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:

Salam.
I read this and was some what shocked.

Hadrat Anas (r.a.) reported the Messenger of Allah (saws) as saying, "Among the things of this world, I love women and perfume, and the coolness of my eyes is prayer."

Related by Ahmad and an-Nasa`i.

Now what does it mean when Messenger of Allah (saws) said " I love women"?

Note it does not say "woman" but "women".

Can someone please clear my thoughts on this, or is it really what i am thinking?

Jazak Allah.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Prophet(saws) loved women

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.

Your Question: Now what does it mean when Messenger of Allah (saws) said " I love women"?

Note it does not say "woman" but "women".

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 110:

Say (O Prophet) : "I am but a ‘bashar’ (human) like yourselves (but) the inspiration has come to me: that your Allah is one Allah: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and in the worship of his Lord admit no one as partner."

As much as the Noble Prophet Mohamed (saws) was the Messenger of Allah, one should also remember that he (saws) was also a human being…..the difference being that he (saws) was inspired and chosen by the Lord. And being a human being, he possessed the exact same nature as is bestowed by the Lord on all humans.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verse 14:

14 Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women, and sons, heaped-up hoards of gold and silver, horses (vehicles) branded, and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals.

Allah Subhanah has bestowed in the very nature of every man that they covet and love women, and sons, and wealth, and branded vehicles, etc. and just because one is chosen by the Lord and appointed to the status and rank of Prophethood does not in any way mean that one looses one’s inherent nature!

At-Tirmidhi Hadith 5260 Narrated by Aisha

Three worldly things used to give pleasure to Allah's Messenger (saws): food, women and perfume. He (saws) acquired two, but one he (saws) did not acquire. He (saws) acquired women and perfume, but not food.

Thus when the Noble Prophet of Allah (saws) declared that he (saws) loved women, it was only an expression of the polygamous nature that is inherent in every man.

The guidance of Islam does not demand human beings, including those amongst them who are chosen as Prophets, to hate or be indifferent towards women….for that would then be against the very inherent nature that the Lord has bestowed upon every man. Islam guides that man is at liberty to acquire or possess what is loved or coveted by him, but one do so only in a manner which is declared as lawful by Allah Subhanah.

That the Prophet (saws) loved the company of lawful women was expressed by his act of marrying, with the permission of the Lord, no less than eleven wives in his lifetime.

Your Statement: Can someone please clear my thoughts on this, or is it really what i am thinking?
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 68 Surah Qalam verse 4:

4 And thou (O Mohamed (saws)) (standest) on an exalted standard of character.

Respected brother in Islam, Allah Subhanah Alone Knows what you are thinking, but whatever assumption you might have made regarding the Noble Prophet Mohamed’s (saws) statement that he loved women, do make sure that the assumption is as pure and as exalted that only befits the lofty and dignified character of the Last and Final Messenger of Allah (saws)! Allah is our witness brother, no human being ever walked on or graced this planet earth who feared Allah Subhanah more, or worshipped the Lord more, or loved the Lord more, or who possessed a better standard of character than the noble self of Mohamed (saws) ibn Abdullah, the Last and Final Messenger of Allah!

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan