Convenient Revelations: Difference between revisions

[[Aisha]], the favorite wife of Muhammad, was expressly suspicious about this sort of revelation. After Muhammad received the verse above, Aisha commented, "I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires."<ref>{{Bukhari|6|60|311}}</ref>

===Permission to wed adopted son's ex-wife===

Despite adopted sons not being treated as real sons in Islam, another legal fiction was at one time endorsed according to hadiths. [[Adult Suckling]] was a practice which allowed an unrelated male to become a woman's mahram until that ruling was later abrogated.

===Permission to have relations with concubine despite promising otherwise===

When Hafsa found this out and questioned him, Muhammad promised (on oath) not to touch Mary again if Hafsa would keep the occurrence a secret, and promised that Umar (Hafsa's father) and Abu Bakr (Aisha's father) would be his successors. Hafsa, however, did not keep quiet and told Aisha about this event. As a result Muhammad had no interactions with any of his wives for a full month during which he lived with Mary alone.<ref>Gerhard Nehls & Walter Eric - [http://answering-islam.org/Nehls/tt1/tt2.html The Challenge of Islam/ Chapter II] - English Press Limited Nairobi, New Revised Edition 1996, ISBN 9966 895 16 7</ref> In response, Aisha and Hafsa conspired with the rest of the prophet's wives against Muhammad and isolated him from physical relations.

===Excusing the Satanic Verses===

{{Quote|{{Quran|80|1-12}}|

The Prophet frowned and turned away. Because there came to him the blind man, [interrupting]. But what would make you perceive, [O Muhammad], that perhaps he might be purified. Or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him? As for he who thinks himself without need, To him you give attention. And not upon you [is any blame] if he will not be purified. But as for he who came to you striving [for knowledge]. While he fears [ Allah ], From him you are distracted. No! Indeed, these verses are a reminder;}}

Muhammad's followers were at one point staying too long in and around his house and talking to his wives, to Muhammad's chagrin. Muhammad thus received a verse condemning this behavior on the part of his [[Sahabah|companions]].  

{{Quote|{{Quran|33|53}}|O you who believe! Enter not the Prophet's houses, except when leave is given to you for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation. But when you are invited, enter, and when you have taken your meal, disperse, without sitting for a talk. Verily, such (behaviour) annoys the Prophet, and he is shy of (asking) you (to go), but Allah is not shy of (telling you) the truth. And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not (right) for you that you should annoy Allah's Messenger, nor that you should ever marry his wives after him (his death). Verily! With Allah that shall be an enormity.}}

{{Quote|{{Quran|49|4-5}}|Indeed those who call you from behind the apartments, most of them do not use their reason.

Had they been patient until you came out for them, it would have been better for them, and Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.}}

=== Followers are told not to speak in hostility about Muhammad in private ===

''In the early Medinan period, a new group of hearers appears on the stage, if not in reality, then at least virtually: the Medinan Jews. Jews appear as believers (Q 2:62, 5:69, 22:17), or in other places they are confronted with the requirement of accepting the new message (Q 4:162). In some Qur’anic texts, they belong to the “peoples of the writing” (Q 3:113–114) '''and obtain assurances of a doubled reward in view of their belief in their own revealed writings and the Qur’an (Q 28:52–54).¹⁰'''¹ But the full significance of their presence only becomes clear by means of a Qur’anic strategy that seems to presuppose Jewish hearers: older Qur’anic texts are extensively reworked, and thus adapted to the expectations of a more complex Medinan listenership. Textual analyses show that some biblical narratives that were already formulated in Mecca were subjected to a revision in Medina, and thus gained theological dimensions that clearly relate to Jewish biblical exegesis.''</ref> It is not clear exactly what this reward will look like, or why these people alone would gain double-reward as all Muslims must affirm belief in both the Torah and Qur'an coming from Allah regardless, so critics argue this may be a cynical ploy to gain followers. It is worth noting that no other group [[:en:Convenient_Revelations#Muhammad's_wives_have_double_reward_and_punishment|bar his wives]] are given this assurance.  

{{Quote|{{Quran|28|52-54}}|Those to whom We gave the Book before it are the ones who believe in it, and when it is recited to them, they say, ‘We believe in it. It is indeed the truth from our Lord. Indeed we were Muslims [even] before it [came].’ <b>Those will be given their reward two times for their patience.</b> They repel evil [conduct] with good, and spend out of what We have provided them}}

==See also==