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According to Anas ibn Malik, the Prophet [[Muhammad]] used to visit all eleven of his wives in one night; but he could manage this, as he had the [[Sex|sexual]] prowess of thirty men.<ref>{{Bukhari|1|5|268}}. See also {{Bukhari|7|62|142}}.</ref> The historian Al-[[Tabari]] calculated that Muhammad [[Marriage|married]] a total of fifteen [[Islam and Women|women]], though only ever eleven at one time; and two of these marriages were never consummated.<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 126-127}}.</ref> This tally of fifteen does not include at least four concubines. According to Merriam-Webster, a concubine is “a woman with whom a man cohabits without being married”,  and has a “social status in a household below that of a wife.”<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concubine|2=2011-09-28}} Concubine] – Merriam-Webster, accessed September 28, 2011</ref> All of Muhammad’s concubines were his [[Slavery|slaves]]. Al-Tabari also excludes from the fifteen several other women with whom Muhammad had some kind of marriage contract but who, due to legal technicalities, never became full wives. It is fairly certain, however, that none of these legally-stifled unions was ever consummated. They were the cultural equivalent of a broken engagement. Finally, there were several other women whom Muhammad wished to marry, or whom he was invited to marry, but for various reasons he did not.


According to Anas ibn Malik, the Prophet [[Muhammad]] used to visit all eleven of his [[Muhammad's Wives|wives]] in one night; but he could manage this, as he had the [[Sex|sexual]] prowess of thirty men.<ref>{{Bukhari|1|5|268}}. See also {{Bukhari|7|62|142}}.</ref> The historian Al-[[Tabari]] calculated that Muhammad [[Marriage|married]] a total of fifteen [[Islam and Women|women]], though only ever eleven at one time; and two of these marriages were never consummated.<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 126-127}}.</ref> This tally of fifteen does not include at least four concubines. According to Merriam-Webster, a concubine is “a woman with whom a man cohabits without being married”,  and has a “social status in a household below that of a wife.”<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concubine|2=2011-09-28}} Concubine] – Merriam-Webster, accessed September 28, 2011</ref> All of Muhammad’s concubines were his [[Slavery|slaves]]. Al-Tabari also excludes from the fifteen several other women with whom Muhammad had some kind of marriage contract but who, due to legal technicalities, never became full wives. It is fairly certain, however, that none of these legally-stifled unions was ever consummated. They were the cultural equivalent of a broken engagement. Finally, there were several other women whom Muhammad wished to marry, or whom he was invited to marry, but for various reasons he did not.
==List of Wives and Concubines of the Prophet==
The following lists of women in Muhammad’s life are based on the Islamic sources. Because there were so many women, some of whom had only a very brief association with him, it is possible that this number still falls short of the real total.


It is often suggested that [[Muhammad]]’s [[Muhammad's Wives|wives]] were, for the most part, poor widows whom he [[marriage|married]] to save from a life of destitution. This article investigates the plausibility of such a perspective.
===Wives of the Prophet===
 
The despite the injunction of the Qur'an to only take 4 women as wives, according to the [[sira]] literature Muhammad took far more wives than this number. This table lists the women
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
! width="10" |No.
! width="280" |Name
! width="65" |Status
! width="65" |Date
! width="330" |Details
! width="130" |Notable Early Sources
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |1
|[[Khadijah bint Khuwaylid]]
|Married
|July 595.
|She was a wealthy merchant from Mecca who employed the 24-year-old Muhammad and then proposed marriage. She was the mother of six of his children and a key character in the earliest development of Islam. She was Muhammad's only wife as long as she lived. She died in April 620.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 82-83, 106-107, 111, 113-114, 160-161, 191, 313-314.</ref>
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 127-128}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 3-4}}</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:9-12, 39, 151-152.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |2
|Sawda bint Zam'a
|Married, though with limited rights.
|May 620.
|She was a tanner who had been an early convert to Islam. Muhammad married her at a time when he was unpopular and bankrupt. He considered divorcing her when, as the oldest and plainest of his wives (described as "fat and very slow"), she no longer attracted him, but she persuaded him to keep her in the house in exchange for never sleeping with her again (she gave up her turn to Aisha).
|
*Bukhari<ref>{{Bukhari|2|26|740}}.</ref>
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 148, 309, 530.</ref>
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 128-130}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 169-170}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:39-42, 152.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |3
|Aisha bint Abi Bakr
|Married
|Contracted May 620 but first consummated in April or May 623.
|She was the daughter of Muhammad's best friend and head evangelist Abu Bakr. Muhammad selected the six-year-old Aisha in preference to her teenaged sister, and she remained his favourite wife. She contributed a major body of information to Islamic law and history. The paedophilic aspect of this relationship has institutionalised such marriages within Islam.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 116, 223, 279-280, 311, 457, 464-465, 468, 493-499, 522, 535-536, 544, 649-650, 667, 678-688.</ref>
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 128-131}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 171-174}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:43-56, 152.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |4
|Hafsa bint Umar
|Married
|January or February 625.
|She was the daughter of Muhammad's wealthy friend Umar. Hafsa was the custodian of the autograph-text of the Qur'an, which was [[Textual History of the Qur'an|somewhat different]] from the standard Qur'an of today.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 218, 301, 679.</ref>
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 131-132}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 174-175}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:56-60, 152.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |5
|Zaynab bint Khuzayma
|Married
|February or March 625.
|She was a middle-class widow known as "Mother of the Poor" because of her commitment to charity work. She died in October 625.
|
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 138}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 63-64}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:82, 152.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |6
|Hind (Umm Salama) bint Abi Umayya
|Married
|April 626.
|An attractive widow with four young children, Hind had been rejected by her aristocratic family in Mecca because they were so hostile to Islam. Her tact and practical wisdom sometimes mitigated Muhammad's cruelties. She was a notable teacher of Islamic law and a partisan of Ali.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 146, 147, 150-153, 167-169, 213-214, 462, 529, 536, 546, 589, 680.</ref>
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 132}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 175-177}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:61-67, 152.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |7
|Zaynab bint Jahsh
|Married
|March 627.
|An early convert to Islam, Zaynab was the wife of Muhammad's adopted son Zayd ibn Harithah. She was also the Prophet's biological cousin. When Muhammad became infatuated with Zaynab, Zayd was pressured into a divorce. To justify marrying her, Muhammad announced new revelations that (1) an adopted son did not count as a real son, so Zaynab was not his daughter-in-law, and (2) as a prophet, he was allowed more than the standard four wives. Zaynab excelled at leather-crafts.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 215, 495.</ref>
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 134}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 180-182}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:72-81, 152.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |8
|Juwayriyah bint Al-Harith
|Married
|January 628.
|The daughter of an Arab chief, she was taken prisoner when Muhammad attacked her tribe. Muhammad did not make a habit of marrying his war-captives, but Aisha claimed that Juwayriyah was so beautiful that men always fell in love with her at first sight.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 490-493.</ref>
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 133}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 182-184}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:83-85, 152.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |9
|Ramlah (Umm Habiba) bint Abi Sufyan
|Married
|July 628 (following a proxy wedding earlier in the year)
|She was a daughter of Abu Sufyan, the Meccan chief who led the resistance against Muhammad, but she had been a teenaged convert to Islam. This marriage offset some of Muhammad's political humiliation in the Treaty of Hudaybiya by demonstrating that he could command the loyalty of his adversary's own daughter. Ramlah was devoted to Muhammad and quick to pick quarrels with people who were not.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 146, 527-528, 529, 543.</ref>
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 133-134}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 177-180}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:68-71, 153.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |10
|[[Safiyah|Safiyah bint Huyayy]]
|Married
|July 628.
|She was the beautiful daughter of a Jewish chief, Huyayy ibn Akhtab. Muhammad married her on the day he defeated the last Jewish tribe in Arabia, only hours after he had supervised the slaying of Kinana her second husband. His earlier victims had included her father, brother, first husband, three uncles and several cousins. This marriage was of no benefit to Safiyah's defeated tribe, who were banished from Arabia a few years later; though some consider that it was politically significant in that Safiyah's presence in Muhammad's household was an open demonstration that he had defeated the Jews.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 241-242, 511, 514-515, 516-517, 520.</ref>
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 134-135}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 184-185}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:85-92, 153.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |11
|Maymunah bint Al-Harith
|Married
|February 629.
|She was a middle-class widow from Mecca who proposed marriage to Muhammad. A placid woman who kept a very tidy house, Maymunah was one known to be obsessed with rules and rituals.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 531, 679-680.</ref>
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 135}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 185-186}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:94-99, 153.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |12
|Mulayka bint Kaab
|Divorced
|January 630.
|Her family resisted the Muslim invasion of Mecca. Needing to appease the conqueror, they gave him the beautiful Mulayka as a bride. When she realised that Muhammad's army had killed her father, she demanded a divorce, which he granted her. She died a few weeks later.
|
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 165}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:106, 154.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |13
|Fatima ''al-Aliya'' bint Zabyan ''al-Dahhak''
|Divorced
|February or March 630.
|She was the daughter of a minor chief who had converted to Islam. Muhammad divorced her after only a few weeks "because she peeked at men in the mosque courtyard." Fatima had to work for the rest of her life as a dung-collector, and she outlived all Muhammad's widows.
|
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 138}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 186-188}}. Despite the confusion over the name, she is probably also the woman referred to in {{Tabari|9|pp. 136-137}} and the “Fatima bint Shurayh” of {{Tabari|9|p. 139}}</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:100-101, 153.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |14
|Asma bint Al-Numan
|Divorced
|June or July 630.
|She was a princess from Yemen whose family hoped the marriage alliance would ward off a military invasion from Medina. But Muhammad divorced her before consummation after Aisha tricked her into reciting the divorce formula. Asma later married a brother of Umm Salama.
|
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918 (here he has apparently confused her with Amra bint Yazid).</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|39|pp. 188-191}}. She is mentioned in {{Tabari|9|pp. 128-130}} but has apparently been partly confused with Amra bint Yazid.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:101-105, 153.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |15
|Amra bint Yazid
|Divorced
|c. 631.
|She was a Bedouin of no political importance. Muhammad divorced her before consummation when he saw she had symptoms of leprosy.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Ibn Ishaq, cited in Guillaume, A. (1960). ''New Light on the Life of Muhammad'', p. 55. Manchester: Manchester University Press</ref>
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918 (here he has apparently confused her with Asma bint Al-Numan).</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 139}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 187-188}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:100-101.</ref>
|}<BR>
 
