When it was clear that the Prophet (peace be upon him) decided to marry Safiyyah (radi Allahu anha), the news was received with considerable expectation. On their arrival in Madinah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) accommodated her first in the house of his Ansari companion, Harithah ibn Al-Numan. Many women, particularly from the Ansar, went there to see the Prophet’s new wife. This was only to be expected since the Ansar were used to having the Jews living in their city until they had recently been evacuated. Safiyyah’s own people, the Al-Nadir tribe, were evacuated only three years earlier. The Prophet (peace be upon him) even noticed his wife, Ayesha (radi Allahu anha), going there, having covered her face. He (peace be upon him) observed her movement until he saw her going into that house. When she came back home, he (peace be upon him) asked her: ‘How did you find her?’ Her answer expressed her jealous feelings: ‘I only saw a Jewish woman.’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Do not say that. She has become a Muslim, and she is a good Muslim.’
TAG: Prophet Wife
Greet Her On Behalf Of Her Lord
Narrated Abu Hurairah: Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: “O Allah’s Messenger! This is Khadijah, bringing you a dish with meat soup (or some other food or drink). When she reaches you, greet her on behalf of her Lord (Allah) and on my behalf, and give her the glad tidings of having a palace made of Qasab in Paradise, wherein there will be neither any noise nor any toil (fatigue, trouble, etc.).” [Source~ Al-Bukhari]
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas narrated that one day the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) drew four lines on the earth and asked his Companions if they understood what these lines stood for. They respectfully replied that he knew better. He then told them that these lines stood for the four foremost ladies of the universe. They were Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint Imran, the mother of the Prophet Issa (peace and blessings be upon him), and ‘Asia bint Muzahim (the wife of the Pharaoh). She was the first person to have an abiding faith in the utterances of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and to accept Islam as her religion and her way of life. She was blessed with the distinction of having been greeted with Salam (greetings) by Allah and the Angel Jibril.
Khadijah (r.a.) was born in Makkah in the year 556 CE. Her mother’s name was Fatimah bint Zayd, and her father’s name was Khuwaylid bin Asad. He was a very popular leader among the tribe of Quraysh, and a very prosperous businessman who died while fighting in the famous battle of Fujjar. Khadijah thus grew up in the lap of luxury. She married Abu Halah Malak bin Nabash bin Zarrarah bin At-Tamimi and bore him two children, Halah and Hind. She wanted to see her husband prosper and financed him in setting up a big business. But unfortunately, he passed away. Sometime later, the young widow married ‘Atique bin ‘Aith bin ‘Abdullah Al-Makhzumi, and she had a daughter by him as well, named Hindah, but the marriage soon broke up on grounds of incompatibility.
After this, all her attention was devoted to the upbringing of her children and building up the business she inherited from her father. Her astuteness and business ability made her business one of the most widespread businesses among the Quraysh. Her policy was to employ hardworking, honest, and distinguished managers to deal on her behalf, as a lot depended on the integrity of the employees who travelled far and wide on her behalf. She exported her goods to faraway markets like Syria, and her managers bought goods from those markets to be sold at home.
When The Prophet’s Wives Met Men
It is well known that a divine order was given to the Prophet (peace be upon him), late in his life, requiring his wives to be behind a screen when speaking to men. Before that order, they behaved like other Muslim women, taking part in the public life of society and meeting men on public and private occasions. There are many examples of this on
either very common occasions, such as the mere exchange of greetings, or special ones like weddings and parties. However, we will cite other examples so that we give an idea of the extent of their participation in public life, and the variety of purposes of their meetings with men.
The first example concerns the pursuit of knowledge and involves Lady Khadeejah, the Prophet’s first wife. Lady Ayesha reports: “The first aspect of revelation given to the Prophet was that his dreams would always come true. Khadeejah took him to Waraqah ibn Nawfal, her cousin on her father’s side. Waraqah had converted to Christianity before the advent of Islam. He used to write in Arabic whatever he learned of the Gospel. He was an old, blind man. Khadeejah said to him: ‘Cousin! Listen to what he (meaning Prophet Muhammad) has to tell you.’ He said to him:
‘What is it that you have seen?’ The Prophet told him about his encounter with Gabriel, the angel. Waraqah said: ‘This is the archangel who used to come to Moses. I wish I were a young man. I wish I am alive when your people will drive you out of your town.’ The Prophet said: ‘Will they drive me out?’ Waraqah answered. ‘Yes. No one has ever preached what you will be delivering without being met with hostility. If I am alive on that day, I will give you great support.’ (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
After Khadeejah’s death, the Prophet (peace be upon him) married several wives who reported many of his statements and teachings. But none reported more than Ayesha, who was endowed with a rich wealth of knowledge. Saeed ibn Al-Aas reports that both Ayesha and Uthman told him that “Abu Bakr sought admission to speak to the Prophet when he was lying on his bed, wearing Ayesha’s shawl. When Abu Bakr was admitted, the Prophet attended to his business, and then he left. Then Umar sought permission, and he was allowed while the Prophet remained in the same position. When he finished his business, he left. Uthman later sought permission, and the Prophet sat up and told Ayesha to put her clothes together, covering herself well. When Uthman left after finishing his business with the Prophet, Ayesha said: ‘Messenger of God! Why did you not sit up and prepare yourself to receive Abu Bakr and Umar as you did for Uthman?’ He said: ‘Uthman is a shy person. I feared that if I received him when I was in that position, he would not put his request to me.” (Related by Muslim.)
