Why Did The Prophet Muhammad Marry Many Wives?

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Women




Why did the Prophet Muhammad marry many wives?




When Muhammad was twenty-five years old he married for the first time. His wife, Khadijah, was fifteen years older than him. She remained the only wife of the prophet for the next twenty-five years, until she died (may Allah be pleased with her).




Only after her death did the prophet marry other women. Now, it is obvious that if the prophet was after physical pleasure he did not have to wait until he was more than fifty years old to start marrying more wives. He lived in a society in which it was quite acceptable to have many wives. But the prophet remained devoted to his only wife for twenty-five years. When she died she was sixty-five years old.




His later marriages were for various reasons. Some marriages were with the view to help the women whose husbands had been killed while they were defending their faith. Others were with a view to cement relationships with devoted followers like Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him. Yet others were to build bridges with various tribes who were otherwise at war with the Muslims. When the prophet became their relative through marriage, their hostilities calmed down, and much bloodshed was averted.




Recent non-Muslim writers who had the opportunity to study the life of the prophet first-hand reached a similar conclusion about his plural marriages.




John L. Esposito, Professor of Religion and Director of the Centre for International Studies at the College of the Holy Cross, says that most of these marriages had "political and social motives" (Islam: The Straight Path, Oxford University Press, 1988, p. 19). This he explained as follows:




As was customary for Arab chiefs, many were political marriages to cement alliances. Others were marriages to the widows of his companions who had fallen in combat and were in need of protection (John L. Esposito, Islam: The Straight Path, pp. 19-20).




Esposito reminds us of the following historical fact:




Though less common, polygyny was also permitted in biblical and even in post-biblical Judaism. From Abraham, David, and Solomon down to the reformation period, polygyny was practiced (p. 19).




Another non-Muslim Caesar E. Farah writes as follows:




In the prime of his youth and adult years Muhammad remained thoroughly devoted to Khadijah and would have none other for consort. This was an age that looked upon plural marriages with favor and in a society that in pre-biblical and post-biblical days considered polygamy an essential feature of social existence. David had six wives and numerous concubines (2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, 14:3) and Solomon was said to have had as many as 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). Solomon’s son Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines (2 Chronicles 11:21). The New Testament contains no specific injunction against plural marriages. It was commonplace for the nobility among the Christians and Jews to contract plural marriages. Luther spoke of it with toleration (Caesar E. Farah, Islam: Beliefs and Observances, 4th edition, Barron’s, U.S. 1987, p. 69).




Caesar Farah then concluded that Muhammad’s plural marriages were due "partly to political reasons and partly to his concern for the wives of his companions who had fallen in battle defending the nascent Islamic community" (p. 69).




When people hear that the prophet had many wives they conclude without much thought that the prophet was a sensuous man. However, a quick historical review of his marriages, proves otherwise.




http://www.islaminfo.com/articleview.asp...8&catID=10




 


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[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


Mash a Allah shaunee Jazaki Allah khairan for this post

[radiyah]

Bismillah


May Allah reward u Shaunee, masha'Allah u are doing a lot of progress.


Salam

[ronniv93]

This was an age that looked upon plural marriages with favor and in a society that in pre-biblical and post-biblical days considered polygamy an essential feature of social existence. David had six wives and numerous concubines (2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, 14:3) and Solomon was said to have had as many as 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). Solomon’s son Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines (2 Chronicles 11:21). The New Testament contains no specific injunction against plural marriages. It was commonplace for the nobility among the Christians and Jews to contract plural marriages. Luther spoke of it with toleration (Caesar E. Farah, Islam: Beliefs and Observances, 4th edition, Barron’s, U.S. 1987, p. 69).

Why did the author have to bring the Bible into this? If one does not really understand the Biblical position, they should not mention it at all.


God specifically said that kings should NOT multiply wives unto themselves. Thus, it was DISOBEDIENCE, Biblically speaking, for David and Solomon to do what they did.