===Concubines of the Prophet===
 
This category of consorts of the prophet forms a separate category, since these women were not actually given over in marriage with an 'aqd-nikaah and a [[Mahr (Marital Price)|mahr]] to the prophet, but were rather his personal property, "what the right hand possesses." That is to say, explicitly, that these were his sex slaves, also known as "[[Women_in_Islamic_Law#Concubinage|concubines]]", were obliged to have sex with him. As such Muhammad availed himself of them sexually although they were not actually granted the status of his wives in Islamic law. Never-the-less, they are also considered "mother of the believers", and the prophet's conduct towards them constitutes a fundamental building block of Islamic law vis-à-vis [[Rape_in_Islamic_Law#Qur.27an_4:24_-_rape_of_slaves_and_captives_who_were_previously_married|sexual slavery]].
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
! width="10" |No.
! width="280" |Name
! width="65" |Status
! width="65" |Date
! width="330" |Details
! width="130" |Notable Early Sources
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |1
|Rayhana bint Zayd ibn Amr
|Sexual slavery
|May 627.
|Her first husband was one of the 600-900 Qurayza men whom Muhammad beheaded in April 627. He enslaved all the women and selected Rayhana for himself because she was the most beautiful. When she refused to marry him, he kept her as a concubine instead. She died shortly before Muhammad in 632.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 466.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 137, 141}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 164-165}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:92-94, 153.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |2
|[[Mariya Al-Qibtiya|Mariyah bint Shamoon al-Qibtiya]]
|Sexual slavery
|c. June 629.
|She was one of several slaves whom the Governor of Egypt sent as a present to Muhammad. He kept her as a concubine despite the objections of his official wives, who feared her beauty. Mariyah bore Muhammad a son, Ibrahim.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 653.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 137, 141}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 193-195}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:148-151.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |3
|''Al-Jariya''
|Sexual slavery
|After 627.
|She was a domestic slave belonging to Zaynab bint Jahsh, who made Muhammad a present of her. She seems to have been an "unofficial" concubine who did not have a regular turn on his roster.
|
*Ibn al-Qayyim<ref>Ibn al-Qayyim, ''Za’d al-Ma’ad'' 1:114.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |4
|Tukana al-Quraziya
|Sexual slavery
|Unknown, but probably in the last months of Muhammad's life.
|She was a member of the defeated Qurayza tribe whom Muhammad selected as one of his personal slaves. She appears to have been another "unofficial" concubine without a regular turn on the roster. After Muhammad's death, she married Abbas.
|
*Majlisi<ref>[http://www.al-islam.org/hayat-al-qulub-vol2-allamah-muhammad-baqir-al-majlisi/54.htm/ Majlisi, ''Hayat al-Qulub'' 2:52].</ref>
*Ibn al-Qayyim.<ref>Ibn al-Qayyim, ''Zaad al-Ma’ad'' 1:114.</ref>
 
|}<BR>
 
===Engagements and Broken Contracts===
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
! width="10" |No.
! width="280" |Name
! width="130" |Date
! width="330" |Details
! width="130" |Notable early sources
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |1
|Ghaziya (Umm Sharik) bint Jabir
|Early 627.
|She was a poor widow with dependent children. She sent Muhammad a proposal of marriage, and he agreed to the contract. However, when he met her in person, he saw that, although attractive, she was "old", and he divorced her immediately. She never remarried.
|
*Ibn Hisham<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 139}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:111-114.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |2
|Khawla bint Hudhayl
|Probably mid- or late-627.
|She was a princess from the powerful Christian Taghlib tribe in northern Arabia. Her uncle arranged the marriage, which was expected to be politically advantageous on both sides. Muhammad signed the contract, but Khawla died on her journey to Medina, before they met in person.
|
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 139}}; {{Tabari|39|p. 166}}</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:116.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |3
|Sharaf bint Khalifa
|Probably mid- or late-627.
|She was an aunt of Khawla bint Hudhayl (above). After Khawla's death, the family tried to substitute Sharaf. In one tradition, Sharaf also died before consummation. In another tradition, Muhammad changed his mind and broke off the contract.
|
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 138}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:116-117.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |4
|Layla bint al-Khutaym
|After 627.
|One of the first converts in Medina, Layla asked Muhammad to marry her so that her clan, the Zafar, would be the most closely allied to the Prophet. He agreed. However, Layla's family warned her that she was too "jealous and whip-tongued" to adapt well to polygamy, which would cause political problems for the whole community. Under this pressure, Layla broke off the engagement.
|
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 139}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:7, 108-109, 231.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |5
|Umm Habib bint Al-Abbas
|After March 630.
|She was Muhammad's cousin. He saw her as a baby crawling around and remarked, "If I am alive when she grows up, I will marry her." He changed his mind when he found out that her father had been his foster-brother and died soon afterwards.
|
*Ibn Ishaq.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 311.</ref>
*Al-Tabari.<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 140}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:36.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |6
|Sana ''al-Nashat'' bint Rifaa (Asma) ibn As-Salt
|c. April 630.
|She was the daughter of a Muslim warrior who hoped to advance his career by becoming Muhammad's father-in-law. Muhammad signed the contract, but Sana died before the marriage could be consummated.
|
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 135-136}}; {{Tabari|39|p. 166}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:106-107.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |7
|Umra bint Rifaa
|c. May 630.
|She was the sister of Sana (above). After Sana died, their father tried to interest Muhammad in Umra. At first he agreed, but he later changed his mind, ostensibly because Rifaa boasted that Umra "has never known a day's illness in her life."
|
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:107.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |8
|Bint Jundub ibn Damra of Janda’a
|Unknown.
|Nothing is known about this woman except that Muhammad contracted marriage with her but divorced her before consummation.
|
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:106.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |9
|Jamra bint Al-Harith
|c. 631
|She proposed marriage to Muhammad, and he accepted. Her father informed him that she suffered from a serious disease, whereupon Muhammad broke off the engagement. According to the Muslim chroniclers, her father arrived home only to find that she really had been afflicted with leprosy.
|
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 140-141}}</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |10
|Al-Shanba’ bint Amr
|January 632.
|She was from a Bedouin tribe who appeared friendly to Muhammad but who had also been friends of the [[Qurayza]] tribe. Al-Shanba’ insulted Muhammad on the first day by implying that he was not a true prophet, and he divorced her immediately.
|
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 136}}.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |11
|Qutayla (Habla) bint Qays
|May 632.
|She was a cousin of Asma bint Al-Numan, and the Yemenites sent her to Muhammad as a substitute bride. He signed the marriage contract but he died before Qutayla arrived in Medina. As soon as she heard that he was dead, she apostated from Islam. Soon afterwards she married an Arab chief who was a leader in the Apostasy Wars.
|
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 138-139}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:105.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |12
|Mary, mother of Jesus
|The Afterlife.
|According to some sources of varying authenticity, Muhammad said that Allah had wedded him in Heaven to the Virgin Mary. Authentic sources quote Muhammad describing her as one of 'the four perfect women'.<ref>{{Quran-range|3|33|51}}; {{Quran-range|19|16|40}}; {{Quran|21|91}}; {{Quran|66|12}}.</ref><ref>[http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=55&translator=1&start=91&number=633/ Sahih Bukhari 4:55:642]. {{Bukhari|5|58|163}}.</ref><ref>{{Muslim|31|5965}}.</ref> The Qur'an refers several times to Mary, praising her chastity and affirming the virgin birth of Jesus. The scriptures describing their marraige state that she lived in a beautiful jewelled palace in Paradise next to Khadijah's.
|
*Ibn Kathir<ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=al-Bidaya wal-Nihayah|author=Ibn Kathir|trans_title=From the Beginning to the End|url=https://app.turath.io/book/4445|publisher=Maktabah al-Shamilah|volume=2|pages=431}}</ref>
*Majlisi<ref>[http://www.al-islam.org/hayat-al-qulub-vol2-allamah-muhammad-baqir-al-majlisi/ Majlisi, ''Hayat al-Qulub'' 2:26].</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |13
|Queen Asiya of Egypt
|The Afterlife.
|According to some sources of varying authenticity, Muhammad said that Allah had wedded him in Heaven to the Queen Asiya. Authentic sources quote Muhammad describing her as one of 'the four perfect women'.<ref>{{Quran-range|28|4|13}}; {{Quran|66|11}}.</ref><ref>{{Muslim|31|5966}}.</ref> The Qur'an tells how Asiya rescued the infant Moses from the evil Pharaoh, and how Pharaoh later tortured his wife to death for her monotheism. The scriptures describing their marraige state that Asiya's palace in Heaven was on the other side of Khadijah's.
|
*Ibn Kathir<ref name=":0" /><ref>[http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1298&Itemid=122/ Ibn Kathir, ''Tafsir''] on {{Quran|66|11}}.</ref>
*Majlisi<ref>[http://www.al-islam.org/hayat-al-qulub-vol2-allamah-muhammad-baqir-al-majlisi/ Majlisi, ''Hayat al-Qulub'' 2:26].</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |14
|Kulthum bint Amram
|The Afterlife.
|Muhammad originally believed that Maryam the sister of Moses and Maryam the mother of Jesus were one and the same. When he realized his mistake, he (perhaps over-)corrected himself by stating that Moses' sister was not named Maryam. He renamed her Kulthum ("Chubby Cheeks") and, according to some sources of varying authenticity, said that Allah had wedded him to her in heaven. However, he did not say that she was a perfect woman or that she lived next to Khadijah.<ref>{{Quran-range|19|27|28}}.</ref><ref>{{Muslim|25|5326}}.</ref>
|
*Ibn Kathir<ref name=":0" />
*Majlisi<ref>[http://www.al-islam.org/hayat-al-qulub-vol2-allamah-muhammad-baqir-al-majlisi/ Majlisi, ''Hayat al-Qulub'' 2:26].</ref>
|}<BR>
 
