Here, we have mentioned eleven (11) wives of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Their order has been mentioned as it appears in the kitaab ‘Hikaayatus Sahaabah’ by Hadhrat Moulana Muhammed Zakariyya (rahmatullahi alaihi). There is a consensus of opinion that amongst all the wives that lived with Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) - of whom Hadhrat Zainub binti Khuzaima (radhiAllaahu anha), lived the shortest period - Hadhrat Khadija (radhiAllaahu anha) was the first and Hadhrat Maimoona (radhiAllaahu anha) was the last.
However, there is a difference of opinion regarding the order. According to some Muhadditheen and Historians, the order of the wives is different to that which we have recorded here. The details of which are recorded in the kitaab ‘Al-Bidaya wan Nihaya’.
Of the eleven wives, Hadhrat Khadija and Zainub binti Khuzaima (radhiAllaahu anhuma) passed away during Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s lifetime. All the others passed away after the demise of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). The nine wives which Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) left behind, when he left this ephemeral abode, were:
1. Hadhrat Aisha (radhiAllaahu anha)
2. Hadhrat Saudah (radhiAllaahu anha)
3. Hadhrat Hafsa (radhiAllaahu anha)
4. Hadhrat Umme Salma (radhiAllaahu anha)
5. Hadhrat Zainub binti Jahsh (radhiAllaahu anha)
6. Hadhrat Juwairia (radhiAllaahu anha)
7. Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha)
8. Hadhrat Safiyya (radhiAllaahu anha)
9. Hadhrat Maimoona (radhiAllaahu anha)
There is also a consensus upon this that the first wife of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was Hadhrat Khadija (radhiAllaahu anha), and as long as she was alive he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did not marry another woman. Besides Hadhrat Khadija (radhiAllaahu anha),no other wife bore children.
Besides Hadhrat Aisha (radhiAllaahu anha) none of the other wives were virgins.
Hadhrat Zainub binti Jahsh (radhiAllaahu anha) was the first wife to pass away after the demise of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
Hadhrat Umme Salma (radhiAllaahu anha) was the last of the wives to pass away.
Hadhrat Maimoona (radhiAllaahu anha) was the last one to marry Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
The object of compiling this Kitaab was not merely for the information of the readers. Lessons should be learnt from here. One should try to inculcate and encourage one’s womenfolk to aspire to be like the wives of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) when one sees the qualities of Ibaadat, charity, Taqwa, Zikr, abstinence etc. in them.
Besides these eleven wives of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) which we have mentioned here, some historians mention some more, however, owing to there not being any special mention nor companionship of theirs with Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), we will not mention them here. Here we have sufficed upon the eleven famous ones.
The wisdom underlying Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s taking of so many wives
The being and qualities of Rasulullaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is a source of mercy and blessing. The main and principle objects of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s life was; the propagation of the Divine laws, cleansing of the soul and conveying the Qur`aan Shareef. Nabi-e-Paak (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) propagated the teachings of Islaam by word and action. There is no facet of human life to which Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did not show some sort of guidance.
From Salaat with Jamaat upto life with one’s wives, from the nurturing of children to the laws pertaining to relieving oneself in the toilet and cleanliness. The Kitaabs of Ahaadith are filled with narrations where one can find guidance regarding all matters. What did he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) do when in privacy of his home, with his wives? What answers did he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) give to the questions of his wives? Like the answers to these and many other questions, the pious wives of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) answered and taught the Ummat.
For the effective and detailed information of the Ummat, it was a necessary measure for Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to marry so many wives. Regarding Masaa`il etc. Hadhrat Aisha (radhiAllaahu anha) has narrated + 2 200 Ahaadith, which may be found in the Kitaabs of Hadith.
Hafiz Ibn Qayyim (rahmatullahi alaihi) has written in ‘A`laamul Muqi`een’ page 9 vol.1 that the Fatwas of Hadhrat Umme Salma (radhiAllahu anha), which she learnt from Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) are compiled in a separate Kitaab.
Regarding the excellent status of the narrations, Fiqh and Fatwas of Hadhrat Aisha (radhiAllaahu anha), there is no need for elaboration. Her students are about 200 +.
She spread Deen for about 48 years after the demise of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). As an example, mention has been made of the achievements of two of the wives of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). The narrations of the other pure wives are also many and voluminous. It is apparent that this type of Ta`leem and Tableegh was special to the wives of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
What does the person desirous of the pleasure of the temporary life know of the lofty and great objects and aspirations of Islaam? They make analogy of everything upon themselves and their own desires and habits. With the result, many orientalists and atheists have, through the ages stated the reason for the many Wives of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as being carnal desire and lust. If one has to cast a casual glance at the life of Rasulullaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), then any unbiased and intelligent person will never aver or claim such nonsensical accusations at him (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
Rasulullaah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s pure life and habits was apparent and glaring in front of the Arabs. At the young age of 25 years he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) marries an elderly widow who has children. He (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) stays with her until the age of 50, and during that period too, he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) spends most of his time in seclusion in the cave of Hira, occupied in Ibaadat. The second Nikah takes place at the age of beyond 50 years. All these 50 years of his (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was in front of the Arabs, where they could witness the personality. Even an enemy could not find any flaw in his (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s character and personality. They accused him (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) of such things as magician, poet, madman, liar etc. However, these were all petty accusations and none could point a finger and truly pin point any fault in his (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s piety and character.
Is it rational to claim that a man who spends his youth, upto the age of 50 in piety and abstinence, and then at the end of his life, he gets married to a few wives, that he is as the orientalists and others accuse him of?
