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Prophet pbuh had 9 wives

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Burhan,

You had mentioned in one of your answers prophet Mohammed (PBUH) had 9 wives (PBUH) at one time.

Jazakallah 
  

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Answer:

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 3:

3        If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans marry women of your choice two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them) then only one or (a captive) that your right hands possess.  That will be more suitable to prevent you from doing injustice.

 

It is indeed a historical fact that the Noble Prophet (saws) married a total of eleven times, and he (saws) did have a maximum of nine wives at one time.  The above Verse of Surah Nisaa limits and restricts the believers to keep a maximum of upto four wives at any one time, if they wish to do so; but in the case of the Noble Prophet (saws), he (saws) was given special and specific permission by Allah Subhanah to keep the wives he had.

 

Although almost all the laws of Islam that were laid upon the believers were also for the Prophet (saws), there were a few laws which were specific to the Prophet (saws) himself and his family alone due to his (saws) position, and not for the believers at large.  Some amongst those laws specific to the Prophet (saws) were:

  1. The ‘Tahajjud’ or ‘night prayers’ which are optional for the believers, were ‘fard’ (obligatory) upon the Prophet (saws).
  2. It was declared forbidden for the Prophet (saws) and his family to accept any funds from the ‘zakah’ collections.
  3. As shown in the below verses of Surah Ahzaab, the Prophet (saws) was restricted in his choice of women to marry by Allah Subhanah, unlike the believers who are permitted to choose to marry amongst believing women and/or from amongst the chaste women of the People of the Book.
  4. The believers who have more than one wife are commanded by Allah to treat them equally in their allotment of time and resources; but the Prophet (saws) because of his superior position and the duties and responsibilities he had to fulfill as a Prophet (saws), was given a special allowance by Allah Subhanah regarding this command of allocating equal time between his wives.
  5. When a believer dies, his widow has an option to re-marry; but Allah Subhanah specifically prohibited the wives of the Prophet (saws) to marry anyone else after his death.

 

One amongst these commands specific only to the Prophet (saws) was that he was not restricted in the number of wives he could keep at any one time like the other believers.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verses 50-52:

50      O prophet!  We have made lawful to thee thy wives to whom thou hast paid their dowers; and those whom thy right hand possesses out of the prisoners of war whom Allah has assigned to thee; and daughters of thy paternal uncles and aunts, and daughters of thy maternal uncles and aunts who migrated (from Mecca) with thee; and any believing woman who dedicates her soul to the Prophet if the Prophet wishes to wed her, this only for thee and not for the Believers (at large); We know what We have appointed for them as to their wives and the captives whom their right hands possess in order that there should be no difficulty for Thee.  And Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

51      Thou (O Prophet (saws)) mayest defer (the turn of) any of them that thou pleasest and thou mayest receive any thou pleasest: and there is no blame on thee if thou invite one whose (turn) thou hadst set aside.  This were nigher to the cooling of their eyes the prevention of their grief and their satisfaction--that of all of them--with that which thou hast to give them: and Allah knows (all) that is in your hearts: and Allah is All-Knowing Most Forbearing.

52      It is not lawful for thee (O Prophet (saws) to marry more) women after this nor to change them for (other) wives even though their beauty attract thee except any thy right hand should possess; and Allah doth watch over all things. 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Members of Islamhelpline


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