===Refused Proposals===
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
! width="10" |No.
! width="280" |Name
! width="130" |Date
! width="330" |Details
! width="130" |Notable early sources
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |1
|Fakhita (Umm Hani) bint Abi Talib
|before 595;
January 630;
 
c. 631
|Muhammad proposed to his cousin Fakhita, but her father married her off to a wealthy Makhzumite poet.
 
Nearly forty years later, after Muhammad conquered Mecca, Fakhita's husband fled rather than convert to Islam, causing an automatic divorce. Muhammad proposed to Fakhita again, but she refused, saying she could not be equally fair to a new husband and her young children.
 
Later still, Fakhita came to Muhammad, saying her children had grown up and she was finally ready to marry him; but he said she was too late.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 181, 184, 404-405, 551-552, 557, 689.</ref>
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 140}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 196-197}}</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:109-110.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |2
|“As Many Wives as You Want”
|c.618-619.
|The chiefs of Mecca offered Muhammad "as many wives as you want in marriage," together with wealth, political power and the services of a competent exorcist, if only he would stop insulting their gods (by preaching monotheism). Muhammad refused this offer, which was made while Khadijah was still alive.
|
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|6|pp. 106-107}}.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |3
|Habiba bint Sahl
|c. 623.
|Habiba was a prominent member of the Najjar clan in Medina. When the chief died with no obvious heir, Muhammad proposed to Habiba. His companions warned him that the women of Medina were not used to polygamy and that the men were very jealous for the happiness of their daughters; if this marriage turned out badly, key citizens might withdraw their support from Islam. Muhammad retracted his proposal, but the Najjar clan made him their chief anyway.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 235.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:288-289.</ref>
*Abu Dawud<ref>{{Abudawud|12|2219}}; {{Abudawud|12|2220}}; {{Abudawud|12|2221}}.</ref>
*Muwatta<ref>{{Muwatta|20|10|31}}.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |4
|''Al-Ansariya''
|After 625.
|This unnamed woman proposed to Muhammad in Hafsa's presence. Hafsa decried the shame of a woman who would throw herself at a man, but Muhammad retorted, "She is better than you because she wanted me while you only find fault." He refused the proposal, but promised the woman a reward in Paradise for asking.
 
In fact several ''ansar'' women are said to have proposed to Muhammad; while this example is anonymous, it clearly refers to a woman who is distinct from Layla bint Khutaym.
|
*Majlisi<ref>[http://www.al-islam.org/hayat-al-qulub-vol2-allamah-muhammad-baqir-al-majlisi/54.htm/ Majlisi, ''Hayat al-Qulub'' 2:52].</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |5
|Khawla bint Hakim
|After 627.
|This is the same Khawla bint Hakim who arranged Muhammad's marriages to Aisha and Sawda. Her first husband was Hafsa's uncle, and their elder son fought at Badr. After being widowed, Khawla asked Muhammad to marry her, but he refused without giving a reason. However, he found her a new husband the same day.
|
*Ibn Ishaq<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 590</ref>
*Bukhari<ref>{{Bukhari|7|62|24}}; {{Bukhari|7|62|58}}; {{Bukhari|7|62|63}}; {{Bukhari|7|62|66}}.</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:114.</ref>
*Ibn Kathir<ref>[http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1839&Itemid=89/ Ibn Kathir, ''Tafsir''] on {{Quran|33|50}}.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |6
|Dubaa bint Amir
|After 627.
|Dubaa was a wealthy noblewoman to whom Muhammad sent a marriage proposal when he heard about her beautiful long hair that filled a whole room when she sat down. But by the time she accepted him, he had been advised that she was “elderly” (her grown-up son had been born from her third marriage) so he retracted his proposal before he had even met her.
|
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 140}}</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:111.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |7
|Izza bint Abi Sufyan
|After July 628.
|She was the sister of Muhammad’s wife Ramlah. Ramlah proposed Izza as a bride, "since, as I cannot be your only wife, I would like to share my good fortune with my sister." But Muhammad said he could not marry two sisters concurrently.
|
*Muslim<ref>{{Muslim|8|3412}}; {{Muslim|8|3413}}.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |8
|Durrah bint Abi Salama
|After July 628.
|She was the daughter of Muhammad's wife Hind. Another wife, Ramlah, noticed that Muhammad admired Durrah and asked  if he intended to marry her. He replied that he could not marry his stepdaughter; and besides, her father had been his foster-brother. On the day Muhammad died, Durrah was only six years old.
|
*Muslim<ref>{{Muslim|8|3412}}; {{Muslim|8|3413}}.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |9
|Umama bint Hamza
|After March 630.
|She was Muhammad's cousin and said to be the prettiest girl in the family. Ali proposed her as a bride while she was still a child, but Muhammad said that he could not marry her because her father had been his foster-brother. She later married his stepson, Salama ibn Abi Salama.
|
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:115-116.</ref>
 
|-<!-- New row starts here -->
! style="background: #EEEEEE;" |10
|Safiyah bint Bashshama
|September 630.
|She was a war-captive from Mesopotamia. Muhammad asked her to marry him, but when she said she wanted to return to her husband, he allowed her family to ransom her. It is said that her family cursed her for placing her personal happiness above the political needs of the tribe.
|
*Al-Tabari<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 140}}</ref>
*Ibn Sa'd<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:109-111.</ref>
 
|}<BR>
 
==Muhammad's Marriages and Poor Widows==
It is often suggested that [[Muhammad]]’s wives were, for the most part, poor widows whom he [[marriage|married]] to save from a life of destitution. This article investigates the plausibility of such a perspective.


Prophet Muhammad himself never claimed that he married women out of compassion for their poverty. On the contrary, he asserted that he, and men in general, chose their wives for four basic motives: for their money, for their family connections, for their beauty and for their piety. He added: “So you should marry the pious woman or you will be a loser.”<ref>{{Bukhari|7|62|27}}.</ref> The suggestion that Muhammad’s many marriages were motivated by a charitable concern for the welfare of widows is not found in the early sources. This theory seems to have been devised by a few modern historians and then uncritically accepted by others.
Prophet Muhammad himself never claimed that he married women out of compassion for their poverty. On the contrary, he asserted that he, and men in general, chose their wives for four basic motives: for their money, for their family connections, for their beauty and for their piety. He added: “So you should marry the pious woman or you will be a loser.”<ref>{{Bukhari|7|62|27}}.</ref> The suggestion that Muhammad’s many marriages were motivated by a charitable concern for the welfare of widows is not found in the early sources. This theory seems to have been devised by a few modern historians and then uncritically accepted by others.


Nevertheless, the widely held view that “Muhammad married poor widows to provide them with a home” is not supported by the available historical evidence from Islamic sources.
Nevertheless, the widely held view that “Muhammad married poor widows to provide them with a home” is not supported by the available historical evidence from Islamic sources.
==Background==


{{Quote|Ali, M. M. (1924, 1993). ''Muhammad the Prophet'', pp. 192-193. Columbus, Ohio: The Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha’at Islam Lahore.|The perpetual state of war created disparity between the male and female elements of society. Husbands having fallen on the field of battle, their widows had to be provided for … This is the reason that [Muhammad] himself took so many women to be his wives during the period when war was raging. Nearly all of his wives were widows.}}
{{Quote|Ali, M. M. (1924, 1993). ''Muhammad the Prophet'', pp. 192-193. Columbus, Ohio: The Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha’at Islam Lahore.|The perpetual state of war created disparity between the male and female elements of society. Husbands having fallen on the field of battle, their widows had to be provided for … This is the reason that [Muhammad] himself took so many women to be his wives during the period when war was raging. Nearly all of his wives were widows.}}
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Muhammad's wives [[Khadijah]] & [[Aisha]] are generally altogether excluded in the analyses of those who maintain that Muhammad's marriages were a form of welfare. This is because it is agreed upon that “Khadijah was a merchant woman of dignity and wealth”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 82.</ref> who eventually expended her on maintaining [[Islam]].<ref>Ibn Hanbal, ''Musnad'' vol. 6 pp. 117-118.</ref> It is also agreed that Aisha, beside being a professional spinster,<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref> was the daughter of “a man of means,”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 223.</ref> “a merchant of high character” with “experience in commerce.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 114.</ref> She likewise already had a fiancé at the time of Muhammad’s proposal, and her father had to break off this engagement before marrying her to Muhammad,<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 129-130}}.</ref> so it would rather difficult to argue that Muhammad did Aisha some sort of financial favor through his marriage to her, as it seems that, in all likelihood, she would have socially and financially prospered regardless.
Muhammad's wives [[Khadijah]] & [[Aisha]] are generally altogether excluded in the analyses of those who maintain that Muhammad's marriages were a form of welfare. This is because it is agreed upon that “Khadijah was a merchant woman of dignity and wealth”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 82.</ref> who eventually expended her on maintaining [[Islam]].<ref>Ibn Hanbal, ''Musnad'' vol. 6 pp. 117-118.</ref> It is also agreed that Aisha, beside being a professional spinster,<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref> was the daughter of “a man of means,”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 223.</ref> “a merchant of high character” with “experience in commerce.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 114.</ref> She likewise already had a fiancé at the time of Muhammad’s proposal, and her father had to break off this engagement before marrying her to Muhammad,<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 129-130}}.</ref> so it would rather difficult to argue that Muhammad did Aisha some sort of financial favor through his marriage to her, as it seems that, in all likelihood, she would have socially and financially prospered regardless.