Deut. 17:14-17 "When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,' <b>you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses</b>, {one} from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman. Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never again return that way.' <b>Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away</b>; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.
But of course this law was not obeyed. King Solomon did multiply wives for himself.


1Kgs. 11:3-4 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. For <b>it came about when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods</b>; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father {had been.}

Speaking of the New Testament, Jesus said, "Matt. 19:5-6 "...'A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND SHALL CLEAVE TO HIS WIFE; AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'. Consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh."


He didn't say that 3 or 4 or 5 people would become one flesh, but <b>TWO</b>.


Jesus also appealed to the fact that in the beginning, God created MALE and FEMALE. There was Adam and Eve in the beginning.


It is interesting to note that God, the Creator and Originator of the marriage covenant, made Adam and Eve, not Adam, Eve, Sarah and Tracy.


If Islam supports this, then fine. But don't drag the Bible into it to try and support something that is not supported Biblically.

[umm Zachariah]

Bismillah,


Hi Ronniv,


I think the comparision with the Bible here may be of interest since it does not speek of LIMITED polygamy and the NT does not FORBID polygamy.


While the Qur'an on the other hand speaks very clearly about this. It is an issue that has been clarified through the Qur'an. So it may be of some relevance.


The other part you have quoted I cannot find in my sisters input so I will not comment that.


Can only add to your last question about creation, since it has a deeper meaning, about responsibility. You do that and that, but NOT that. Right and/or wrong. Good and/or bad. If you do bad, if you don't listen to Allah, SWT, then you have to take responsibility for that.


"O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and enjoy (its good things) as ye wish: <b>but</b> approach not this tree, <b>or</b> ye run into harm and transgression."
The Qur'an 7:19

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


"Jesus also appealed to the fact that in the beginning, God created MALE and FEMALE. There was Adam and Eve in the beginning."


ronniv, isnt jesus god to u, then why did u say God Created and not Jesus created???


just a thought.

[ronniv93]

ronniv, isnt jesus god to u, then why did u say God Created and not Jesus created???

There is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Of course, you know that. God in 3 Persons. Each had their role. Looking at the original language of the Genesis account and the context used, it is God the Father who is referenced. Jesus had His own roles in creation as did the Holy Spirit.

[ronniv93]

I think the comparision with the Bible here may be of interest since it does not speek of LIMITED polygamy and the NT does not FORBID polygamy.

Does the Quran forbid polyandry (woman having multiple husbands)?

[umm Zachariah]

Bismillah,


Allah, Subhanahu wa Ta'ala has made the husband economically responsible for his family, a woman do not have that responsibility. Islam is very clear when using one's common sense. Allah, Subhanahu wa Ta'ala did not give the main responsibility to the woman, since it means she may not be able to support a family. She will perhaps have no income. So WHO would support her family, since she does not have the responsibility to do that?


Another thing is, Islam is very strict on giving acknowledge to WHO the father is to a child, and there should not be any doubts about who it is. And with one husband this question will never arise, no matter what time or age we live in.

[ronniv93]

So, in other words, there is nothing specifically FORBIDDING it in the Quran, right? I have searched the Internet looking for anything about the Quran and polyandry.


People will quickly state that Islam definitely forbids it but then cannot point to a specific verse in the Quran except this issue about "financial responsibility". Nonetheless, despite the fact that there IS NOT a clear prohibition in the Quran, all Muslims will hold to this belief.


If Muslims can take some verse about financial responsibility of the man in the house and somehow prove that polyandry is forbidden based upon that, then.....


Why can't Christians take the example of Adam and Eve (<i>clearly a marriage</i>), the fact that God COMMANDED people not to MULTIPLY WIVES and the fact that Jesus referenced a MAN and a WOMAN to say that those things are AGAINST multiple husbands AND wives?


At least the references I mentioned are specifically talking about <b>WHO</b> is involved in a marriage.


Islam is only talking about money in the marriage.