IPP (Part-2 Ch-3) Mothers of the Muslims)-pl

Chapter III

WIVES OF THE PROPHET

    The Revelation of Allah the Great: Allah, the Provider, the Sustainer of the Worlds Has clearly said in the holy Qurän, “The Prophet is dearer to all Muslims than their own lives, and his wives are like mothers to them. They are the Ummatul Muminin (mothers of the Believers).” As Muhammad is the mundane and spiritual emperor of the Muslims, so his wives are the Empresses. All Muslims respect and regard them with the highest reverence. The great man who has elevated woman to the most exalted position from being nonentities, and placed them along with man, deserves a close look at his own abode. How were the ladies of his house? Who were they? How did they perform their daily chores? How were their conjugal lives? How many wives the Prophet took? Who were exactly his consorts? How the Prophet behaved and acted in his married life? All these questions need to be closely studied and followed diligently. For the life of the Prophet in every respect, private or public, are to be followed as perfectly as possible. His deeds and sayings are the Ahadith (Traditions). These are the guidelines for every Muslim and the ignorance about these would foster misconceptions as already conjectured by jealous non-Muslim historians about the holy Prophet's (PBUH) conjugal life. Consequently, we would forfeit the chance to a happy and blissful married life.
    It is imperative, therefore, for all Muslims to know about the daily life of the blessed wives of the Prophet. Before the coming of Islam, bigamy and polygamy were common practices among the people of the world. In every religion and society, it was found in vogue. Indians, Persians, Romans, Egyptians, Jewish, Christians, Buddhists, Idolaters and Heathens, everybody practiced polygamy. Emperors, Kings, Landlords, Leaders and the Rich kept many wives and concubines. Knocking at the base of this ancient custom, Islam brought discipline to the otherwise chaotic system, where there was no limit to the number of wives. Though Islam allowed polygamy, it has put a strict restraint on the practice. Canonical constraints are strictly advocated to keep the practice within bounds. To cleanse the society and to maintain sanctity, polygamy is necessary in limited form. Islam’s admission of polygamy elaborately discussed in the previous chapters and adequately clarified.

PRE-ISLAMIC ERA:

    As has been said earlier bigamy and polygamy were considered legal by all the nations of the world. As there was no limit on the number of wives, man took hundreds of wives and concubines. Emperors, Kings and Bishops all were accustomed to polygamy. In the Bible, it is mentioned that Prophet Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred harems. While, Prophet David had ninety-nine and Abraham had three, Jacob and Moses had four each. Sri Krishna had more than six hundred queens. In the Vedic scripture, more than one wife was allowed and mentions were made of ten, thirteen and twenty-seven wives at different times.
    In these circumstances, as there was no limit to numbers, some Companions had more than four wives, at a time. On the contrary, the Prophet, from the prime of his life, until the middle age, remained married with only one lady, Hazrat Khadija , whereas, if he so desired, he could have married scores of beauty Queens of Arabia. Nevertheless, he is on record to have refused proposals of palaces, along with the most beautiful princesses, in exchange of renouncing his Mission. Nothing could deter him from his mission of the truth. A simple nod was enough in his exalted state for woman and wealth rolling on his feet. The Prophet was never tempted, for no temptation was great enough to sway him away from the path of the Truth. Though Islam has allowed polygamy, it has put canonical constraint, according to the Qurän, to discourage the practice, if certain conditions are not met strictly. If there is the slightest doubt as to the fulfilment of these conditions, it is advised that one should remain married to and content with only one wife.
    On the earth, Islam is the only religion that has proclaimed women as equal to men. This religion provided for rehabilitation of widows by remarriage. On the other hand, this very religion sought to arrest debauchery, adultery and lasciviousness by allowing polygamy. To accomplish the same, Hinduism had made provision for self-immolation of the widow, at her husbands’ pyre. This cruel and barbarous act glorified to inspire women, in fact to deceive them into an inhuman act: (this has been disbanded by enactment of law during the later stages of the British rule). God Has sent woman as the friend and benediction for the man, not as a despised creature. Therefore, marriage in Islam instituted on sacrosanct ideals. For maintaining the purity of the human society, man is paired with woman to propagate the creation of God. The union of male and female is sanctified by marital vows. Islam condemns any illicit sexual relationship between the sexes as a sin punishable by death. It is a great sin, and no other religion has prescribed such a strict measure, as stoning to death.
    The holy Qurän has instructed the Prophet to get an oath from females, embracing the new religion, to refrain from adultery: (Al-Qurän - 16:12). In unequivocal terms, the Qurän has ordained extreme restraint describing promiscuity as an evil and immoral act (Al-Qurän - 17:32). Islam has strictly forbidden free mixing between sexes. Sex outside marriage is banned and punishable by death in Islam. Islam appended utmost importance to the chastity and virginity of woman, and both men and women are urged to possess good characters.
    Every family consists of a few individual men and women and a tribe consists of some families, living together, and then a nation, a country and so on. To establish a prosperous and disciplined country and a nation, well natured and disciplined individuals are necessary. Marriage helps a human to promote Allah’s purpose of populating the world, with well-mannered, pious and disciplined human beings. Monogamy, bigamy or polygamy, whatever, the purpose of marriage is not the fulfilment of carnal desire, but much more broad. Marriage is compulsory for every man and woman; it is the practice (Sunnah) of the Prophet. Islamic system of marriage has come from the life of the Prophet. Through him, Quränic revelations have descended and his practice and sayings are Ahadith. These together are the principal guiding reference for every conceivable act of the Muslims, for both the private and public lives. Islam, as such, is the complete code of life. Leading his life, according to the Quränic injunctions, Muhammad created examples to be followed. He taught his disciples by example, to leave no confusion in their minds. In the examples that Muhammad set, one is marriage, the sacred and blessed bondage for the propagation of human race. It is our blessed duty to establish a blissful relationship between men and women, through the institution of marriage. This is a natural human propensity, which is discouraged by some other major religions.
    Islam has never depicted women as vulgar and undesirable. The Bible says, “If you want to negotiate your journey safely, and then remove women, the hazard from the way.” The Jewish people consider women as ‘the permanent curse’ for the human society. In both Christianity and Judaism, women are viewed as the ‘bristle of the evil tree’. Only Islam has honoured women designating them as the ‘Flower of the Paradise’, and the ‘Source and Fountain of Peace’ in this arid mundane life. Placing women on an exalted position and assuring an equal status with men is a radical action taken by Islam. Islam has not derided beauty of women. On the contrary, Muhammad said, “Marry women considering four qualities in them, namely: chastity, virtue, pedigree, beauty and wealth.” In the Qurän and Ahadith, the blissful marital bond and the bride are praised repeatedly. The Prophet has described women as the greatest reward for men. While, this animated and exciting alliance, marriage, shall exist on the earth, the Prophet’s (PBUH) contribution to the institution shall be remembered.

THE PIOUS CONSORTS OF MUHAMMAD:

     Muhammad, gradually, took twelve wives. That was a period, when bigamy and polygamy was very common and legal in Arabia. When Muhammad earned divinity and started preaching the Unity of God, then to restrain him from his mission, the Quraish tried to tempt him. They offered him Kingdom with palaces and beautiful, noble ladies. He (PBUH) refused. Before that at the age of twenty-five, he tied the nuptial knot with Khadija, a widow of forty, with several children. With her, he lived a blissfully happy married life for twenty-five years. During her lifetime, he did not take another wife. After her death, forced by circumstances, he took eleven more wives between the age of fifty and fifty-nine, specially, forced by the need to care for the motherless young daughters and other social and political reasons. None of them except Ayesha was a maiden. Others were old and widow, divorced, abandoned slaves or prisoner of wars. A list of his wives is given below to show how and when the Prophet accepted them and to show the brides’ identity with age at marriage and death, and the Prophet’s (PBUH) age at the time of the marriage:

WIVES OF THE PROPHET AT A GLANCE: 

                 
   

Sl. No.	Name of Bride at marriage	Age & Status at marriage	Prophet’s Age at marriage	Death
01.	Khadijatul-Kubra	40, widow	25 unmarried	65, 11th year of Divinity 11 Ramadhan
02	Shawda bint Jomaa	55,     widow	50	78, 21 Hegira
03.	Ayesha Siddiqa	6, maiden,from 9 stayed with Muhammad	51	66, 58 Hegira
04.	Hafsa	19, widow	54, 2(H)	62,Shaban,45(H)
05.	Joynab bint Khozaima	30, widow	55, 3(H)	30, 3(H)
06.	Umme-Salma	27, widow	55, 3(H)	85, 63(H)
07.	Joynab bint Jahash	37, divorced	56, 4(H)	53, 20(H)
08.	Juwaiera	20, widowed, POW-slave	56, 5(H)	65, 50(H)
09	Maria Kibtia	Egyptian, royal, Christian maiden(disputed)	-57, 5(H)
10.	Sofia	POW-slave, 17, Jew, widow (royally descendent of Moses & Haroon)	58, 6(H)	60, 50(H)
11.	Umme-Habiba	35, deserted	58, (H)	73, 44(H)
12.	Maimuna	old & widow	59, (7)	-, 51(H)

    Muhammad liberated a prisoner of war (slave) Bibi Raihana of the Koreza tribe. That the Prophet accepted her as a wife (PBUH) is stated in some of his biographies, which is disputed by historians. Wakedi ibn Sa’ad supports the hypothesis while, Hafiz ibn Mundar and Hafiz ibn Hajar disagree. An Imam of ethics, Hafiz ibn Mundar in unambiguous terms asserts that Muhammad has set Raihana free, and she went back to her tribe. Hafiz ibn Hajar attests the assertion of Ibn Mundar. Hazrat Maimuna is the last wife of the Prophet. A few more lucky ladies are said to have been married with the Prophet; but they had to be separated from him for various reasons, before they could live with him.

HAZRAT KHADIJATUL-KUBRA:

    Muhammad was a glowing young man, shining like a full moon in the Meccan sky, known as Al-Amin and As-Sadique for his righteous and truthful character. He earned fame for his honesty, astuteness as a promising businessperson with an amiable disposition. A rich widow named Khadija soon noticed his pleasing personality, name and fame. She invited Muhammad, to look after her business. With the consent of his patron and protector, Abu Talib, his beloved uncle, he accepted the offer. Now with new responsibility of trade and commerce, he travelled to countries like Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Trading his merchandise there, he made substantial profits and on returning home, he turned over Khadija’s share to her, immediately. With the taking over by Muhammad, Khadija’s business flourished, gradually. His diligence, honesty, righteousness, manners and purity of nature greatly fascinated Khadija. She was renowned for her beauty and quality, despite being a widow, and better known as Tahira (the chaste) to the Meccans. Many rich and noble leaders and chieftains were eager to marry the extremely wealthy Khadija.
    In those days in Arabia, adult women could propose marriage to the man of their own choice, without consulting their guardians. A niece of Waraka, a sage and a learned man of the then Arabia, Khadija realized that Muhammad, was different from the others. God inspired her. Muhammad was much above the ordinary lot. Mecca was excited and acclaimed Muhammad for the simplicity and sweetness of his character, which charmed Khadija’s heart. Her soul stirred with a divine delight. Enthralled by the Messenger of God she gave her heart to Muhammad. Farsighted Khadija, without losing any time, sent the proposal of marriage to Muhammad, through an emissary. Consulting with beloved Uncle Abu Talib, he agreed to the proposal. Muhammad was twenty-five and Khadija was forty then. Both belonged to the Quraish tribe and their parents had died. In the presence of Muhammad’s (PBUH) uncles, Abu Talib and Hamza, the uncle of Khadija, Aamer bin Asad and other notables, this historic marriage was solemnized. Thus, began the august journey of Islam.
    Khadija is designated as the nurturer of nascent Islam. She is matchless among the women in Islam. Noble, rich, brilliant and above all, virtuous, she was respected by all. For virtues and purity of character, she was given the title of Tahira. Muhammad planted the shield of peace with which Islam is protecting the world and Khadija promoted that. She nourished the new religion with the love and affection of a mother. After her marriage, she sacrificed all her wealth and slaves at the feet of Muhammad. The benevolent Apostle of God liberated all those slaves, and distributed the wealth among the poor and began living an austere life. Khadija did not object and accepted an austere life style. Inspired by the noble acts of Muhammad, she backed and patronized him.
    In the beginning of Islam, for a wife like Khadija, Muhammad could devote himself to the dissemination of the true faith: the faith in the Unity of God. Free from temporal duties, he gave his undivided attention to spreading the cause of Islam. Inspired by the noble qualities of the apostle of God, Khadija dedicated herself to the service of the humanity. This noble lady earned the distinction of becoming the first Muslim. In the initial stages, her unflinching love for Muhammad, and unconditional support, has advanced the cause of Islam, immensely. Fifteen years after the marriage with the Khadija, Muhammad attained divinity at forty. Learning it from Muhammad, she immediately acknowledged his faith. She swore allegiance to the unity of Allah and to Muhammad as the Prophet of God reciting: “There is no God, but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet.”
    When the Prophet meditated in the cave of Hira, Khadija carried food and water for him, every few days. At the manifestation of the descent of revelation, she would cover Prophet with quilts. If Muhammad worried about the divinity, she would console and comfort him. Immediately after Gabriel taught him the rules of prayers, Muhammad repeated those to Khadija, and then taught the young Ali. These three are the first to say prayers in a congregation at the Ka’aba. In the seventh year of divinity, the pagan Quraish drove Muhammad, his uncle, Abu Talib, and others of the Banu-Hashim tribe into confinement: in a valley outside Mecca. They cut off the supply of food and water to them. Khadija, born with a golden spoon in her mouth, passed days without food in confinement, without any protest. When not one voice was raised in support of Muhammad, though a lady, she staunchly supported his cause; and renounced the ancient religion of the Quraish. Perhaps, that is why God has granted her so much honour and respect. In her lifetime, Muhammad through Gabriel received the news of her being granted the Paradise.
She would personally care for the Prophet, though she was an extremely wealthy lady. Muhammad after her death never ate meat of animals sacrificed at his home, without sharing that with her friends. The Messenger of God, not only loved her dearly, but also respected and honoured her a lot. The Prophet never forgot her. Every year animals were sacrificed in her name. Her friends received gifts regularly from the Prophet. At the beginning of Islam, the love, devotion, support and cooperation that she gave the Prophet are matchless. In the face of adverse situations, persecution and neglect, she remained steadfastly at his side. No other soul has done so much for the Prophet and his mission. Her name will remain written in golden words in the annals of Islam.
    The Prophet loved her dearly. Reminiscing past memories, during the last days of his life, the Prophet constantly remembered her. He would repeatedly say, “When people called me a liar, she trusted me, when people did not believe me, she embraced Islam, when there was nobody to help me she helped me.” Ayesha narrates that entering his home Muhammad, repented the absence of Khadija. One day unable to bear his expression of remorse, Ayesha involuntarily said, “Oh Messenger God, don’t I care for and love you, more than her? Allah has given you better wives than her.” Hearing that the Prophet said, “Ayesha don’t say that. Khadija is my first wife and she is the first to accept my faith. Her moveable and immovable properties and wealth were surrendered for Islam. Would Islam flourish so much, if initially, she did not render her unblemished support to the cause of Islam? She respected and loved me very much, and I reciprocated.” He loved Khadija very much all his life, and never hesitated to express that under any circumstances.
    In the four sons and four daughters of Muhammad, Khadija bore him three sons and four daughters. The sons were Hazrat Qasim, Hazrat Tyyib, Hazrat Tahir and the daughters were Hazrat Joynab, Hazrat Rokayya, Hazrat Kulthum and Hazrat Fatima. The fourth son, Hazrat Ibrahim, was born to Hazrat Maria. All his sons died in infancy. Among the daughters, only Fatima survived her father, but quickly followed him in death. She died only after six months of the Prophet’s (PBUH) departure from this world.
    In the tenth year of divinity, on the eleventh of Ramadhan, three years before the migration to Medïna, Khadija died in Mecca, at age of sixty-five. She remains buried at Jannatul Mualla, in Mecca. Muhammad himself laid her in her last resting-place.

HAZRAT SHAWDA BINT JOMAA:

     Hazrat Khadija’s death was a severe blow to Muhammad. His Uncle Abu Talib died earlier in the same year. These deaths left him sad and vulnerable. He called this year ‘Amul Huzn’ (year of mourning). His enemies, particularly, the Quraish intensified their attacks on him. Their persecution of the Prophet became intolerable and he moved to Tayef. Abu Talib, the chieftain of the Hashemite, was the protector, and Khadija was the constant companion of Muhammad. His life partner, the nurturer of nascent Islam, Ummatul Muminin Khadija was also his comrade, in the most difficult days of his life. They strengthened his mission, by helping, supporting, caring and comforting him, in the face of stiff challenge from the powerful Quraish. In their absence, his mission became very dangerous and difficult. The Tayefians was worse than the Meccans. Stoned and injured by them, he returned to Mecca, among his sworn enemies, who were after his life. Muhammad returned to Mecca with blood trickling through the wounds. Nothing could deter him from his divine mission. Ignoring all hurdles and difficulties, persecution and tyranny, he steadfastly, performed his apostolic duty. For the sake of his holy mission, he remained outside his home, most of the time. At home his young motherless daughters, Kulthum and Fatima stayed alone. Their safety and security was compromised. Muhammad was greatly perturbed. To look after him, the daughters and the household, there was none. Khadija managed the household, without bothering the Prophet. He remained free to concentrate fully on his sacrosanct mission.
    His relatives, specially, Aunt Hazrat Khawla, the wife of Othman ibn Majun, advised marriage to reduce the burden on him. However, Khadija’s memory was still fresh in his mind. He sadly replied, “Where would I get a second Khadija?” Khawla proposed Shawda, among the widows, and Ayesha bint Abu Bakr, among the maidens. She further said, “While Shawda would manage the household, Ayesha with her sharp intellect would be an asset for Islam. She would benefit the new religion, greatly.” In this way, pressurized by the relatives and compelled by his own need, he agreed to marry the old, widowed, destitute Shawda. She earlier migrated to Abyssinia with her husband Sokran, at the behest of the Prophet, and returned a widowed destitute and abandoned by her relatives. Marrying her, in the tenth year of divinity, Muhammad handed over the responsibility of his household to her.
     Muhammad married fifty-five year old Shawda, at fifty. She is one of the leading ladies in the life of the Prophet, during the starting phase of Islam. After going through the pain and distress of migration to Abyssinia, and losing a husband, her agony ended when she became the Prophet’s wife. At both Mecca and Medïna, she managed the household of Muhammad, and brought up his daughters as her own. She earned Muhammad’s love and affection for that and he greatly cared for her happiness and comfort. From her room, in Mecca, he went to the Journey on a Burraq, now famed as the Më’râj, to a rendezvous with Allah. He went via the Ka’aba and Baitul Mukaddas. No other spouse of the Prophet was bestowed with this rare honour. The Muslims therefore, specially revere her. Managing and running the household of Muhammad, deftly, she proved Khawla right. For her devotion, loyalty, obedience and reverence of the Prophet, she was at the vanguard. At the Hujjatul-Bida (the last Pilgrimage) the Prophet, addressing his wives said, “After me, you would remain at home.” After his passing away, Hazrat Shawda, strictly abided by the instructions of Muhammad. She never came out of her home, not even to perform Hajj. She said, “I have performed both the Hajj and Omrah; now, it is time to obey the Prophet’s bidding.”
    The holy association with the Prophet moulded her character. Shawda had no desire for wealth or worldly possessions. The only motto of her life was to abide by the injunctions of the Prophet. Hazrat Ayesha said about her: “Except Shawda, no other woman has aroused in me the desire for my soul to be in her body.” She further said, “Whoever met her never forgot her.” Humanitarian service and Charity were her special qualities.
    The second Caliph, Omar once sent a bag of dirham (money: monetary units) at her service. She, immediately, distributed those among the poor and the needy. To others, she was very kind and respectful. Due to old age, she gifted her turn with the Prophet to Ayesha. Ayesha gladly accepted the gift. At her deathbed, she called everybody, and asked for forgiveness. She died at the age of seventy-eight and buried at Jannatul Baki, in Medïna. She narrated five Ahadith and she bore no children to Muhammad.

HAZRAT AYESHA SIDDIQA:

    Rasul-e-Akbar (the great Messenger) between the age of fifty and fifty-nine took ten more wives, besides, Shawda. Among them, the daughter of the first Caliph, Abu Bakr, and Ayesha was one of the notables. Hazrat Abu Bakr was a close and lifelong friend of Muhammad. Often, he has risked his life for him. Apprehensive that the Prophet might be disturbed in his sleep; Abu Bakr silently bore snakebites, while, hiding in a cave, on the way to Medïna. He was contemplating a marriage between Ayesha and the Prophet, to make their friendship eternal. Right then, by divine coincidence, Khawla came with the Proposal. Khawla, arguing that to eliminate superstition Islam needs a brilliant girl like Ayesha, persuaded the Prophet.
    In those days, female issues had no standing. They were buried alive and sacrificed for the deities. Marrying a friend’s daughter was not legitimate. Eradication of all these superstitions was the purpose of the marriage. Khawla is on record to say that this marriage is not to satisfy individual desire, but for greater good of Islam and the nation. This prophetic assertion of Khawla came true. Muhammad after considering the matter deeply, reached the conclusion that the marriage would be beneficial and firmly bound his friendship with Abu Bakr, a childhood friend.
     Muhammad gave his consent. Abu Bakr was delighted! He, immediately, consulted his old father, Abu Kohafa and wife Umme-Rumman (RA- Ayesha's mother). As Ayesha was betrothed to the son of Zubair ibn Mutaam, their opinion was necessary. None of the family members, including Zubair, accepted Islam until then and they did not intend to do so. Under these circumstances, they did not want a marriage with a Muslim girl, in the apprehension that the groom may embrace Islam. Therefore, they gladly released Abu Kohafa from his commitment. Now, there was no impediment to the marriage between the Prophet and Ayesha. Consequently, the Marriage was solemnized at a dower of five hundred dirham. Hazrat Hamza and other nobles were present at the ceremony.
    Hazrat Ayesha has the honour of being the first maiden to be married according to Islamic rituals. She was six years old at marriage and stayed with her parents until she was nine, when they migrated to Medïna. After the migration, she started living with Muhammad. Her early education at home reached its culmination, being exposed to Muhammad. She learnt the Qurän and its interpretation directly from the Prophet. Ayesha not only read and memorized the holy Qurän but tried to comprehend it fully. Any question or confusion, in her mind, regarding any verse of the Qurän, was referred to the Prophet for clarification. Thus, she had the perfect opportunity to learn from the source, and she fully used it. She was brilliant, sharp, astute, and wise and was endowed with an agile analytical mind. Like an intelligent, talented and diligent student, with indomitable eagerness, courage and inquisitiveness, she discussed, argued and questioned her tutor Muhammad. This she did to learn more by taking the advantage of being a consort of the Prophet. She constantly expanded the horizon of her knowledge by exploring the Prophet’s (PBUH) mind through questioning him.
    Added to her yearning to learn, the sacred companionship of the Prophet enriched her knowledge and moulded her virtuous character. Muhammad would rectify Ayesha at the slightest fault, and constantly, lectured her. Under the blessed tutelage of the Prophet, she learned the holy Qurän, Ahadith, Fiqah and Akayed, and of the mundane sciences: she learned Law, Literature, Constitution, Economics, Logic, and the Science of warfare, Chemistry, Natural Science and Medicine. She was recognized by the Muslim world, as an expert in those subjects. She memorized the history of humankind and the lives of the prophets before Muhammad. Ayesha also memorized the prescriptions and the pharmaceutical preparations prescribed by the doctors to Muhammad. She learned Chemistry from the Prophet. An erudite lady with an agile mind, she was extremely sharp, intelligent, wise and had a deeply analytical faculty, endowed by a sharp memory. Because of the teachings of the Prophet, she became the undisputed expert in Shariat (Islamic law) after the death of Muhammad. She was equal, in eminence and expertise, to the celebrated experts in Qurän, Hadith, Qyas (Infra), etc. like, Omar Faruque, Ali, Ibn Abbas and Abu Huraira. She was equally deft in poetry, literature and history. After the passing away of the Prophet, she opened a Madrasa at her abode and taught there herself. Among the Madrasas in Medïna, her Madrasa was the biggest.
    After the death of Muhammad, his competent companions spread to Asia, Africa and even to Europe, to preach Islam. At the passing of the third Caliph, Hazrat Ali was elected the fourth Caliph and he shifted the seat of government to Kufa. Mu'äwiyah, a provincial governor, disobeying Ali, made Damascus his capital and ruled Syria. Medïna retained its eminence, as the seat of ecclesiastical education. Among the learned scholars, Ayesha was prominent and taught at the Madrasa of the Masjidun Nabubi, the largest of its kind. Other leading scholars were Abdullah ibn Abbas, Abu Huraira and Zaid ibn Said. Ayesha even surpassed the male companions, in the mastery of some subjects except Hazrat Ali. These scholars had their own Madrasas. At the Madrasa where Ayesha taught students who gathered in so great a number that at times, it was difficult to hold them, even within the Masjidun Nabubi. Besides, the local and foreign students, she would take the responsibility of students of her own family and orphan students. With great care and devotion, she taught her students, and students learned with eagerness. During Hajj, people gathered in front of her tent, in thousands. They questioned her on various subjects. Citing from the Qurän and Hadith, she clarified their points and gave them appropriate answers. The pilgrims returned home, satisfied, and spread the interpretive explanation given by Ayesha.
