Village Journals
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
The Prophet's Wives
Surah Ahzab was revealed during the Battle of Khandaq, i.e. the Battle of the ditch. During this period, the Muslims faced intense hostilities. The hypocrites had come forth in droves and the Muslim women were not spared the slander of these men. The Quran directs the Muslim women to take certain precautions, among them taking their jilbab and covering a portion of their face so the hypocrites would have no excuses to harass them. Even the Prophet and his family were not spared assault by these hypocrites.
God Almighty speaks in very emphatic terms about the hypocrites behaviour in this particular surah, and it directs the Muslims to take certain precautions with regards to them. It is no coincidence that in this very surah, God Almighty refers to the divorce of Zainab, and the Prophet'c being commanded to marry her despite what the people may say. It is further elaborated in the Quran the specific purpose of the marriage.
The introductory portion of the surah starts off with:
1. O Prophet! Fear Allah, and hearken not to the Unbelievers and the Hypocrites: verily Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.
The Quran already gives the background behind the revelation of this surah. Later on God Almighty says:
6. The Prophet is closer to the Believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers. Blood-relations among each other have closer personal ties, in the Decree of Allah. Than (the Brotherhood of) Believers and Muhajirs: nevertheless do ye what is just to your closest friends: such is the writing in the Decree (of Allah.
It becomes very clear the honour of the Prophet and Gods direction to the believers with respect to him. The believers do not hold anything dearer to the Prophet and they are commanded by God Almighty to have this love for Him let no sly talk of the hypocrites penetrate their soul. God immediately after referring to the closeness of affiliation to the believers mentions the affiliation the believers have to his (S) wives. This verse is directly in the context of emotional and filial love. Love for the wives of the Prophet is part of faith and to slander them is the quality of hypocrites and is in direct violation of the Quran.
The Quran also speaks about the conduct of the wives of the Prophet (S). God Almighty says:
28. O Prophet! Say to thy Consorts: "If it be that ye desire the life of this World, and its glitter,- then come! I will provide for your enjoyment and set you free in a handsome manner.
29. But if ye seek Allah and His Messenger, and the Home of the Hereafter, verily Allah has prepared for the well-doers amongst you a great reward.
30. O Consorts of the Prophet! If any of you were guilty of evident unseemly conduct, the Punishment would be doubled to her, and that is easy for Allah.
31. But any of you that is devout in the service of Allah and His Messenger, and works righteousness,- to her shall We grant her reward twice: and We have prepared for her a generous Sustenance.
So it becomes very clear that the Prophet's wives have a greater responsibility than normal women. "If any of you were guilty of unseemly conduct, the Punishment would be doubled for her, and that is easy for Allah." God starts off the discussion to the Prophet's wives, giving them an option to bear this responsibility or not, and as is obvious they all agreed to it. History testifies to the state of life they lived. Not only that, the Almighty had specifically promised them that of they chose to leave and not bear the burden of sacrifices that the Prophet (S) would make, they could leave with a GENEROUS gift.
So we know for a fact that the Prophet's wives have a greater responsibility than other women, and their position is a lot higher. God further says:
32. O Consorts of the Prophet! Ye are not like any of the (other) women: if ye do fear ((Allah)), be not too complacent of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech (that is) just.
33. And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display, like that of the former Times of Ignorance; and establish regular Prayer, and give regular Charity; and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless.
34. And recite what is rehearsed to you in your homes, of the Signs of Allah and His Wisdom: for Allah understands the finest mysteries and is well-acquainted (with them).
It became the responsibility of the wives of the Prophet to help in the deliverance of his message. The wives of the Prophet (S) are the assistors of Muhammad (S) in his prophethood. Notice how God Almighty begins the story about the wives being the Mother of the faithful and the notion of motherhood in the education of a child. Further, the Quran also tells them that they should confine themselves to their homes primarily, and concentrate on the task of learning and teaching the religion of God. Thus, one can only hold in reverence the amount of sacrifice that was required of them. It is akin to sacrifice a mother makes for her child, yet this motherhood was responsible for an ummah.
God then begins to discuss the role of the Prophet (S) and His being sent to purify society from all false and baseless customs, including the marrying of the former wives of adopted sons. So we further know that the Prophet (S) has been given extra lenience in regards to marrying more women and these marriages are in light of his prophetic mission. Thus, the marriages of the Prophet (S) are part of the societal revolution of the Prophet (S). If one studies the seerah, and the context of the marriages, it becomes quite evident that the Prophet (S) was the initiator of these sacrifices giving his own life as an example. Further, this is why all of the wives of the Prophet (S) understood the nature of their responsibility before they even entered into marriage with him (S).
One must take note that surah Ahzab specifically talks about the actions of the hypocrites and notice the Quran and its eloquent defense of the Prophet (S) and His
Wives. The Quran then speaks about the greatness of the Prophet (S) and commands the believers to hold him with deepest repsect and to send God's blessings on him. And then there comes the final command to the Prophet (S) regarding his wives:
52. It is not lawful for thee (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 (as handmaidens): and Allah doth watch over all things.
Because the wives of the Prophet (S) are given further responsibility and the Prophet (S) is the Final Prophet (S), his wives play a very significant role in his mission. No longer can he divorce them and the option that was given to the wives of the Prophet (S) in the beginning has obviously ended. This also points to the fact that the Prophet (S) cannot take new wives on the ground of personal preference. This is implied in the words "even if their beauty attracts thee".
Then God Almighty makes a specific command regarding the believers ending the verses in regards to Our Mothers.
"And when ye ask (his ladies) for anything ye want, ask them from before a screen: that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs. Nor is it right for you that ye should annoy Allahs Messenger, or that ye should marry his widows after him at any time. Truly such a thing is in Allah's sight an enormity."
The obligation to the wives of the Prophet (S) does not END with his death and God Almighty has commanded us nothing but reverence. In fact, the bond has become so sacred that one cannot even harbor the notion that one can marry them after the death of the Prophet (S). They are our mothers, all of them, and hatred of them is nothing but open defiance of the Quran. This verse also shows whom the 'purdah' applies to and why, and it should basically end all disputes about why this injunction was confined to the Prophet's (S) wives.
After understanding this surah, it should surprise no one that the Prophet's (S) wives became the leading scholars of this ummah, Aishah (R) in particular. In fact, the latter was considered among the best of the Companions (S) in terms of religious understanding.
God Almighty speaks in very emphatic terms about the hypocrites behaviour in this particular surah, and it directs the Muslims to take certain precautions with regards to them. It is no coincidence that in this very surah, God Almighty refers to the divorce of Zainab, and the Prophet'c being commanded to marry her despite what the people may say. It is further elaborated in the Quran the specific purpose of the marriage.
The introductory portion of the surah starts off with:
1. O Prophet! Fear Allah, and hearken not to the Unbelievers and the Hypocrites: verily Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.
The Quran already gives the background behind the revelation of this surah. Later on God Almighty says:
6. The Prophet is closer to the Believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers. Blood-relations among each other have closer personal ties, in the Decree of Allah. Than (the Brotherhood of) Believers and Muhajirs: nevertheless do ye what is just to your closest friends: such is the writing in the Decree (of Allah.
It becomes very clear the honour of the Prophet and Gods direction to the believers with respect to him. The believers do not hold anything dearer to the Prophet and they are commanded by God Almighty to have this love for Him let no sly talk of the hypocrites penetrate their soul. God immediately after referring to the closeness of affiliation to the believers mentions the affiliation the believers have to his (S) wives. This verse is directly in the context of emotional and filial love. Love for the wives of the Prophet is part of faith and to slander them is the quality of hypocrites and is in direct violation of the Quran.
The Quran also speaks about the conduct of the wives of the Prophet (S). God Almighty says:
28. O Prophet! Say to thy Consorts: "If it be that ye desire the life of this World, and its glitter,- then come! I will provide for your enjoyment and set you free in a handsome manner.
29. But if ye seek Allah and His Messenger, and the Home of the Hereafter, verily Allah has prepared for the well-doers amongst you a great reward.
30. O Consorts of the Prophet! If any of you were guilty of evident unseemly conduct, the Punishment would be doubled to her, and that is easy for Allah.
31. But any of you that is devout in the service of Allah and His Messenger, and works righteousness,- to her shall We grant her reward twice: and We have prepared for her a generous Sustenance.
So it becomes very clear that the Prophet's wives have a greater responsibility than normal women. "If any of you were guilty of unseemly conduct, the Punishment would be doubled for her, and that is easy for Allah." God starts off the discussion to the Prophet's wives, giving them an option to bear this responsibility or not, and as is obvious they all agreed to it. History testifies to the state of life they lived. Not only that, the Almighty had specifically promised them that of they chose to leave and not bear the burden of sacrifices that the Prophet (S) would make, they could leave with a GENEROUS gift.
So we know for a fact that the Prophet's wives have a greater responsibility than other women, and their position is a lot higher. God further says:
32. O Consorts of the Prophet! Ye are not like any of the (other) women: if ye do fear ((Allah)), be not too complacent of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech (that is) just.
33. And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display, like that of the former Times of Ignorance; and establish regular Prayer, and give regular Charity; and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless.
34. And recite what is rehearsed to you in your homes, of the Signs of Allah and His Wisdom: for Allah understands the finest mysteries and is well-acquainted (with them).
It became the responsibility of the wives of the Prophet to help in the deliverance of his message. The wives of the Prophet (S) are the assistors of Muhammad (S) in his prophethood. Notice how God Almighty begins the story about the wives being the Mother of the faithful and the notion of motherhood in the education of a child. Further, the Quran also tells them that they should confine themselves to their homes primarily, and concentrate on the task of learning and teaching the religion of God. Thus, one can only hold in reverence the amount of sacrifice that was required of them. It is akin to sacrifice a mother makes for her child, yet this motherhood was responsible for an ummah.
God then begins to discuss the role of the Prophet (S) and His being sent to purify society from all false and baseless customs, including the marrying of the former wives of adopted sons. So we further know that the Prophet (S) has been given extra lenience in regards to marrying more women and these marriages are in light of his prophetic mission. Thus, the marriages of the Prophet (S) are part of the societal revolution of the Prophet (S). If one studies the seerah, and the context of the marriages, it becomes quite evident that the Prophet (S) was the initiator of these sacrifices giving his own life as an example. Further, this is why all of the wives of the Prophet (S) understood the nature of their responsibility before they even entered into marriage with him (S).
One must take note that surah Ahzab specifically talks about the actions of the hypocrites and notice the Quran and its eloquent defense of the Prophet (S) and His
Wives. The Quran then speaks about the greatness of the Prophet (S) and commands the believers to hold him with deepest repsect and to send God's blessings on him. And then there comes the final command to the Prophet (S) regarding his wives:
52. It is not lawful for thee (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 (as handmaidens): and Allah doth watch over all things.
Because the wives of the Prophet (S) are given further responsibility and the Prophet (S) is the Final Prophet (S), his wives play a very significant role in his mission. No longer can he divorce them and the option that was given to the wives of the Prophet (S) in the beginning has obviously ended. This also points to the fact that the Prophet (S) cannot take new wives on the ground of personal preference. This is implied in the words "even if their beauty attracts thee".
Then God Almighty makes a specific command regarding the believers ending the verses in regards to Our Mothers.
"And when ye ask (his ladies) for anything ye want, ask them from before a screen: that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs. Nor is it right for you that ye should annoy Allahs Messenger, or that ye should marry his widows after him at any time. Truly such a thing is in Allah's sight an enormity."
The obligation to the wives of the Prophet (S) does not END with his death and God Almighty has commanded us nothing but reverence. In fact, the bond has become so sacred that one cannot even harbor the notion that one can marry them after the death of the Prophet (S). They are our mothers, all of them, and hatred of them is nothing but open defiance of the Quran. This verse also shows whom the 'purdah' applies to and why, and it should basically end all disputes about why this injunction was confined to the Prophet's (S) wives.
After understanding this surah, it should surprise no one that the Prophet's (S) wives became the leading scholars of this ummah, Aishah (R) in particular. In fact, the latter was considered among the best of the Companions (S) in terms of religious understanding.
Comments on this journal
"It is not lawful for thee (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 (as handmaidens): and Allah doth watch over all things."
This makes it explicit that the wives of the Prophet (S) cannot be divorced by the Prophet (S) by personal reasons, which is indicated by the statement "Even though their beauty attract thee."
Thus, it is abundantly clear that these WIVES are not like NORMAL wives, and that ONLY ALLAH could replace these wives, WHICH NEVER HAPPENED.
You forgot to quote the preceeding verse also:
"If ye two turn in repentance to Him, your hearts are indeed so inclined; But if ye back up each other against him, truly Allah is his Protector, and Gabriel, and (every) righteous one among those who believe,- and furthermore, the angels - will back (him) up."
Thus, the MARRIAGES WERE PART OF THE DIVINE MISSION.
gee, what does that mean?