Usamah ibn Zayd reports that “Gabriel the angel came to the Prophet when he was at Umm Salamah’s home, and he spoke to him before standing up and leaving. The Prophet asked his wife, Umm Salamah, who that person was.
She said: ‘He is Dihyah.'” Umm Salamah said: “By God, I had no doubt that the man was Dihyah until I heard the Prophet speaking to the people, reporting what Gabriel said.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
It should perhaps be explained that sometimes Gabriel came to the Prophet taking the shape of a human being. On those occasions, he mostly appeared like Dihyah ibn Khaleefah Al-Kalbi, who was a very handsome companion of the Prophet. This explains how the Prophet’s wife, Umm Salamah, thought Gabriel to be Dihyah, but when she heard the Prophet addressing his companions and saying to them what Gabriel said earlier, she realized her mistake.
Ayesha reports that when the Prophet’s wives needed to go to the restroom, they went at night to Al-Manasi’, a wide, open place with no vegetation. Umar used to say to the Prophet that he should keep his wives screened, but the Prophet did not do that. One night Sawdah, the wife of the Prophet, went out for that purpose. She was a tall woman. Umar called out to her: ‘We have recognized you, Sawdah!’ He did so out of his eagerness that the Prophet’s wives should be screened. Soon afterward, God’s order was revealed for them to be screened.’ (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Anas reports: “On the day of the Battle of Uhud, fighters retreated, leaving the Prophet. I saw Ayesha bint Abu Bakr and Umm Sulaym, having lifted their dresses. I could see their anklets as they moved fast, carrying water skins on their backs and pouring water in people’s mouths before going back to fill up the water skins and giving people to drink.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Together, these Hadiths give us a picture of the Prophet’s wives actively participating in the life of the Muslim community. When the Prophet was visited by some of his companions, they were often present, in case the Prophet needed anything. People put their cases, and asked for rulings, even on intimate matters such as intercourse between man and wife, when they might be present. The Prophet neither ordered them to go out, nor was he upset that the man should put such a question while his wife was present. On the contrary, he answered him in a very relaxed manner, letting the question appear as a very ordinary one.
We also note that the Prophet was frequently visited by his companions, who had different needs. He did not have a reception room where he conducted his community affairs.
He simply admitted people into his room, where any of his wives might be present. The fact that they were later ordered to remain behind a screen puts them in a special category among women, with certain rules applicable to them only.
There is no suggestion, at any time, that other women should follow their example concerning such rules. Therefore, their conduct as appears in these Hadiths is the one that Islam wants ordinary Muslim women to follow. They confirm that Islamic society is one where men and women mix socially, but observe a high standard of propriety and decency, maintaining Islamic morality.
By: Dr. Abd Al-Haleem Abu Shuqqah
Khadijah (RA): Wife Of Hazart Muhammad (SAW)
Abdullah ibn Jafar reported that he heard Sayyiduna Ali say in Kufa that Allah’s Messenger, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The best of the women of her time was Maryam, daughter of Imran, and the best of the women of her time was Khadijah, daughter of Khuwaylid.”
Is it, not a great honor that the first person to embrace Islam was a woman? She was the first to bear witness that there is no god except Allah and that her husband was the Messenger of Allah. Her husband was our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and she was called Khadijah, ( may Allah be pleased with her) She was also called Thaira, meaning ‘pure’.
Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, came from a noble family. Her father Khuwaylid had been one of the most honored leaders of their tribe until he was killed in battle. Her husband had also died, leaving her a very wealthy woman. When Muhammad (peace be upon him) was still a young man, she entrusted him with some of her wealth, asking him to trade with it in Syria on her behalf. He was already well known for his honesty, truthfulness, and trustworthiness. He returned from Syria after having made a large profit for Khadijah.
