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PROPHET’S WIVES.
Why did Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) marry many wives, and who were they, their names and
brief background on each one of them (may Allah bless them all).
When people hear that the prophet had many wives they conclude without much thought that the
prophet was a sensuous man. However, a quick historical review of his marriages, proves otherwise.
When he was twenty-five years old he married for the first time. His wife, Khadijah, was fifteen
years older than he. She remained the only wife of the prophet for the next twenty-five years, until she
died (may Allah be pleased with her).
Only after her death, did the prophet marry other women. Now, it is obvious that if the prophet
was after physical pleasure he did not have to wait until he was more than fifty years old to start marrying
more wives. He lived in a society in which it was quite acceptable to have many wives. But the prophet
remained devoted to his only wife for twenty-five years. When she died she was sixty-five years old.
His later marriages were for various reasons. Some marriages were with the view to help the
women whose husbands had been killed while they were defending their faith. Others were with a view to
cement relationships with devoted followers like Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him. Yet others were
to build bridges with various tribes who were otherwise at war with the Muslims. When the prophet
became their relative through marriage, their hostilities calmed down, and much bloodshed was averted.
Recent non-Muslim writers who had the opportunity to study the life of the prophet first-hand
reach a similar conclusion about his plural marriages.
John L. Esposito, Professor of Religion and Director of the Centre for International Studies at the
College of the Holy Cross, says that most of these marriages had "political and social motives" (Islam: The
Straight Path, Oxford University Press, 1988, p. 19). This he explained as follows: "As was customary for
Arab chiefs, many were political marriages to cement alliances. Others were marriages to the widows of
his companions who had fallen in combat and were in need of protection" (John L. Esposito, Islam: The
Straight Path, pp. 19-20). Esposito reminds us of the following historical fact: "Though less common,
polygyny was also permitted in biblical and even in postbiblical Judaism. From Abraham, David, and
Solomon down to the reformation period, polygyny was practiced" (p. 19)
Another non-Muslim Caesar E. Farah writes as follows: "In the prime of his youth and adult years
Muhammad remained thoroughly devoted to Khadijah and would have none other for consort. This was an
age that looked upon plural marriages with favor and in a society that in pre-Biblical and post-Biblical days
considered polygamy an essential feature of social existence. David had six wives and numerous
concubines (2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, 14:3) and Solomon was said to have had as many as 700
wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). Solomon's son Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines (2
Chronicles 11:21). The New Testament contains no specific injunction against plural marriages. It was
commonplace for the nobility among the Christians and Jews to contract plural marriages. Luther spoke of
it with toleration" (Caesar E. Farah, Islam: Beliefs and Observances, 4th edition, Barron's, U.S. 1987, p.
69). Caesar Farah then concluded that Muhammad's plural marriages were due "partly to political reasons
and partly to his concern for the wives of his companions who had fallen in battle defending the nascent
Islamic community" (p. 69).
1. KHADIJAH: She was 40 years old when she proposed to marry the Prophet when he was 25
years old. After 15years of their marriage he became a prophet. She had been married twice before she
married Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Her first husband was Aby Haleh Al Tamemy and her second
husband was Oteaq Almakzomy. They had both died leaving Khadijah a widower. Khadijah died in 621
A.D. This was the same year the Prophet ascended into heaven (Meraj).
2. SAWDA BINT ZAM'A: Her first husband was Al Sakran Ibn Omro Ibn Abed Shamz. He died
within a few days after his return from Ethiopia. She was 65 years old, poor, and had no one to care for
her. This was why Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) married her.
3. AISHA SIDDIQA: A woman named Kholeah Bint Hakeem suggested that Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) marry Aishah, the daughter of Aby Bakr, to form a close relationship with Aby Bakr's family. She
was already engaged to Jober Ibn Al Moteam Ibn Oday. At this time Jober was not yet a Muslim. The
people of Makkah did not object to Aishah becoming married because although she was young, she was
mature enough to understand the responsibility of marriage. Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) was engaged to
Aishah for 2 years before he married her. Aby Bakr was the first leader after Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh)
death"
4. HAFSAH BINT U'MAR: She was the daughter of Omar, the second Calipha. Omar asked
Othman to marry Hafsah. Othman refused because his wife had recently died and Othman did not want to
remarry. Omar then went to Aby Bakr but he also refused to marry Hafsah. Aby Bakr knew that the
Prophet had already considered marrying Hafsah. Omar then went to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and
complained that Othman and Aby Bakr did not want to marry his daughter. The Prophet told Omar that his
daughter will marry and Othman will also remarry. Othman married the daughter of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh), Om Kolthoom, and Hafsah married the Prophet. This made Omar and Othman both happy.
5. ZAYNAB BINT KHUZAYMA: Her husband died in the battle of Uhud, leaving her poor and
with several children. She was old when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) married her. She died 3 months after
she married the Prophet 625 A.D.
6. SALAMA BINT UMAYYA: Her husband, Abud Allah Abud Al Assad Ibn Al Mogherah, died
leaving Hend poor and with many children. Hend was at least 65 years old at the time. Aby Bakr and
several others asked her to marry them, but because she loved her husband very much, she refused the
marriage's offers. But finally she accepted Prophet mohammad's offer to marry her and take care of her
children.
7. ZAYNAB BINT JAHSH: She was the daughter of Prophet Muhammad's aunt, Omameh Bint
Abud Almutaleb. The Prophet arranged for Zaynab to marry Zayed Ibn Hareathah Al Kalby. This marriage
did not last and the Prophet received a verse in the Quran which stated that if they became divorced, then
the Prophet must marry Zaynab (Sura 33:37)
8. JUWAYRIYA BINT AL-HARITH: Her first husband's name was Masafeah Ibn Safuan.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) wanted Juayreah's tribe (Beni Al Mostalag) to convert to Islam. Juayreah
became a prisoner after the Muslims won the Battle of Al Mostalaq. Juayreah's father came to the Prophet
and offered a payment for her return. The Prophet asked her father to give her a choice. When she was
given a choice she said she accepted Islam and Prophet Muhammad as the last God's Messenger. The
Prophet then married her. Her tribe of Beni Almostalag accepted Islam.
9. SAFIYYA BINT HUYAYY: She was from the tribe of Beni Nadir, who were from the children
of Levi (Israel). She was married twice before, then she married Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Her first
husband Salam Ibn Moshkem, and her second husband was Kenanah Ibn Al Rabeeah.
10. UMMU HABIBA BINT SUFYAN: Her first husband was Aubed Allah Jahish. He was the
son of the aunt of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Aubed Allah died in Ethiopia. The king of Ethiopia arranged
the marriage of Ramelah to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
11. MAYAMUNA BINT AL-HARITH: She was 26years old when she married Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh). Her first husband was Abu Rahma Ibn Abed Alzey. When the Prophet opened Makkah
in 630 AD , she came to the Prophet, accepted Islam and proposed to marry him. Her actions encouraged
Many Makkahans to accept Islam and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
12. MARIA AL-QABTIYYA: She was sent to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as a hand maid
servent from the king of Egypt. Maria had a son from the Prophet. His name was Ibrahim.