05-17-2004, 06:09 PM
<b>1. When the Muslim woman who was being mistreated by her husband came to the Prophet and requested a divorce, she was denied several times because the Prophet did not think the request was appropriate, and that it would be better for her to work out her differences with her husband. Finally, the verse came to him that said "We have heard the argument of the woman who came to you" -- and proceeded to lay down divorce laws for women. In this instance, the Prophet was wrong in his judgement and was corrected by Scriptural revelation.
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You are cetainly confused in here.
To start with let us lay down a basis before we carry on. The Messenger (PAPBUH) never made decisions out of his own desire as exactly explained in Quran:"3. Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. * It is only a Revelation revealed." (Quran 53:3-4)
Having that said, we can based on this rule carry on. Allah S&T put the Messenger on the individual basis in evey possible situation a human being may face in order to teach us what to do, including divorce, types of marriage, vowing not to touch wives for a certain period of time. While as u r quite aware the Quran was revealed to him containing rules and regulations regarding different matters as well. Including the issue dealt with in the following Ayahs (I waited for u to specifically tell me the Ayah in vain):
<b>"Indeed Allâh has heard the statement of her (Khaulah bint Tha‘labah) that</b>
disputes with you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) concerning her husband (Aus
bin As-Sâmit), and complains to Allâh. And Allâh hears the argument between you
both. Verily, Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Seer.
2. Those among you who make their wives unlawful to them by (Zihâr
الظهار)[1] (i.e. by saying to them "You are like my mother’s back,") they
cannot be their mothers. None can be their mothers except those who gave them
birth. And verily, they utter an ill word and a lie. And verily, Allâh is
Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving.
3. And those who make unlawful to them their wives by Zihâr and wish to
free themselves from what they uttered, (the penalty) in that case is the
freeing of a slave before they touch each other. That is an admonition to you
(so that you may not repeat such an ill thing). And Allâh is All-Aware of what
you do.
4. And he who finds not (the money for freeing a slave) must fast two
successive months before they both touch each other. And he who is unable to do
so, should feed sixty Miskîns (poor). That is in order that you may have
perfect Faith in Allâh and His Messenger. These are the limits set by Allâh.
And for disbelievers, there is a painful torment." (Quran 58:1)
In this incidents the man vowed to consider his wife to him as a mother (he literally said to me u r like my mother's back in Arabic the term used here is Zehar derived from back). In other words he made her unlawful to him.
The woman seeing her old husband getting into a serious situation, went to the Messenger to find them a way out. He told her what means that he can not do anything to them and that she can not continue being his wife. She kept talking to him asking for a way out till Allah revealed these Ayahs giving them the solution and of course to anyone who is put into the same situation.
So the Messenger can not enact laws from his own, he always has to wait for Allah. Remember the source of legislation is Allah.