After hearing his account of the journey, she decided that he would make the best of the husbands, even though many of the most important nobles of the Quraish had already proposed to her and had been refused, and in due course, she proposed to him. After the Prophet’s uncle, Abu Talib, had given the proposed marriage his blessing, Muhammad and Khadijah were married. At the time of the marriage, the Prophet was twenty-five years old, while Khadijah was forty years old.
For the next fifteen years, they lived happily together, and Khadijah bore several children. Their first child, a son whom they named Qasim, died when he was only two years old. Two more sons, called Tayyib and Tahir, were also born, but they too died in their infancy. However, Muhammad and Khadijah also had four daughters who survived: Zaynab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum, and Fatima.
No one except Allah of course, knows more about a man than his wife, both his good and his bad qualities, his strengths, and his weaknesses. The more Khadijah came to know about her husband, the more she loved and respected him. Everyone in Makka called him ‘al-Amin’, which means ‘the trustworthy one’, and she, more than anyone else, knew how fitting this name was. It became Muhammad’s custom each year to spend the month of Ramadan in seclusion and reflection in a cave on the mountain of Hira, which is on the outskirts of Makka. Khadijah would always make sure that he was provided with food and drink during his retreat. Towards the end of one Ramadan, when he was forty and Khadijah fifty-five, Muhammad suddenly appeared at their house in the middle of the night, trembling with fear and saying, “Cover me up, cover me up!”
Khadijah was very alarmed to see him in such a state. Quickly she wrapped a blanket around his shoulders and, when he had calmed down, she asked him to describe exactly what had happened. He told her how a being whom he had never seen before – in fact it was the angel Jibril – had suddenly appeared to him while he was asleep and had said, “Read!”
“But I cannot read,” he had replied, for he was unlettered and could neither read nor write. “Read!” the angel had repeated, clasping Muhammad close to his chest. “I cannot read,” he had repeated. “Read!” the angel had repeated, firmly embracing him yet again. “What shall I read?” he had asked in desperation, and the angel had replied:
Read, in the Name of your Lord who created, created man from a clot, Read, and your Lord is the Most Gracious, Who taught with the pen, taught man what he did not know. (Quran 96:1-5)
Although Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not fully realize it at the time, this was the beginning of the revelation of the Qur’an; but in that first encounter with the angel Jibril, Muhammad was very frightened, for he did not know who the angel Jibril was or what was happening. He woke up and ran out of the cave only to find Jibril still in front of him, and whenever he turned away from him, there Jibril was in front of him yet again, filling the horizon with his mighty yet beautiful form.
“Oh Muhammad,” said Jibril eventually, “you are the Messenger of Allah and I am Jibril,” and with these words, he disappeared from Muhammad’s sight.
After the angel had disappeared Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) clambered down the mountain as fast as he could run. As she listened to Muhammad’s words, Khadijah did not share any of these fears. She realized that something tremendous and awe-inspiring had happened to her husband, and she was certain, knowing him as she did, that he was neither mad nor possessed. “Do not worry,” she said, “for by Him who has dominion over Khadijah’s soul, I hope that you are the Prophet of this nation. Allah would never humiliate you, for you are good to your relatives, you are true to your word, you help those who are in need, you support the weak, you feed the guest and you answer the call of those who are in distress.”
When Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was a little more relaxed, Khadijah took him to see her cousin, Waraqa ibn Nawfal, for he was a man of knowledge, and she was sure that he would be able to explain the meaning of what had just happened to her beloved husband. Waraqa had studied the books of both the Jews and the Christians very closely and he had learned a great deal from many of their wisest people. He knew that the coming of another Prophet had been foretold by both Moses and Jesus, peace be on them, and he knew many of the signs that would confirm the identity of this Prophet when he appeared.
After listening closely to his story, Waraqa, who was both old and blind, exclaimed, “This is the same being who brought the revelations of Allah to Moses. I wish I was young and could be alive when your people will drive you out.”
“Will they drive me out?” asked Muhammad.
“Yes,” replied Waraqa. “No one has come with what you have been given without being treated with enmity; and if I were to live until the day when you are turned out, then I would support you with all my might. Let me just feel your back.” So, saying, Waraqa felt between the Prophet’s shoulder blades and found what he was feeling for a small round, slightly raised irregularity in the skin, about the size of a pigeon’s egg. This was yet another of the many signs that Waraqa already knew would indicate the identity of the next Prophet after Jesus, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
“This is the Seal of the Prophethood!” he exclaimed. “Now I am certain that you are indeed the Prophet whose coming was foretold in the Torah that was revealed to Moses and in the Injil that was revealed to Jesus, (PBUH) You are indeed the Messenger of Allah, and the being who appeared to you on the mountain was indeed the angel Jibril!”
Khadijah was both overjoyed and awed to find that her understanding of what had happened on the mountain had been confirmed. Not long after this incident, Muhammad was commanded in a subsequent revelation from Allah, through the angel Jibril, to call people to worship Allah only, and it was at this point that Khadijah did not hesitate in expressing in public what she had now known for certain in secret for some time: ” I bear witness that there is no god except Allah,” she said, “and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
In the years that followed, difficult years in which the leaders of the Quraish did everything in their power to stop the Prophet from spreading his message, Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) was a constant source of help and comfort to Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the difficulties which he had to face. All her wealth was spent in the way of Allah, helping to spread the message of her husband, helping to free slaves who had embraced Islam, and helping to feed and shelter the community of Muslims that slowly but surely began to grow in numbers and strength.
Good Life OF The Hereafter
[Allah’s Quran – 33:28-29] “O PROPHET! Say unto thy wives: “If you desire [but] the life of this world and its charms – well, then, I shall provide for you and release you in a becoming manner; but if you desire God and His Apostle, and [thus the good of] the life in the hereafter, then [know that], verily, for the doers of good among you God has readied a mighty reward!”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said:
[Muslim, Book #009, Hadith #3498] “’A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was commanded to give an option to his wives, he started it from me saying: I am going to mention to you a matter which you should not (decide) in haste until you have consulted your parents. She said that he already knew that my parents would never allow me to seek separation from him She said: Then he said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: Prophet, say to thy wives: If you desire this world’s life and its adornment, then come, I will give you a provision and allow you to depart a goodly departing; and if you desire Allah and His Messenger and the abode of the Hereafter, then Allah has prepared for the doers of good among you a great reward She is reported to have said: About what should I consult my parents, for I desire Allah and His Messenger and the abode of the Hereafter? She (‘A’isha) said: Then all the wives of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) did as I had done.”
A Home Based On Love
A foremost characteristic of life in the home of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was love. Love is the quality most necessary to ensure happiness. When love is present, happiness is assured. Prophet preferred a life of poverty, which was sometimes close to if not below, the subsistence level. Yet this did not detract from the fact that he was a very happy home, with love spreading from its rooms to those who were associated in any way with the Prophet’s family.
Should love be removed from the life of any family, happiness becomes lacking for everyone, no matter how affluent the family may be. Wealth can buy comfort and luxury, but it cannot buy love and happiness. Muhammad (peace be upon him) experienced first a life of poverty when he was brought up by his uncle Abu Talib, who had a large family and small means. He had to work and earn his living when he was still in his early teens. Then he experienced a life of comfort and plenty when he lived with his first wife, Khadeejah, who was rich and he looked after her business. Then in Madinah, he lived a life of poverty, even though he could have had whatever he wanted. He was the head of state and all its resources were at his disposal. Yet he preferred to live on the borderline of poverty. When he had more than enough for his family’s needs for the day, he gave away all that was extra. Once he received a gift of cooked birds. He gave his servant a bird to eat and ate one himself. One bird was left, so Anas, his servant brought it for the Prophet’s dinner the following day. The Prophet was upset and said: “Have I not told you never to leave anything for the following day?”
His life with Khadeejah was the symbol of happiness. She cherished his company and looked after him in the most exemplary way. She realized that he combined characteristics of the noblest type that made him unique among men. On her part, Khadeejah combined beauty, good sense, mature judgment, and a loving and generous heart. They were the happiest of couples. They lived together for 15 years or longer before he began to receive his message. Theirs was a happy life of a loving couple. When he received his message, she realized that her task was greater, and she fulfilled it with exemplary devotion. He might spend a whole day speaking to people and telling them about Islam, stressing that they needed to believe in God as the only deity in the universe, and receiving nothing but one hostile reaction after another. Yet he was assured that once he steps home, a comforting heart will be there to receive him and dispel all that troubled his caring soul. He was pained by the fact that people could not realize that the guidance he gave them was for their own good and happiness in both this life and the life to come. She reassured him that such stubborn rejection was the result of ignorance or selfishness and that it was bound to be temporary. Once people saw the truth inherent in it, they were bound to accept it.
Khadeejah was his only wife for 25 years or longer. When she died, she left a huge vacuum in his life that no woman could easily fill. Later, the Prophet needed to marry several other women. There were social, political, or legislative reasons leading to each of his marriages. God allowed him any number of wives, exempting him from the condition that allows man no more than four wives at the same time. Despite the fact that some of these marriages were in quick succession, love spread its wings on the Prophet’s home, with all inhabitants benefiting from it. No man’s life was documented in such detail as the Prophet’s life, yet we do not have a single incident when any of his wives felt anything other than love toward him. Never was any of them hurt by an angry word or an insult. He never raised his hand in earnest or in jest to express an angry feeling.
Ayesha was the one he loved most, but this did not mean that he did not love the others or that he showed them any disfavor. He felt for them and prayed that God would not hold him accountable for his feelings, which were beyond his control. Yet his treatment of all his wives was an exemplary exercise in complete fairness. However, Ayesha knew how to impart her feelings to him without putting this in words. The Prophet once told her: “I know when you are pleased or angry with me.” As she was keen not to let her anger surface, she was surprised. She asked him: “How do you know that?” He said: “When you are pleased with me and you want to emphasize something, you say: ‘By God, the Lord of Muhammad!’ But when you are angry with me, you say: ‘By God, the Lord of Abraham!’ She said: ‘By God, I forsake only your name.'”
It was the love he emanated in his family life that made all his wives happy with their situation, despite the fact that there were several others sharing the same position with them. None would exchange her position as the Prophet’s wife for being the wife of any man on earth. When they all joined together in demanding a better standard of living, he was angry with them and left them all for a whole month. After this, he gave them the choice that he would either divorce them and give them plentiful gifts or they would remain with him accepting the sort of life he gave them, which was one of hard poverty. Every one of them said unhesitatingly that she would stay with him and never make a similar demand.
We should remember that divorce in their society was accepted as normal, and a divorcee or a widow could easily be married again. Yet none of them would contemplate for a moment living with any man after having been the Prophet’s wife. It was such exemplary love that pulled them toward such a happy life. Hence, God admonishes them to be grateful for their lot and to remember the supreme wisdom that is recited in their homes, as it is revealed from on high to their husband, Muhammad (peace be upon him). God also elevated their rank, making them mothers of all believers, in all generations. Each one of them is Umm Al-Mumineen, i.e. Mother of Believers. This was a real status, and all their contemporaries treated them as such. Later generations of Muslims venerated them in the same way. As mothers of all Muslims, they could not marry anyone after the Prophet had died. Thus, they kept this status for all times.
By: Adil Salahi
The Honorable Wife Of Prophet PBUH: Umm Habeebah R.A
She is Ramlah Bin Abu Sufyan Bin Sakhr Bin Harb Bin Umayyah Bin Abd Shams Bin Qusai. Her lineage is connected with that of the prophet S.A.W through their common ancestor Qusai. She was born seventeen years before the start of the prophetic mission and she was married to Ubaidullah Bin Jahsh Al-Asadi.
Blessed Marriage
The marriage contract was made the Nugus informed the people that the Messenger of Allah had written to him asking Hin to give Umm Habeebah in marriage to him and that he had given her in marriage to him and given her dowry of four hundred deenar on his behalf, then he made the proposal of marriage to Khalid bin Saeed R.A – whom Umm Habeebah R.A had appointed to represent her – and he said I have responded to the request of the messenger of Allah and married him to request of the messenger of Allah and him to Umm Habeebah R.A, then he took the deenar and the Negus organized a wedding party in celebration of this occasion and the people ate and celebrate the happy event. so Umm Habeebah R.A became one of the mother of the believers and after a contract had been made, she loved the messenger of Allah.
Umm Habeebah R.A was a sincere believer and that sincere faith manifested itself in her love of Allah, the highest and his messenger. She feared not the rebuke of any person regarding Allah and she did not hold any person in the same high regard in which she held the messenger of Allah no matter how close he was to her, her father entered the house of his daughter Umm Habeebah R.A and after he greeted her, he went to sit on the mattress of the Messenger of Allah, but she folded it up in order to prevent him from doing so this wounded him deeply and caused him great pain and said to her, O my daughter! it is because the mattress is too good for me or because I am too good for the mattress? she said: it belongs to the prophet and you are an unclean polytheist, so I do not like that you should sit on the mattress of the Messenger of Allah, he replied angrily by Allah you have been afflicted by evil after leaving me.
After a life filled with good deeds which she undertook in order to get close to Allah the highest and to earn the pleasure of the Messenger of Allah the mother of the believer she died, may Allah have mercy on her in al-Madinah in the year 44 A.H
When Was The Last Time You Raced With Your Wife?
You might mockingly or disapprovingly smile, yet the question remains, for it bespeaks an invitation to you to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, in his kind attitude toward his wives.
If you claim to follow and love the Noble Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, Sunnah, in keeping a beard, cleaning your teeth with a Siwaak (tooth stick), and shortening your clothes to reach above the ankle, you are likewise required to emulate him in the way he treated his spouses.
Moreover, the leniency, mercy, and patience of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, with his wives is not merely his tradition, but an obligation confirmed by many Quranic verses, among which is the one in which Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And live with them in kindness.} [Quran 4:20]
He (PBUH) said: “He is the best amongst you who is the kindest towards his wives and I am the kindest amongst you towards my wives.”
Thus, racing was a compassionate gesture of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, in order to be friendly and open with his wives.
Aaishah [Allah be pleased with her] narrates that as a young and thin girl, she was once accompanying the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, on one of his journeys. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam asked his Companions to move ahead of them, which they did. He, sallaallahu alayhi wa sallam, then asked to race with her; she did and won.
Sometime later, after she had forgotten about this, she was with the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, on another of his journeys and he wanted to race her. She wanted to excuse herself, by telling him she could not, since she had gained some weight, but he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, insisted. They raced and this time he (PBUH) won; so the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, laughed and said; “This [is] for that.”
Some husbands content that they do not race with their wives because they are too busy and have many responsibilities. Our retort is that by no means can they be busier than the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, who bore the responsibility of conveying the Message of Islam to the entire world.
He also led the army in combat alongside running errands for his family and doing household chores. Nevertheless, all this did not stop him from twice racing with his wife Aaishah[RA].
Other husbands might argue that the streets are not a suitable place for racing; so, they can surely take their wives away from people, on a picnic.
Moreover, competition is not just in running.
One can compete to win in a permissible electronic game or general knowledge quiz, in which one can ask each other questions and keep score.
The third group of husbands believes that such competitions may cause their wives to become too bold and eventually challenge them.
This is not true, because the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, raced with his wife, so this is an act to be followed, for copying his behavior with his wives can bring nothing but good.
Also, modern research has established that being kind and easygoing with one’s wife makes it easier for her to be mindful of you.
There are lessons to be learned from the aforementioned incident related by Aaishah concerning the Prophet’s, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, kindness toward his wives.
1- The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was the one to ask for a race both times.
This teaches husbands that they should take the initiative in such competitions. Wives may be too busy with housework or fear rejection or, as is the generally innate nature of women, be too shy to propose such an idea.
However, on their part, they should try to urge their husbands when they see they are free and in a good mood.
2- A husband should not incessantly brag of superiority over his wife.
We notice that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, outran Aaishah after she had already outrun him the first time.
3- Alternately, a husband should neither always deliberately lose for the sake of his wife or the competition would be meaningless.
The factor that decided the winner of Aaishah the first time was her youth and fitness, and when she put on some weight, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, outran her.
4- A husband should remember that such competitions are just for amiability and fun.
Neither of the spouses should get worked up or a row could ensue and the activity would lose its desired aim. This can be understood from the reaction of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, who only cheerfully referred to his win to counter that of Aaishah’s.
Verily in the noble way of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam is there a recipe for happiness
Wfe Of Abu Bakr Siddique And The Mother Of ‘Aishah
She was the wife of Abu Bakr Siddique and the mother of ‘Aishah. Thus she was the Prophet’s [sallallahu Alayhi wa sallam] mother-in-law. Her son, ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Bakr Siddique, was an excellent horseman, and master strategist in war. It was she who taught him the meaning of valor and courage. Her real name was Zainab, but she came to be known by her family name. She was a patient and tolerant lady who did not jump to hasty conclusions but gave matters deep thought. This was evident in the way she handled the incident when people of loose tongues and small minds accused ‘Aishah of adultery. When her husband explained to her the teachings of Islam she did not linger with doubts about giving up the religion of her forefathers. She immediately saw the greatness of Islam and accepted it.
She was brought up in an area of Arabia known as Sarat. When she grew up she married a young man from her tribe named ‘Abdullah bin Harith bin Sakhbarah Azdi. She had a son by him, who was named Tufail bin ‘Abdullah. They then moved to Makkah, where he became the partner and companion of Abu Bakr Siddique. However, soon after this, ‘Abdullah bin Harith passed away, and his widow and son were left with no support. Seeing her precarious condition Abu Bakr Siddique married her. Umm Rooman was very happy in her marriage and soon, a son, ‘AbdurRahman, and a daughter, ‘Aishah was born. Before he came into the fold of Islam, Abu Bakr Siddique was married to Qateelah bint Abdul-‘Uzza by whom he already had a daughter Asma’ and a son, ‘Abdullah.