Consider also the conditions in which he got married to the other wives. From the age of 25 to 50, he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) spends his life in the company of one woman, and after her demise, gets married to Hadhrat Saudah and Aisha (radhiAllaahu anhuma). Hadhrat Aisha (radhiAllaahu anhuma) only comes to live with Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) a few years after her Nikah to him. By then he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is already 54 years of age. from this age the other many wives come into his (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s wedlock. After a year He (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) marries Hadhrat Hafsa (radhiAllaahu anha). After a few months Hadhrat Zainub binti Khuzaima (radhiAllaahu anha). She stays in his (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s Nikah for 18 months, where after she passes away. According to one narration she stayed in Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s Nikah for 3 months. Then in 4 A.H. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) marries Hadhrat Umme Salma (radhiAllaahu anha) and in 5 A.H. Hadhrat Zainub binti Jahsh (radhiAllaahu anha). By that time Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s age was 58 years. At that age he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had four wives. In the year 6A.H. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) marries Hadhrat Juwairia (radhiAllaahu anha). In 7 A.H. Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha), Hadhrat Safiyya (radhiAllaahu anha) and Hadhrat Maimoona (radhiAllaahu anha).
CONCLUSION
Upto the age of 54 years Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) spent his life with one wife (at a time). 25 years with Hadhrat Khadija (radhiAllaahu anha) and after her demise with Hadhrat Saudah (radhiAllaahu anha). The at the age of 58 he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has four wives. The other wives came into Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s Nikah during the period of 2 to 3 years. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) passes away in the year 10 A.H.
This much is also worth mentioning that besides all the wives only Hadhrat Aisha (radhiAllaahu anha) was a virgin, all the others were widows. Some of them even had two husbands prior to their Nikah with Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). These many wives (all at once) came into Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s nikah when he had already reached an advanced age.
All the Sahabah (male and female) were subservient to Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), they obeyed his every command. If he wished he could have gathered as many virgins as he wished and married them. He could have changed them as often as every one two months. However, he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did not do so.
Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was a prophet of Allaah Ta`ala, whatever he did was not of his own will. Everything he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did was with the order of Allaah Ta`ala. If he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) followed his own desires and passions then, why did he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) only limit himself to these wives. On any occasions he was offered other woman in marriage, and he refused as he deemed it inappropriate.
If Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was following his passions, then why did he adhere so strictly to the laws of Hijaab (concealment). He could have, if he wished, not done so and satisfied himself with as many women as possible, because whatever, he did, the Sahabah accepted as being part of Deen.
The benefits received by the Ummat owing to the many wives of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is clear and apparent. Some of these are mentioned hereunder:
Hadhrat Umme Salma (radhiAllaahu anha) was the only wife who came to live with Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) who had small children. Here Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) demonstrated how to nurture and bring up children. Hadhrat Umar bin Abi Salma (radhiAllaahu anhu), the son of Hadhrat Umme Salma (radhiAllaahu anha) reports: “When I was a child. I used to sit on the lap of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Once when I was sitting with Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) at a meal, I was eating from all the sides of the plate. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) told me to recite “Bismillah” before eating, eat with my right hand and eat from that which is in front of me.”
Hadhrat Juwairia (radhiAllaahu anha) was made a slave, after the Muslims conquered their enemy. She was distributed as other slaves. Hadhrat Juwairia (radhiAllaahu anha) came into the share of Hadhrat Thaabit bin Qais bin Shimaas (radhiAllaahu anhu) or his cousin. However, Hadhrat Juwairia (radhiAllaahu anha) did not wish to live as a slave and she entered into a Kitaabat agreement with her owner (i.e. an agreement where the slave and master agree on a specified price, whereby the slave is set free). She came into the presence of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and told him that she is the daughter of Haarith bin Abi Diraar, the leader of the Banu Mustaliq, and that she has the misfortune of now being a slave. She mentioned regarding her Kitaabat agreement with Hadhrat Thaabit (radhiAllaahu anhu) [or his cousin] and that she has now come to Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) for assistance. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) asked her if she would not like a better prospect than just money for her freedom. She asked what it was. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said that he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) will pay for her freedom and get married to her. She replied: “Oh Rasulullaah, I am prepared.” Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) paid for her release and he married her after that.
After her Nikah to Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) the Sahabah freed many of her tribesmen, owing to their now being the in-laws of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Hadhrat Aisha (radhiAllaahu anha) mentioned the following regarding this incident: “The Nikah Of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to Juwairia resulted in the freeing of 100 prisoners of the Banu Mustaliq. I do not know of any woman who was more blessed for her tribe than her( i.e. Hadhrat Juwairia (radhiAllaahu anha)).”
Hadhrat Umme Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha) accepted Islaam with her husband. They migrated to Abyssinia and there her husband became a christian. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) sent a proposal of marriage to her via Najjaashi. She accepted and she was married there in Abyssinia. The point worth mentioning is this that she was the daughter of Abu Sufyaan (radhiAllaahu anhu), who at that point was not yet a Muslim, and he spared no efforts in troubling the Muslims. When he heard of his daughter’s Nikah to Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), he said that Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is an honourable man, who cannot be defeated.
This Nikah was a blow to the Kuffaar. It’s political benefit to the Muslims cannot be refuted. This much is sure that Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had this benefit in mind when he married Hadhrat Habiba (radhiAllaahu anha).
Besides these there are many other benefits which are recorded in the Kitaabs of History. One may refer to them. We have written down these few benefits of the wisdom underlying Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s many Nikahs, in the hope that Muslims are not caught up or ensnared in the web of falsehood and false accusations being strewn by the Kuffaar. [Tafseer Ma`ariful Qur`aan, pages 288 to 292, vol.2]
No comments:
Post a Comment