anhum.
Another reason was to strengthen his connection with his esteemed Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum and confer upon them dignity and reputation. He married the daughters of Sayyidina Abu Bakr and Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma, viz. Sayyidah ‘Aisha and Sayyidah Hafsah radiya Llahu ‘anhuma respectively. Likewise, he honoured Sayyidina ‘Uthman and Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhuma by marrying his daughters to them.
His marriage to some of them was the reason behind establishing a Shar’i law. For example, his marriage to Sayyidah Zainab bint Jahsh radiya Llahu ‘anha was to reject the man-made laws of adoption.
For others, there was a specific need and social obligation. Sayyidah Saudah bint Zam’ah radiya Llahu ‘anha was bereaved of her husband; the husband of Sayyidah Umm Salamah radiya Llahu ‘anha was martyred and left behind orphans; and the husband of Sayyidah Umm Habibah radiya Llahu ‘anha passed away in Abyssinia and she was left single in a strange land. His marriage to them was a means of consolation and comfort.
Had these marriages been for the gratification of lust, as claimed by the Orientalists and their followers, his wives would all have been virgins or young in age. Yet, there is only one virgin among them, Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha, while the rest are either divorced or widowed with children. This is in absolute polarity with lust and passion.
NEXT⇒ Common Merits of the Ummahat al Mu’minin
[1] Surah al Ahzab: 21.