Umm Rooman had accepted Islam in its earliest days. It is written in Tabaqat Ibn Sad that Umm Rooman accepted Islam in the very early days in Makkah. She swore allegiance at the hand of the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] himself and then migrated with the blessed group of immigrants.
When she witness the terrible atrocities committed by the Quraish against the Muslims she would suffer and weep for the innocent victims, but she gained courage when she saw the moral strength and exemplary sacrifice of her husband for the cause of Islam. She drew inspiration from him and found peace in his presence.
The Prophet [sallallahu Alayhi wa sallam] also used to exhort his faithful followers not to waver, but to be patient and hold steadfast to their faith, for they would surely in the Hereafter be rewarded with Paradise.
During this long period, Umm Rooman remained an image of patience, forbearance, courage, and bravery. Most of her time was spent in earnest supplications and prayers to Allah. When she saw her husband’s devoted efforts for the propagation of Islam she expressed her admiration and gave him moral support. She devoted her time to the nurturing of her children in the traditions of Islam. The Prophet [sallallahu Alayhi wa sallam] often used to visit the house of his illustrious follower, Abu Bakr Siddique. He would advise Umm Rooman to keep encouraging and instilling the love of goodness in ‘Aishah. Khadijah passed away three years before the migration of the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] to Madinah. The Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] spent a year as an unmarried person He then married Aisha at the command of Allah as delivered by the Angel Jibril, that on three consecutive nights he saw her in his dreams. The Angel Jibril brought a picture of hers wrapped in a silken cloth and told him that this was an image of his bride. When he removed the cover he saw that it was her image. ‘Aishah was elated to hear that she was chosen to be the Prophet’s [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] wife by Allah himself. Khawlah bint Hakim told him there were two proposals for him, that of ‘Aishah bint Abu Bakr Siddique and Saudah bint Zam’ah. He accepted both, and thus Umm Rooman’ had the honor of becoming his mother-in-law.
When the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] was ordered by Allah to migrate to Madinah he went to the house of his closest friend and Companion, Abu Bakr Siddique. Without any questions or hesitation, he prepared to accompany the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam]. He packed a few things and took all the cash there was in the house. He left his father, wife, and children in the trust and care of Allah and set off for an unknown and unseen destination.
It was a very tough time for Umm Rooman she was separated from her husband; and there was a lack of money for household expenses since he had taken all the available cash with him. But what predominated all other thoughts in her mind were supplications to Allah and for the safe arrival of the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] and her husband in Madinah. On reaching their destination safely, she and her family were told to follow Madinah.
When they reached Al-Madinah they stayed at the house of Abu Bakr Siddique arranged for his family. And it was from this house that ‘Aishah left as a bride to the Prophet’s [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] house. Thus this house became the focal point for the revelations of Allah. Umm Rooman expressed great happiness at the thought that her daughter would be one of those who joined the ranks of the blessed.
The Prophet Married Aisha For The Benefit Of Islam And Humanity
1. The Prophet married Aisha primarily for three reasons:
- To reinforce the friendly relations already existing with Abu Bakr (his closest companion).
- To educate and train Aisha for the purposes of Islam.
- To utilize her capabilities for the sake of Islam.
2. Her Marriage with the prophet was a Wahy (Divine Revelation). She, herself relates from the Prophet. “He said, ‘I saw you in dreams three times. The angel brought you to me and you were clad in white silk. He (the angel) said that it was your consort and he (angel) showed me by opening your face. You are just like that…” Sahih Muslim, Vol.2, p. 285.
3. Aisha (r.a.) was born after her parents had embraced Islam. Therefore, she was free from the defilement of polytheism right from her birth.
4. In her youth, already known for her striking beauty and her formidable memory, she came under the loving care and attention of the Prophet himself. As his wife and close companion, she acquired from him knowledge and insight such as no woman has ever acquired.
Aisha lived on almost fifty years after the passing away of the Prophet. She had been his wife for a decade. Much of this time was spent learning and acquiring knowledge of the two most important sources of God’s guidance, the Qur’an and the Sunnah of His Prophet. Aisha ( r.a.) was one of the three wives (the other two being Hafsa (r.a.) and Umm Salama (r.a.) who memorized the Revelation. Like Hafsa (r.a.), she had her own script of the Qur’an written after the Prophet had died.
So far as the Hadith or sayings of the Prophet is concerned, Aisha ( r.a.) is one of four persons (the others being Abu Hurayra, Abdullah ibn Umar, and Anas ibn Malik) who transmitted more than two thousand sayings. From her, 2210 Hadith have come, out of which 174 Hadith are commonly agreed upon by both Bukhari and Muslim.