As for Muhammad’s other wives, it is true that most of them were widowed, divorced or both. Only [[Mariyah the Sex Slave of the Holy Prophet|Mariyah]],<ref>{{Tabari|39|193-195}}; {{Tabari|9|pp. 137, 141}}.</ref> Mulaykah<ref>{{Tabari|8|p. 187}}.</ref> and Fatima<ref>{{Tabari|9|136-139}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 186-188}}.</ref> are not recorded as having been previously married.<ref>Since so little is known about these women, it cannot be asserted that they were ''not'' widows. We only state here that no previous marriages are ''recorded''.</ref>
As for Muhammad’s other wives, it is true that most of them were widowed, divorced or both. Only Mariyah,<ref>{{Tabari|39|193-195}}; {{Tabari|9|pp. 137, 141}}.</ref> Mulaykah<ref>{{Tabari|8|p. 187}}.</ref> and Fatima<ref>{{Tabari|9|136-139}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 186-188}}.</ref> are not recorded as having been previously married.<ref>Since so little is known about these women, it cannot be asserted that they were ''not'' widows. We only state here that no previous marriages are ''recorded''.</ref>


Whether these widows were “poor” depends on how one defines poverty. Some may not consider a slave to be poor if the slave serves in the household of the wealthy, for while Islamic slaves had no political rights or autonomy, they were usually better fed than the poorest free persons. Others may not consider a Bedouin to be poor, even while Bedouins eat daily, simply because they neglect and thus have few material possessions. Moreover, no matter how poor a widow might be, some might argue that she fails to truly qualify as “destitute” so long as she has living relatives who can guarantee that they will take care of her.
Whether these widows were “poor” depends on how one defines poverty. Some may not consider a slave to be poor if the slave serves in the household of the wealthy, for while Islamic slaves had no political rights or autonomy, they were usually better fed than the poorest free persons. Others may not consider a Bedouin to be poor, even while Bedouins eat daily, simply because they neglect and thus have few material possessions. Moreover, no matter how poor a widow might be, some might argue that she fails to truly qualify as “destitute” so long as she has living relatives who can guarantee that they will take care of her.
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Finally, in addition to considering whether Muhammad's individual wives were persons, one must also consider whether Muhammad was himself a man of means who would have been able to well provide for the women whom he married. For, if Muhammad was not himself a reliable source of welfare, then it would be equally difficult to maintain that his marriages were a form of financial relief for his wives, who may, one thinks, just as easily, have encountered great wealth elsewhere among the muslims.
Finally, in addition to considering whether Muhammad's individual wives were persons, one must also consider whether Muhammad was himself a man of means who would have been able to well provide for the women whom he married. For, if Muhammad was not himself a reliable source of welfare, then it would be equally difficult to maintain that his marriages were a form of financial relief for his wives, who may, one thinks, just as easily, have encountered great wealth elsewhere among the muslims.


==The Wives==
===The Wives===


===Sawdah bint Zamaa===
====Sawdah bint Zamaa====


Muhammad married Sawdah in May 620.<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 170}}.</ref> It is not known how Muhammad was making his living in his last few years in Mecca, but he does not seem to have been able to re-launch Khadijah’s merchant business. If it is true that ''all'' of Khadijah’s wealth had been expended in the days of the blockade,<ref>Ibn Hanbal, ''Musnad'' vol. 6 pp. 117-118.</ref> Muhammad was now bankrupt. He certainly did not seem to have any resources of his own by the time of the ''Hijra'' in September 622, as it is recorded that all the expenses of his journey were paid by Abu Bakr.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 223</ref>
Muhammad married Sawdah in May 620.<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 170}}.</ref> It is not known how Muhammad was making his living in his last few years in Mecca, but he does not seem to have been able to re-launch Khadijah’s merchant business. If it is true that ''all'' of Khadijah’s wealth had been expended in the days of the blockade,<ref>Ibn Hanbal, ''Musnad'' vol. 6 pp. 117-118.</ref> Muhammad was now bankrupt. He certainly did not seem to have any resources of his own by the time of the ''Hijra'' in September 622, as it is recorded that all the expenses of his journey were paid by Abu Bakr.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 223</ref>
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So, it appears, Sawdah had no economic need to marry Muhammad. On the contrary, it seems more likely that ''he'' rather than she was the one who gained financially from this marriage.  
So, it appears, Sawdah had no economic need to marry Muhammad. On the contrary, it seems more likely that ''he'' rather than she was the one who gained financially from this marriage.  


As a general commentary on the social problems in the Muslim community, it should be noted that at this early date, the Muslims had not fought a single battle. No Muslim “died in the wars” before the [[Islam Undressed: The Battle of Badr|Battle of Badr]] in 624,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 289ff.</ref> an event that, in all likelihood, no one could have foreseen in 620. In fact, the only Muslim who had so far died violently was a woman.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 145.</ref> So it is equally difficult to maintain that there was a problem with finding enough men to take care of the numerous widows. On the contrary, the gender imbalance appears to have been in the opposite direction. The [[Egypt|Egyptian]] scholar Al-Suyuti compares different traditions about Umar’s conversion in 616: “He embraced the faith early — after the conversion of 40 men and 10 women — or as some say, after 39 men and 23 women, and others, 45 men and 11 women.”<ref>Al-Suyuti, ''Tarikh al-Khulafa''. Translation by Jarrett, H. S. (1881). ''History of the Caliphs'', p. 112. Caclutta: The Asiatic Society.</ref> All these numbers appear to be incorrect, however, for [[Ibn Ishaq]]’s [[Lists|list]] of Muslims who emigrated to Abyssinia in 615 includes 83 men and 18 women.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 146-148.</ref> His list of Muslims converted by Abu Bakr has 41 men and 9 women.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 115-117.</ref> One consistency among all these lists, however, is that the early Muslims seemed to comprise ''far'' more men than women, at least twice (and perhaps ''four times'') as many. Moreover, many of the Muslim women whose names are missing from these early lists<ref>There is no mention of Khadijah and her daughters, nor of Umm Ruman, nor of the numerous sisters of Lubabah bint Al-Harith ({{Tabari|39|p. 201}}).</ref> were married to [[Paganism|pagan]] men; so even if they had been “numerous” (although they likely were not), there could have been no such pervasive problem of “homeless widows”.
As a general commentary on the social problems in the Muslim community, it should be noted that at this early date, the Muslims had not fought a single battle. No Muslim “died in the wars” before the [[Battle of Badr]] in 624,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 289ff.</ref> an event that, in all likelihood, no one could have foreseen in 620. In fact, the only Muslim who had so far died violently was a woman.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 145.</ref> So it is equally difficult to maintain that there was a problem with finding enough men to take care of the numerous widows. On the contrary, the gender imbalance appears to have been in the opposite direction. The Egyptian scholar Al-Suyuti compares different traditions about Umar’s conversion in 616: “He embraced the faith early — after the conversion of 40 men and 10 women — or as some say, after 39 men and 23 women, and others, 45 men and 11 women.”<ref>Al-Suyuti, ''Tarikh al-Khulafa''. Translation by Jarrett, H. S. (1881). ''History of the Caliphs'', p. 112. Caclutta: The Asiatic Society.</ref> All these numbers appear to be incorrect, however, for [[Ibn Ishaq]]’s list of Muslims who emigrated to Abyssinia in 615 includes 83 men and 18 women.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 146-148.</ref> His list of Muslims converted by Abu Bakr has 41 men and 9 women.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 115-117.</ref> One consistency among all these lists, however, is that the early Muslims seemed to comprise ''far'' more men than women, at least twice (and perhaps ''four times'') as many. Moreover, many of the Muslim women whose names are missing from these early lists<ref>There is no mention of Khadijah and her daughters, nor of Umm Ruman, nor of the numerous sisters of Lubabah bint Al-Harith ({{Tabari|39|p. 201}}).</ref> were married to [[Pagan Origins of Islam|pagan]] men; so even if they had been “numerous” (although they likely were not), there could have been no such pervasive problem of “homeless widows”.


