Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

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One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamualaikum i have a question,if RASOOL  sallaallahu alaihiwasallam married 9 times why is it now it is not permissible for men to get married 9 times.as what ever RASOOL did is a sunnah??

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Answer:

Why prophet allowed to marry more than four

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.

It is recorded in the Seerah that the Noble Prophet (saws) in fact married a total number of eleven times; but the maximum number of wives he (saws) had at any one time was nine.

Firstly sister, we would like to clarify here that Islam did not start the practice of polygamy (marrying and keeping more than one wife)….the practice of polygamy was in practice since time immemorial, and it was the prevalent custom and tradition of Arabia at the time of the advent of the Prophet (saws) that the nobles could and would marry and keep an indefinite number of wives.

Islam is the only religion on the face of the earth which restricted the maximum number of wives one may keep at any one time to four….but if one fears that one may not be able to do justice amongst their four wives, then one is recommended to marry only one.

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.

Many amongst the noble companions of the Prophet (saws) had in excess of four wives when the above Aayah of Surah Nisaa was revealed in Madinah, restricting the believers to keep a maximum of four wives. Thus to comply with the restriction, the companions had to divorce their extra wives to comply with the Command of their Lord Most Majestic.

Your Question: ….if RASOOL  sallaallahu alaihiwasallam married 9 times why is it now it is not permissible for men to get married 9 times.as what ever RASOOL did is a sunnah??

Although the Noble Prophet (saws) was bound like every other believer to every single Law of Islam, because of his exalted rank of Prohethood, Allah Subhanah laid some additional duties on the Prophet (saws) which were obligatory for him and not for the believers at large, and also some allowances which were for him specifically and not for the believers at large…..

For example, the ‘tahajjud’ or late night prayers were obligatory for the Prophet (saws); but ‘nafl’ or voluntary for the believers at large. The Prophet (saws) and his family were prohibited from accepting ‘sadaqa’ or charity. The believers who chose and opt to marry and keep more than one wife are duty bound by Shariah Law to do justice between their wives….the Prophet (saws) was legally and officially excused from this obligation by Allah Subhanah. Etc.

Amongst the injunctions which the Lord Most Wise laid upon the Prophet (saws) specifically and not for the believers at large were that Allah Subhanah Declared the wives of the Prophet (saws) as the ‘mothers of the believers’;Declared it forbidden for the believers to marry his wives at any time; restricted the types of women the Prophet (saws) could thereafter choose to marry; and Declared it forbidden for him to divorce his existing wives.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 6:

6 The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves; and his wives are their mothers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 53 (part):

53 …..Nor is it right for you that ye should annoy Allah's Messenger or that ye should marry his widows after him at any time. Truly such a thing is in Allah's sight an enormity.

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 (O Prophet (saws)) 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 mayest defer (the turn of) any of them (the Prophet’s (saws) wives) 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 other) women (than that listed above) after this, nor to change them for (other) wives even though their beauty attract thee except any thy right hand should possess (as handmaidens): and Allah doth watch over all things.

This as much as everything endorsed by the Prophet (saws) is considered a ‘Sunnah’ for the believers, the Divine sanction of marrying and keeping more than four wives was an allowance specifically for the Prophet (saws) and not for the believers at large….as Declared by Allah Subhanah in the above quoted Verse 50 of Surah Al-Ahzaab.

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