Many of her transmissions pertain to some of the most intimate aspects of personal behavior which only someone in Aisha’s position could have learnt. What is most important is that her knowledge of Hadith was passed on in written form by at least three persons including her nephew Urwah who became one of the greatest scholars among the generation after the Companions.
It is the claim of the Scholars of Islam that without her, half of the Ilm-I-Hadith [knowledge, understanding of the Hadith (and Islam)] would have perished.
5. Many of the learned companions of the Prophet and their followers benefited from Aishah’s knowledge.
Abu Musa al-Ash’ari once said: “If we companions of the Messenger of God had any difficulty on a matter, we asked Aisha about it.”
“Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said from Said ibn al-Musayyab that Abu Musa al-Ash’ari came to Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said to her, “The disagreement of the companions in a matter which I hate to bring before you has distressed me.” She said, “What is that? You did not ask your mother about it, so ask me.” He said, “A man penetrates his wife, but becomes listless and does not ejaculate. “She said, “When the circumcised part passes the circumcised part ghusl is obligatory.” Abu Musa added, “I shall never ask anyone about this after you.” Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik, Hadith 2.75.
Arwa Bin Zubair says, “I did not find anyone more proficient [than Aisha (r.a.)] in the knowledge of the Holy Qur’an, the Commandments of Halal (lawful) and Haram (prohibited), Ilmul-Ansab and Arabic poetry. That is why even senior companions of the Prophet used to consult Aisha ( r.a.) in resolving intricate issues”. Ibn Qayyim and Ibn Sa’ad, Jala-ul-Afham, vol. 2, p. 26.
Abu Musa al-Ash’ari says: “Never had we (the companions) had any difficulty for the solution of which we approached Aisha and did not get some useful information from her”.
Sirat-I-Aisha, on the authority of Trimidhi, p. 163.
6. As a teacher she had a clear and persuasive manner of speech and her power of oratory has been described in superlative terms by al-Ahnaf who said: “I have heard speeches of Abu Bakr and Umar, Uthman and Ali and the Khulafa up to this day, but I have not heard speech more persuasive and more beautiful from the mouth of any person than from the mouth of Aisha.”
The Prophet said, “The superiority of ‘Aisha to other ladies is like the superiority of Tharid ( i.e. meat and bread dish) to other meals. Many men reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except Mary, the daughter of Imran and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh.” Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith, Narrated by Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari Hadith 4.643.
Musa Ibn Talha (r.a.) says, “I did not see anyone more eloquent than Aisha (r.a.)”. Mustadrak of Hakim, vol.4, p.11.
7. Men and women came from far and wide to benefit from her knowledge.
Aisha’s great interest in the study of the Qur’an is understandable. She was an eye-witness to a number of revelations and had therefore a clear idea of the circumstances in which they were revealed. It was on her bed alone (and no other consort’s) that the Prophet received Wahy (Divine Revelations) several times. This helped her in interpreting the verses.
8. At the time of the Prophet’s death, the Prophet’s head was on her lap. It was in her quarters that the Prophet was buried.
The life of Aisha (R) is proof that a woman can be far more learned than men and that she can be the teacher of scholars and experts. Her life is also proof that a woman can exert influence over men and women and provide them with inspiration and leadership. Aisha (R) is a continuing inspiration and role model to today’s youth who are diligently searching for an example amongst pop stars, movie actresses, and sports stars. May the memory of her’s life forever in the heart of the Muslim Ummah and may Allah grant her the highest abode in Paradise…Ameen.
Conclusion
It was the aforementioned qualities of Aisha ( r.a.) and the Prophet’s guidance in molding these capabilities for the service of Islam, were the main reasons, why the Prophet Married young Aisha (r.a.), and not the perverted reasons brought forth by misguided orientalists.
Muslims invite all sincere humans to study the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon) in the light of the authentic sources of the Qur’an and the Sunnah (exemplary sayings and deeds of the Prophet) and judge for themselves where the truth lies. Indeed, by recognizing the truth of Islam as the final and complete Guidance sent by our Creator can humanity find lasting peace in this world and a means of salvation from the hellfire in the hereafter.
“I have studied him – the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much-needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”
George Bernard Shaw, The Genuine Islam, vol. 1, no. 81936.
Though the Prophet is not among us in his flesh, his exemplary life has been preserved for all humanity to follow.
When Truth comes Falsehood disappears, Islam came, now Shirk (polytheism) must clear.
Welcome to Islam…