It appears, then, that the issue of how to provide for single women would not have been on Muhammad’s mind in 620. Rather, the problem was how to find anyone at all who was available to marry him. Indeed, it appears that Muhammad was having some difficulty finding Muslim women for his male converts to marry, for he permitted marriage to polytheists right up to the year 628, and even later retained the permission for Muslim men to marry Jewish and Christian women, but not the other way around.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 509-510.</ref>
It appears, then, that the issue of how to provide for single women would not have been on Muhammad’s mind in 620. Rather, the problem was how to find anyone at all who was available to marry him. Indeed, it appears that Muhammad was having some difficulty finding Muslim women for his male converts to marry, for he permitted marriage to polytheists right up to the year 628, and even later retained the permission for Muslim men to marry Jewish and Christian women, but not the other way around.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 509-510.</ref>


===Hafsah bint Umar===
====Hafsah bint Umar====


Hafsah’s first husband, Khunays ibn Hudhayfa, died of battle-wounds in mid-624.<ref>{{Bukhari|5|59|342}}. Bewley/Saad 8:56: "He died, leaving her a widow after the ''Hijra'' when the Prophet arrived from Badr."</ref> He seems to have been a man of humble means who relied on the patronage of Hafsah’s father Umar.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 218.</ref> This suggests that his death did not make much change to Hafsah’s economic situation. Before, during, and after her marriage, she was dependent on her father. Umar claimed to be “one of the richest of the Quraysh”<ref>Guillaume/Ibn Ishaq 216.</ref> and thus should have had no financial difficulty maintaining his daughter.
Hafsah’s first husband, Khunays ibn Hudhayfa, died of battle-wounds in mid-624.<ref>{{Bukhari|5|59|342}}. Bewley/Saad 8:56: "He died, leaving her a widow after the ''Hijra'' when the Prophet arrived from Badr."</ref> He seems to have been a man of humble means who relied on the patronage of Hafsah’s father Umar.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 218.</ref> This suggests that his death did not make much change to Hafsah’s economic situation. Before, during, and after her marriage, she was dependent on her father. Umar claimed to be “one of the richest of the Quraysh”<ref>Guillaume/Ibn Ishaq 216.</ref> and thus should have had no financial difficulty maintaining his daughter.
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Ultimately, it becomes clear that Muhammad could not and did not provide any form of special welfare to Hafsah.
Ultimately, it becomes clear that Muhammad could not and did not provide any form of special welfare to Hafsah.


===Zaynab bint Khuzayma===
====Zaynab bint Khuzayma====


Zaynab’s husband was killed at Badr; he was Ubayda ibn Al-Harith, the first Muslim to die in battle.<ref>Guillaume/Ibn Ishaq 506.</ref> She should have been available for remarriage by late July 624. But she did not marry Muhammad for another seven months.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:82. “He married her in Ramadan at the beginning of the 31st month of the ''Hijra''.”</ref> So there is no reason to believe she had fallen into any sort of immediate destitution. Islamic chronicle further buttress this point.
Zaynab’s husband was killed at Badr; he was Ubayda ibn Al-Harith, the first Muslim to die in battle.<ref>Guillaume/Ibn Ishaq 506.</ref> She should have been available for remarriage by late July 624. But she did not marry Muhammad for another seven months.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:82. “He married her in Ramadan at the beginning of the 31st month of the ''Hijra''.”</ref> So there is no reason to believe she had fallen into any sort of immediate destitution. Islamic chronicle further buttress this point.
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Whatever may have been Zaynab's motive in marrying Muhammad, it seems unlikely that money played any sort of important role. Indeed, once again, it appears more plausible that Muhammad's financial circumstances would have, through his strengthened link to Zaynab's family, improved as a result of this marriage.
Whatever may have been Zaynab's motive in marrying Muhammad, it seems unlikely that money played any sort of important role. Indeed, once again, it appears more plausible that Muhammad's financial circumstances would have, through his strengthened link to Zaynab's family, improved as a result of this marriage.


===Hind (Umm Salama) bint Abi Umayya===
====Hind (Umm Salama) bint Abi Umayya====


Hind was born into the wealthy Makhzum clan of the Quraysh, and her husband, Abdullah ibn Abdulasad, was a second cousin from the same clan.<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 132}}.</ref> Since their family rejected them when they became Muslims,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 169, 170.</ref> it is not clear whether they were still wealthy when, ten years later, they arrived in Medina; but it is known that they owned the camels that transported them.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 213-214.</ref>
Hind was born into the wealthy Makhzum clan of the Quraysh, and her husband, Abdullah ibn Abdulasad, was a second cousin from the same clan.<ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 132}}.</ref> Since their family rejected them when they became Muslims,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 169, 170.</ref> it is not clear whether they were still wealthy when, ten years later, they arrived in Medina; but it is known that they owned the camels that transported them.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 213-214.</ref>
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When Muhammad repeated his marriage-proposal, Hind gave him a string of reasons for why she wanted to refuse, and he left her house disappointed. Muhammad had, in fact, to argue her out of her excuses and propose a third time before she finally accepted him.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:63.</ref> They were married on or before 6 April 626.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:61.</ref> This raises the question of whether Hind truly wanted to marry Muhammad or whether she simply gave in to the pressure from the most powerful man in the community. Regardless of why she changed her mind, her on-principle reluctance to remarry indicates that she had been managing quite well on her own, and that she had felt no compelling or even trifling reason to get married.
When Muhammad repeated his marriage-proposal, Hind gave him a string of reasons for why she wanted to refuse, and he left her house disappointed. Muhammad had, in fact, to argue her out of her excuses and propose a third time before she finally accepted him.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:63.</ref> They were married on or before 6 April 626.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:61.</ref> This raises the question of whether Hind truly wanted to marry Muhammad or whether she simply gave in to the pressure from the most powerful man in the community. Regardless of why she changed her mind, her on-principle reluctance to remarry indicates that she had been managing quite well on her own, and that she had felt no compelling or even trifling reason to get married.


===Zaynab bint Jahsh===
====Zaynab bint Jahsh====


Zaynab bint Jahsh was a career-woman. She was a tanner and leather-worker who was well able to support herself.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:74, 77.</ref> She lived under the protection of her two brothers, Abu Ahmad and Abdullah.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 214-215.</ref> She had no need to remarry unless she chose. It is even said that she proposed marriage to Muhammad and that she offered not to take any dower.<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
Zaynab bint Jahsh was a career-woman. She was a tanner and leather-worker who was well able to support herself.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:74, 77.</ref> She lived under the protection of her two brothers, Abu Ahmad and Abdullah.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 214-215.</ref> She had no need to remarry unless she chose. It is even said that she proposed marriage to Muhammad and that she offered not to take any dower.<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref>
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Although it is agreed that Zaynab was economically independent, modern historians sometimes claim that she might have had a social or moral need to remarry. One writes, “Before Islam, the Arabs did not allow divorcees to remarry,”<ref>Abdallati, H. ''Islam in Focus'', pp.177-179, cited in “Rebuttal to Sam Shamoun’s Article Muhammad’s Multiplicity of Marriages” in ''Answering Christianity''.</ref> and that her divorce “made her unfit to marry a status conscious Arab.”<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/133159128/The-Real-Men-of-the-Renaissance-Badreddine-Belhamissi/ Aly, A. (1999). ''The Real Men of the Renaissance'', p. 26. Belhamissi.]</ref> However, there is no evidence that the Arabs forbade divorced women to remarry. On the contrary, Abu Sufyan’s favourite wife, Hind bint Utbah, had been a divorcée.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:165; Al-Suyuti, ''Tarikh al-Khulafa''. Translated by Jarrett, H. S. (1881). ''History of the Caliphs'', pp. 200-201. Calcutta: The Asiatic Society.</ref> Abu Sufyan's clan, the Umayyads, had been the dominant clan of the Quraysh even before Abu Sufyan became the high chief of Mecca;<ref>E.g., see Guillaume/Ishaq 82.</ref> what was socially acceptable for the Umayyads was, by definition, acceptable for everyone. Muhammad did not marry Zaynab to rescue her from social disapprobation; rather, he created significant social disapprobation in order that he might marry her, for while remarriage was not taboo, marrying ones daughter-in-law (even through adoption), evidently was.<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 9}}. "The ''Munafiqun'' made this a topic of their conversation and reviled the Prophet, saying, 'Muhammad prohibits (marriage) with the (former) wives of one's own sons, but he married the (former) wife of his son Zayd.'"</ref>
Although it is agreed that Zaynab was economically independent, modern historians sometimes claim that she might have had a social or moral need to remarry. One writes, “Before Islam, the Arabs did not allow divorcees to remarry,”<ref>Abdallati, H. ''Islam in Focus'', pp.177-179, cited in “Rebuttal to Sam Shamoun’s Article Muhammad’s Multiplicity of Marriages” in ''Answering Christianity''.</ref> and that her divorce “made her unfit to marry a status conscious Arab.”<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/133159128/The-Real-Men-of-the-Renaissance-Badreddine-Belhamissi/ Aly, A. (1999). ''The Real Men of the Renaissance'', p. 26. Belhamissi.]</ref> However, there is no evidence that the Arabs forbade divorced women to remarry. On the contrary, Abu Sufyan’s favourite wife, Hind bint Utbah, had been a divorcée.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:165; Al-Suyuti, ''Tarikh al-Khulafa''. Translated by Jarrett, H. S. (1881). ''History of the Caliphs'', pp. 200-201. Calcutta: The Asiatic Society.</ref> Abu Sufyan's clan, the Umayyads, had been the dominant clan of the Quraysh even before Abu Sufyan became the high chief of Mecca;<ref>E.g., see Guillaume/Ishaq 82.</ref> what was socially acceptable for the Umayyads was, by definition, acceptable for everyone. Muhammad did not marry Zaynab to rescue her from social disapprobation; rather, he created significant social disapprobation in order that he might marry her, for while remarriage was not taboo, marrying ones daughter-in-law (even through adoption), evidently was.<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 9}}. "The ''Munafiqun'' made this a topic of their conversation and reviled the Prophet, saying, 'Muhammad prohibits (marriage) with the (former) wives of one's own sons, but he married the (former) wife of his son Zayd.'"</ref>


===Rayhanah bint Zayd===
====Rayhanah bint Zayd====


Rayhanah was a member of the [[Jews|Jewish]] [[Banu Qurayza|Qurayza]] tribe,<ref>{{Tabari|39|pp. 164-165}}.</ref> whom Muhammad besieged in 627. When the tribe surrendered, Muhammad determined that the Banu Qurayzah's every adult male should be decapitated, every woman and child, [[Slavery|enslaved]], and all the tribe's property forfeit to the Islamic state.<ref>Guillaume/Ibn Ishaq 689-692.</ref> It is thus true that Rayhanah was widowed, impoverished, and a slave, but only because Muhammad had her husband executed and proceeded to appropriate her wealth and person. Indeed, at the very moment Muhammad approved of Banu Qurayzah's brutal sentence, Rayhanah had become Muhammad's legal property. Already, one sees how difficult it would be to maintain that Muhammad's acquisition of Rayhanah was the product of his financial liberality, let alone benevolence.
Rayhanah was a member of the [[Jews|Jewish]] [[Banu Qurayza|Qurayza]] tribe,<ref>{{Tabari|39|pp. 164-165}}.</ref> whom Muhammad besieged in 627. When the tribe surrendered, Muhammad determined that the Banu Qurayzah's every adult male should be decapitated, every woman and child, [[Slavery|enslaved]], and all the tribe's property forfeit to the Islamic state.<ref>Guillaume/Ibn Ishaq 689-692.</ref> It is thus true that Rayhanah was widowed, impoverished, and a slave, but only because Muhammad had her husband executed and proceeded to appropriate her wealth and person. Indeed, at the very moment Muhammad approved of Banu Qurayzah's brutal sentence, Rayhanah had become Muhammad's legal property. Already, one sees how difficult it would be to maintain that Muhammad's acquisition of Rayhanah was the product of his financial liberality, let alone benevolence.
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There is therefore at least some justification for the claim that, from 627 onwards, Muhammad was in a position to provide a home for the “excess women” who were unable to marry monogamously. What remains to be established, however, is whether or not the particular women whom he married were the ones who would have been otherwise left destitute.
There is therefore at least some justification for the claim that, from 627 onwards, Muhammad was in a position to provide a home for the “excess women” who were unable to marry monogamously. What remains to be established, however, is whether or not the particular women whom he married were the ones who would have been otherwise left destitute.


===Juwayriyah bint Al-Harith===
====Juwayriyah bint Al-Harith====


Juwayriyah was in a similar situation to Rayhanah. She had become widowed because Muslim raiders had killed her husband.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:83.</ref> Like Rayhanah, Juwayriyah had family members who would have happily purchased/ransomed her given the opportunity. Juwayriyah, in fact, knew that the raiders had only carried off a fraction of her tribe’s wealth and that they had only killed a few of the men. Her father, the chief, had survived the raid, and he was willing and able to pay the ransom set on her head.<ref>Ibn Hisham note 739.</ref>
Juwayriyah was in a similar situation to Rayhanah. She had become widowed because Muslim raiders had killed her husband.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:83.</ref> Like Rayhanah, Juwayriyah had family members who would have happily purchased/ransomed her given the opportunity. Juwayriyah, in fact, knew that the raiders had only carried off a fraction of her tribe’s wealth and that they had only killed a few of the men. Her father, the chief, had survived the raid, and he was willing and able to pay the ransom set on her head.<ref>Ibn Hisham note 739.</ref>
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However, Muhammad, as with Rayhanah, refused to ransom or sell Juwayriyah. Instead, he gave Juwayriyah one of two options: the choice of marrying himself or marrying another Muslim.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 629; Ibn Hisham note 918; {{Tabari|39|pp. 182-183}}.</ref>
However, Muhammad, as with Rayhanah, refused to ransom or sell Juwayriyah. Instead, he gave Juwayriyah one of two options: the choice of marrying himself or marrying another Muslim.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 629; Ibn Hisham note 918; {{Tabari|39|pp. 182-183}}.</ref>


===Ramlah (Umm Habiba) bint Abi Sufyan===
====Ramlah (Umm Habiba) bint Abi Sufyan====


Ramlah and her first husband, Ubaydullah ibn Jahsh, were among the early [[converts]] to Islam who emigrated to Abyssinia in 615.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 146; {{Tabari|39|p. 177}}.</ref> “They were safely ensconced there and were grateful for the protection of the ''Negus'' [King]; could serve Allah without fear; and the ''Negus'' had shown them every hospitality.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 148.</ref> It is not known how the exiles earned their living, but they must have found a means of subsistence, for they all stayed at least four years. Forty of them returned to Arabia in 619, only to discover that Mecca was still not a safe place for Muslims.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 167-168.</ref> After the Muslim victory at Badr in 624, however, the exiles realized that they would be safe in Medina, and they began to leave for Arabia in small groups.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 527-529.</ref> About half of them remained in Abyssinia, Ramlah and Ubaydullah among them.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 527.</ref> There is no obvious reason why they could not have gone to Medina, where all of Ubaydullah’s siblings lived,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 214-215. Ubaydullah’s eldest brother was married to Ramlah’s sister.</ref> so presumably their continuation in Abyssinia was voluntary.
Ramlah and her first husband, Ubaydullah ibn Jahsh, were among the early converts to Islam who emigrated to Abyssinia in 615.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 146; {{Tabari|39|p. 177}}.</ref> “They were safely ensconced there and were grateful for the protection of the ''Negus'' [King]; could serve Allah without fear; and the ''Negus'' had shown them every hospitality.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 148.</ref> It is not known how the exiles earned their living, but they must have found a means of subsistence, for they all stayed at least four years. Forty of them returned to Arabia in 619, only to discover that Mecca was still not a safe place for Muslims.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 167-168.</ref> After the Muslim victory at Badr in 624, however, the exiles realized that they would be safe in Medina, and they began to leave for Arabia in small groups.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 527-529.</ref> About half of them remained in Abyssinia, Ramlah and Ubaydullah among them.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 527.</ref> There is no obvious reason why they could not have gone to Medina, where all of Ubaydullah’s siblings lived,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 214-215. Ubaydullah’s eldest brother was married to Ramlah’s sister.</ref> so presumably their continuation in Abyssinia was voluntary.


Ubaydullah died in Abyssinia.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:68.</ref> This should not have made much difference to Ramlah’s economic position. If he had been running some kind of business, she could have taken it over; and if he had had any savings, she would have inherited them. In fact he was known to have been an [[Alcohol|alcoholic]],<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:68: “He gave himself over to drinking wine until he died.”</ref> so it is possible that she had already needed to fend for herself for several years. She had chosen to remain in Abyssinia rather than join her family in Medina, so presumably she could have continued to do whatever she was doing indefinitely. Widowhood now gave her the option of remarriage. There were twelve single men in the community but only four single women, of whom two were elderly, so, it is reasonable to conclude that Ramlah and her teenage daughter could have easily found suitors had they wished to marry.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 526-527. This list shows that the group also included four married couples and six children under 13.</ref>
Ubaydullah died in Abyssinia.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:68.</ref> This should not have made much difference to Ramlah’s economic position. If he had been running some kind of business, she could have taken it over; and if he had had any savings, she would have inherited them. In fact he was known to have been an [[Alcohol|alcoholic]],<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:68: “He gave himself over to drinking wine until he died.”</ref> so it is possible that she had already needed to fend for herself for several years. She had chosen to remain in Abyssinia rather than join her family in Medina, so presumably she could have continued to do whatever she was doing indefinitely. Widowhood now gave her the option of remarriage. There were twelve single men in the community but only four single women, of whom two were elderly, so, it is reasonable to conclude that Ramlah and her teenage daughter could have easily found suitors had they wished to marry.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 526-527. This list shows that the group also included four married couples and six children under 13.</ref>
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Ultimately, and once again, there is no reason to believe Muhammad married Ramlah to improve, let alone rectify, her financial standing.  
Ultimately, and once again, there is no reason to believe Muhammad married Ramlah to improve, let alone rectify, her financial standing.  


===Safiyah bint Huyayy===
====Safiyah bint Huyayy====


[[Safiyah]] was a prisoner of war whom Muhammad captured at the siege of Khaybar.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 511.</ref> She, like Rayhanah and Juwayriyah, was only a widow because Muhammad and his companions had killed [[Kinana|her husband]] (who, unlike Rayhanah and Juwayriyah's husbands, had been tortured prior to his execution), and, like Rayhanah, was poor because the Islamic state had appropriated her people's wealth at Khaybar.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 515.</ref><ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 521-523.</ref> However, her poverty had not reached the level of absolute destitution, for many of her relatives were still alive in Khaybar. They had persuaded Muhammad to let them remain on the land and farm the dates in exchange for giving him half the revenues.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 515.</ref> If Safiyah had remained in Khaybar, she too could have farmed dates.
[[Safiyah]] was a prisoner of war whom Muhammad captured at the siege of Khaybar.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 511.</ref> She, like Rayhanah and Juwayriyah, was only a widow because Muhammad and his companions had killed [[Kinana|her husband]] (who, unlike Rayhanah and Juwayriyah's husbands, had been tortured prior to his execution), and, like Rayhanah, was poor because the Islamic state had appropriated her people's wealth at Khaybar.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 515.</ref><ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 521-523.</ref> However, her poverty had not reached the level of absolute destitution, for many of her relatives were still alive in Khaybar. They had persuaded Muhammad to let them remain on the land and farm the dates in exchange for giving him half the revenues.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 515.</ref> If Safiyah had remained in Khaybar, she too could have farmed dates.
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Muhammad’s family – not only his wives and descendants, but his extended family too – lived off the wealth of Khaybar for the rest of their lives.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 521-523.</ref> Since Safiyah represented the leading family of Khaybar,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 437-438.</ref> there is a very real sense in which Muhammad’s whole clan was living at her expense. Muhammad was not providing for Safiyah; it was she and her people, rather, who provided for him and his family.
Muhammad’s family – not only his wives and descendants, but his extended family too – lived off the wealth of Khaybar for the rest of their lives.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 521-523.</ref> Since Safiyah represented the leading family of Khaybar,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 437-438.</ref> there is a very real sense in which Muhammad’s whole clan was living at her expense. Muhammad was not providing for Safiyah; it was she and her people, rather, who provided for him and his family.


===Maymunah bint Al-Harith===
====Maymunah bint Al-Harith====


Maymunah was never poor; she was born into the bourgeois Hilal tribe.<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918; {{Tabari|9|p. 135}}.</ref> After her husband died, she became the house guest of her married sister, Lubabah.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:94: “Al-‘Abbas ibn al-Muttalib married her to him. He took care of her affairs.”</ref> Lubabah’s husband was Muhammad’s uncle, Abbas ibn Abdulmuttalib, who was “one of the richest of the Banu Hashim.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 114.</ref> He “used to go often to the Yaman to buy aromatics and sell them during the fairs”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 113.</ref> and was also apparently a banker: “he had a great deal of money scattered among the people.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 309-310.</ref> Maymunah offered to marry Muhammad without taking any dower.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:97: “Maymuna bint al-Harith was the woman who gave herself to the Messenger of Allah.” Also: “‘Amra was asked whether Maymuna was the one who gave herself to the Messenger of Allah. She said, ‘The Messenger of Allah married her for 500 ''dirhams'' and the guardian for her marriage was al-‘Abbas ibn al-Muttalib.’”</ref> Muhammad agreed, but this was not acceptable to Abbas, who unexpectedly provided Maymunah with a dower anyway.<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918 says the dower was 400 ''dirhams'', like that of all Muhammad’s other wives. Bewley/Saad 8:97 says it was 500 ''dirhams'', in keeping with Ibn Saad’s other traditions that Muhammad’s wives received 12½ ounces of silver. The higher sum is from the later histories, suggesting that the chroniclers adjusted it for inflation.</ref>
Maymunah was never poor; she was born into the bourgeois Hilal tribe.<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918; {{Tabari|9|p. 135}}.</ref> After her husband died, she became the house guest of her married sister, Lubabah.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:94: “Al-‘Abbas ibn al-Muttalib married her to him. He took care of her affairs.”</ref> Lubabah’s husband was Muhammad’s uncle, Abbas ibn Abdulmuttalib, who was “one of the richest of the Banu Hashim.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 114.</ref> He “used to go often to the Yaman to buy aromatics and sell them during the fairs”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 113.</ref> and was also apparently a banker: “he had a great deal of money scattered among the people.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 309-310.</ref> Maymunah offered to marry Muhammad without taking any dower.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:97: “Maymuna bint al-Harith was the woman who gave herself to the Messenger of Allah.” Also: “‘Amra was asked whether Maymuna was the one who gave herself to the Messenger of Allah. She said, ‘The Messenger of Allah married her for 500 ''dirhams'' and the guardian for her marriage was al-‘Abbas ibn al-Muttalib.’”</ref> Muhammad agreed, but this was not acceptable to Abbas, who unexpectedly provided Maymunah with a dower anyway.<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918 says the dower was 400 ''dirhams'', like that of all Muhammad’s other wives. Bewley/Saad 8:97 says it was 500 ''dirhams'', in keeping with Ibn Saad’s other traditions that Muhammad’s wives received 12½ ounces of silver. The higher sum is from the later histories, suggesting that the chroniclers adjusted it for inflation.</ref>
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It has never been entirely clear why Muhammad married Maymunah. What is clear, however, is that she was not poor or homeless and so was not in need of any form of rescuing.
It has never been entirely clear why Muhammad married Maymunah. What is clear, however, is that she was not poor or homeless and so was not in need of any form of rescuing.


===Mariyah bint Shamoon===
====Mariyah bint Shamoon====


In one sense, Mariyah was poor. She was a slave in Egypt, and the Governor sent her to be a slave in Arabia, as a personal gift to Muhammad, from one head-of-state to another.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 653.</ref> She possessed nothing of her own. She was, indeed, herself property.<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 194}}. “He had intercourse with her by virtue of her being his property.”</ref>
In one sense, Mariyah was poor. She was a slave in Egypt, and the Governor sent her to be a slave in Arabia, as a personal gift to Muhammad, from one head-of-state to another.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 653.</ref> She possessed nothing of her own. She was, indeed, herself property.<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 194}}. “He had intercourse with her by virtue of her being his property.”</ref>
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Mariyah did not, it would appear, “need” to be Muhammad’s concubine.An entire year had passed, demonstrating that it was possible for her to live in his household without having sex with him. Indeed, it was not until one night that the prophet was supposed to sleep with Hafsah, when she had become suddenly unavailable due to a family emergency, that [[Muhammad's Just In Time Revelations#Muhammad and Mary the Copt|Muhammad encountered Mariyah in Hafsah's empty household and decided to initiate intercourse with her]].
Mariyah did not, it would appear, “need” to be Muhammad’s concubine.An entire year had passed, demonstrating that it was possible for her to live in his household without having sex with him. Indeed, it was not until one night that the prophet was supposed to sleep with Hafsah, when she had become suddenly unavailable due to a family emergency, that [[Muhammad's Just In Time Revelations#Muhammad and Mary the Copt|Muhammad encountered Mariyah in Hafsah's empty household and decided to initiate intercourse with her]].


===Mulaykah bint Kaab===
====Mulaykah bint Kaab====


Not much is known about Mulaykah’s background, but her father appears to have been at least a minor chief. Although he was killed in battle in January 630,<ref>{{Tabari|8|p. 187}}; {{Tabari|39|p. 165}}; Bewley/Saad 8:106.</ref> Mulaykah had plenty of other relatives to care for her. One of these was a cousin from the Udhra tribe, and he wanted to marry her.<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 165}}; Bewley/Saad 8:106.</ref>
Not much is known about Mulaykah’s background, but her father appears to have been at least a minor chief. Although he was killed in battle in January 630,<ref>{{Tabari|8|p. 187}}; {{Tabari|39|p. 165}}; Bewley/Saad 8:106.</ref> Mulaykah had plenty of other relatives to care for her. One of these was a cousin from the Udhra tribe, and he wanted to marry her.<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 165}}; Bewley/Saad 8:106.</ref>
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This marriage ended in divorce after only a few weeks.<ref>{{Tabari|8|p. 187}}; {{Tabari|39|p. 165}}; Bewley/Saad 8:106.</ref> If, in fact, Mulaykah had somehow benefited materially from her marriage to Muhammad, then it would appear that the prophet shortly decided to discontinue this service - however, it is not at all evident that the marriage was materially advantageous in any special way for Mulaykah to begin with.
This marriage ended in divorce after only a few weeks.<ref>{{Tabari|8|p. 187}}; {{Tabari|39|p. 165}}; Bewley/Saad 8:106.</ref> If, in fact, Mulaykah had somehow benefited materially from her marriage to Muhammad, then it would appear that the prophet shortly decided to discontinue this service - however, it is not at all evident that the marriage was materially advantageous in any special way for Mulaykah to begin with.


===Fatima (''Al-Aliyah'') bint Al-Dahhak===
====Fatima (''Al-Aliyah'') bint Al-Dahhak====


Fatima’s father was a minor chief, and he was still alive when she married Muhammad.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 570ff shows her father as a military commander of some authority. {{Abudawud|18|2921}} shows that he survived to the caliphate of Umar.</ref> Hence, she was not poor at the time of her marriage to Muhammad.
Fatima’s father was a minor chief, and he was still alive when she married Muhammad.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 570ff shows her father as a military commander of some authority. {{Abudawud|18|2921}} shows that he survived to the caliphate of Umar.</ref> Hence, she was not poor at the time of her marriage to Muhammad.
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Neither Muhammad nor any other Muslim leader thereafter showed any interest in saving Fatima from her life of poverty that was, in her own words, "wretched" and "miserable".
Neither Muhammad nor any other Muslim leader thereafter showed any interest in saving Fatima from her life of poverty that was, in her own words, "wretched" and "miserable".


===Asma bint Al-Numan===
====Asma bint Al-Numan====


Asma was a wealthy princess from [[Yemen]] who had lived all her life in luxury.<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 189}}. Her tribe, the Kindah, were the rulers of Yemen.</ref> Her father hinted that he found Muhammad’s standard 12½ ounces of silver a “stingy” dower, but was ultimately forced to accept that this was all Asma would be paid.<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 189}}.</ref>
Asma was a wealthy princess from Yemen who had lived all her life in luxury.<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 189}}. Her tribe, the Kindah, were the rulers of Yemen.</ref> Her father hinted that he found Muhammad’s standard 12½ ounces of silver a “stingy” dower, but was ultimately forced to accept that this was all Asma would be paid.<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 189}}.</ref>


===Amrah bint Yazid===
====Amrah bint Yazid====


Not much is known about Amrah’s background. But this is not really relevant here, as Muhammad divorced her on the first day,<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 188}}; Bewley/Saad 8:101.</ref> and therefore, whether she was poor or not, he certainly did not provide for her materially.
Not much is known about Amrah’s background. But this is not really relevant here, as Muhammad divorced her on the first day,<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 188}}; Bewley/Saad 8:101.</ref> and therefore, whether she was poor or not, he certainly did not provide for her materially.


===Tukanah al-Quraziya===
====Tukanah al-Quraziya====


Like Rayhanah, Tukanah was a prisoner-of-war from the Qurayza tribe.<ref>[http://www.al-islam.org/hayat-al-qulub-vol2-allamah-muhammad-baqir-al-majlisi/ Al-Majlisi, ''Hayat al-Qulub'' vol. 2 chapter 52.] Translation by Rizvi, S. A. H. (2010). ''Life of the Heart''. Qum, Iran: Ansariyan Publications.</ref> She was only poor because Muhammad had embattled her tribe, killed its men and confiscated its property.
Like Rayhanah, Tukanah was a prisoner-of-war from the Qurayza tribe.<ref>[http://www.al-islam.org/hayat-al-qulub-vol2-allamah-muhammad-baqir-al-majlisi/ Al-Majlisi, ''Hayat al-Qulub'' vol. 2 chapter 52.] Translation by Rizvi, S. A. H. (2010). ''Life of the Heart''. Qum, Iran: Ansariyan Publications.</ref> She was only poor because Muhammad had embattled her tribe, killed its men and confiscated its property.
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Muhammad selected Tukanah as one of his personal slaves. After that he was legally obligated to feed and house her, whether or not she was his concubine. And while the slave life would not have been a glamorous or enriching one, she would still have been living at his expense, even if she was only ever his housemaid. Muhammad, it would appear, did not need to have intercourse with this woman in order to provide for her.
Muhammad selected Tukanah as one of his personal slaves. After that he was legally obligated to feed and house her, whether or not she was his concubine. And while the slave life would not have been a glamorous or enriching one, she would still have been living at his expense, even if she was only ever his housemaid. Muhammad, it would appear, did not need to have intercourse with this woman in order to provide for her.


===The Other Concubine===
====The Other Concubine====


Nothing is known about this woman except that she was a domestic maid (a slave) before she became a concubine.<ref>Ibn Al-Qayyim, ''Zaad Al-Maad'' vol. 1 p. 29, cited in Al-Mubarakpuri, S. R. (2002). ''The Sealed Nectar'', pp. 564-565. Riyadh: Darussalam.</ref> So Muhammad had to support her whether he had sex with her or not. Muhammad, it would appear again, did not need to have intercourse with this woman in order to provide for her.
Nothing is known about this woman except that she was a domestic maid (a slave) before she became a concubine.<ref>Ibn Al-Qayyim, ''Zaad Al-Maad'' vol. 1 p. 29, cited in Al-Mubarakpuri, S. R. (2002). ''The Sealed Nectar'', pp. 564-565. Riyadh: Darussalam.</ref> So Muhammad had to support her whether he had sex with her or not. Muhammad, it would appear again, did not need to have intercourse with this woman in order to provide for her.


== Leprosy ==
==Leprosy==
Leprosy, also known as '''Hansen's disease''' ('''HD'''), is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' and ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''.<ref name="Sasaki_2001">{{cite journal |author=Sasaki S, Takeshita F, Okuda K, Ishii N |title=Mycobacterium leprae and leprosy: a compendium |journal=Microbiol Immunol |volume=45 |issue=11 |pages=729–36 |year=2001 |url = http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/mandi/45/11/729/_pdf |pmid=11791665}}</ref><ref name="new">{{cite web | url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081124141047.htm | title=New Leprosy Bacterium: Scientists Use Genetic Fingerprint To Nail 'Killing Organism'|work=ScienceDaily | date=2008-11-28 | accessdate=2010-01-31}}</ref> Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. Contrary to folklore, leprosy does not cause body parts to fall off, although they can become numb or diseased as a result of secondary infections; these occur as a result of the body's defenses being compromised by the primary disease.<ref name="time.com" /><ref name="Kulkarni2008">{{cite book |title = Textbook of Orthopedics and Trauma | edition = 2 | page = 779 | publisher = Jaypee Brothers Publishers | year = 2008 | isbn = 81-8448-242-6, 9788184482423 | author = Kulkarni GS}}</ref> Secondary infections, in turn, can result in tissue loss causing fingers and toes to become shortened and deformed, as cartilage is absorbed into the body.<ref name="time.com">{{cite journal |author= |title=Lifting the stigma of leprosy: a new vaccine offers hope against an ancient disease |journal=Time |volume=119 |issue=19 |page=87 |year=1982 |month=May |pmid=10255067 |doi= |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,925377,00.html}}</ref><ref name="Kulkarni2008" /><ref>{{cite web
Leprosy, also known as '''Hansen's disease''' ('''HD'''), is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' and ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''.<ref name="Sasaki_2001">{{cite journal |author=Sasaki S, Takeshita F, Okuda K, Ishii N |title=Mycobacterium leprae and leprosy: a compendium |journal=Microbiol Immunol |volume=45 |issue=11 |pages=729–36 |year=2001 |url = http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/mandi/45/11/729/_pdf |pmid=11791665}}</ref><ref name="new">{{cite web | url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081124141047.htm | title=New Leprosy Bacterium: Scientists Use Genetic Fingerprint To Nail 'Killing Organism'|work=ScienceDaily | date=2008-11-28 | accessdate=2010-01-31}}</ref> Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. Contrary to folklore, leprosy does not cause body parts to fall off, although they can become numb or diseased as a result of secondary infections; these occur as a result of the body's defenses being compromised by the primary disease.<ref name="time.com" /><ref name="Kulkarni2008">{{cite book |title = Textbook of Orthopedics and Trauma | edition = 2 | page = 779 | publisher = Jaypee Brothers Publishers | year = 2008 | isbn = 81-8448-242-6, 9788184482423 | author = Kulkarni GS}}</ref> Secondary infections, in turn, can result in tissue loss causing fingers and toes to become shortened and deformed, as cartilage is absorbed into the body.<ref name="time.com">{{cite journal |author= |title=Lifting the stigma of leprosy: a new vaccine offers hope against an ancient disease |journal=Time |volume=119 |issue=19 |page=87 |year=1982 |month=May |pmid=10255067 |doi= |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,925377,00.html}}</ref><ref name="Kulkarni2008" /><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.leprosy.org/leprosy-faqs
|url=http://www.leprosy.org/leprosy-faqs
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


Prophet [[Muhammad]] taught others to "run away from the leper as one runs away from a lion."<ref>"''Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, '(There is) no 'Adwa (no contagious disease is conveyed without Allah's permission). nor is there any bad omen (from birds), nor is there any Hamah, nor is there any bad omen in the month of Safar, and one should run away from the leper as one runs away from a lion ''" - {{Bukhari|7|71|608}}</ref> He also put an end to two of his relationships with women on account of them being afflicted with leprosy. Amra bint Yazid, whom he divorced in circa 631 before consummating the [[marriage]] when he saw she had symptoms.<ref>Ibn Ishaq, cited in Guillaume, A. (1960). ''New Light on the Life of Muhammad'', p. 55. Manchester: Manchester University Press</ref><ref>Ibn Hisham note 918 (here he has apparently confused her with Asma bint Al-Numan).</ref><ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 139}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 187-188}}.</ref><ref>Bewley/Saad 8:100-101.</ref> And Jamra bint Al-Harith, whose own father informed Muhammad in circa 631 that she suffered from the disease, whereupon Muhammad broke off the engagement (later chroniclers claim her father [[Lying|lied]] but arrived home only to find that she really had been afflicted with leprosy).<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 140-141}}</ref>
Prophet [[Muhammad]] taught others to "run away from the leper as one runs away from a lion."<ref>"''Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, '(There is) no 'Adwa (no contagious disease is conveyed without Allah's permission). nor is there any bad omen (from birds), nor is there any Hamah, nor is there any bad omen in the month of Safar, and one should run away from the leper as one runs away from a lion ''" - {{Bukhari|7|71|608}}</ref> He also put an end to two of his relationships with women on account of them being afflicted with leprosy. Amra bint Yazid, whom he divorced in circa 631 before consummating the [[marriage]] when he saw she had symptoms.<ref>Ibn Ishaq, cited in Guillaume, A. (1960). ''New Light on the Life of Muhammad'', p. 55. Manchester: Manchester University Press</ref><ref>Ibn Hisham note 918 (here he has apparently confused her with Asma bint Al-Numan).</ref><ref>{{Tabari|9|p. 139}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 187-188}}.</ref><ref>Bewley/Saad 8:100-101.</ref> And Jamra bint Al-Harith, whose own father informed Muhammad in circa 631 that she suffered from the disease, whereupon Muhammad broke off the engagement (later chroniclers claim her father lied but arrived home only to find that she really had been afflicted with leprosy).<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 140-141}}</ref>


==See Also==
==See Also==


*[[Muhammad's Wives]]'' - A hub page that leads to other articles related to Muhammad's wives and concubines''
*[[Muhammads Marriages of Political Necessity]]
*[[Muhammads Marriages of Political Necessity]]
*[[Ages of Muhammads Wives at Marriage]]
*[[Ages of Muhammads Wives at Marriage]]


==External Links==
[http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2021/07/how-many-wives-did-prophet-muhammad-have.html How Many Wives Did the Prophet Muhammad Have?] - ''David Wood, Answering Muslims''
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


[[Category:Muhammad]]
[[Category:Muhammad]]
[[Category:Islam and Women]]
[[Category:Women]]
{{page_title|Muhammad's Marriages and Poor Widows}}
[[Category:Muhammad's wives and concubines]]
[[Category:Marriage]]
[[Category:Child Marriage]]
[[Category:Criticism of Islam]]
[[Category:Sacred history]]
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