    A courageous, bold and straightforward speaker, she never flinched at telling the truth, the command of God. She did not care about offending anybody, while upholding the truth. Amir Mu'äwiyah and his governors’ misdeeds were strongly criticized, especially; the injustices meted to Ali and his family. Ayesha would not hesitate to admit her mistakes. She was very gentle, humble and independent. She made the world understand that women are not to be confined within the four walls of their homes; since, they can play equally important and fruitful roles outside their homes as they can within, both in war and peace.
    Renowned Scholars said that, at least, one fourths of the Shariat came from Ayesha. Any dispute, arising in the interpretation of the Qurän Hadith, was referred to her. Specially, during the first three Caliphs, any question about the illustration and narration of the Qurän and Hadith, was referred to Ayesha. She gave appropriate and satisfactory solutions to them. She finely expounded intricacies of the Shariat. Her students revered her and she looked after them as her own children. While, counselling married women, she advised to educate their husbands, as well.
Hazrat Ayesha brought up many orphans. On attaining age, she had married and settled them in life. Benevolence, charity, philanthropy adored her character. She helped the poor, destitute and the distressed, according to their situations. Ayesha remained satisfied with very little. A rich man’s daughter, passing comfortable life in childhood, she never showed any eagerness for ease and comfort at the household of the Prophet. She watched wealth stacked, at her door, and vanishing quickly, in charity, nothing remained for them to enjoy. Aspiration for these riches never touched her. She never disparaged anybody.
    Hazrat Ayesha participated with Muhammad, in Jihads (religious wars). She has shown extraordinary courage in the field. This talented lady endowed with qualities of head and heart, serving Islam, earned a high status for her. There is hardly any comparison of Ayesha in the whole of the Muslim world and outside. During the first, second and the third Caliphs, she was regularly consulted and she provided them with important counsel to solve the problems of the state. The state could enforce law and order in the community to establish peace and tranquillity everywhere. This process greatly benefited, the first two Caliphs, as they materialized her suggestions. Stern measures, against the defaulters as advocated by Ayesha, was not applied by the softhearted, Hazrat Othman, the third Caliph. This weakness caused a chaotic situation for the first time in the Muslim-state, resulting in the murder of the Caliph.
    Among her students, Khalid was famous. He, in his book entitled, ‘Ferdousul Hikmat’ recorded the information received from Ayesha . On which the foundation of Jaber ibn Hayan’s Ilmul-Cheimia was laid. She learned the science of Chemistry and Medicine from the Prophet. Later, she researched and improved upon what she learnt. She taught her students medicine along with other subjects. Medicine was not as developed as it is now. Traditional healers treated patients with plants, herbs and shrubs. Some were experts in treating particular diseases. Once, a Companion asked her, “Ummatul Muminin, we are not surprised that you write poems, since your father is a poet; but where did you learn medicine?” She replied, “When the Rasul (PBUH) fell ill, general practitioners came, from all over Arabia, to treat him. I listened to their discussion of illness and treatment and committed everything to my memory.” Besides that, in the holy Qurän there are references to various flowers and fruits and their therapeutic uses. She learnt those from the Prophet.
    Muhammad, for the very first time employed females to nurse wounded soldiers in the field. Ayesha accompanied the Prophet in many wars. She collected arrows for reusing and served water to the thirsty and wounded soldiers. “Poetry is the only media of expression of emotions,” said she. She asserted, “If it eulogizes Allah and praises His Rasul (PBUH), and does not corrupt, there is nothing wrong in composing poems.”
    By birth, Ayesha was a poet. The Arabs respected poets very much and everybody, irrespective of gender, patronized poetry. Big congregations were held to enjoy recitation by the renowned poets. People in great numbers attended these gatherings. Poems were used as a media to inspire Arab nationalism. Therefore, it was a great honour for a woman to compose poetry.
    Her language was eloquent and lucid. She was careful about the language and accent of her students. There were fiery-orators who inspired people to fight in battles. Ayesha was such an eminent orator. Ayesha narrated in details all the major events of the Islamic era during the Prophet’s time and after. The family, the conjugal life, the state of the Prophet at the descent of the holy Qurän and Wahies (divine messages), prayers for the day and the night, manners, etc., were described by her for the posterity. She is credited with the narration of 2210 Ahadith (Traditions). Of them 174 are cited jointly by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim (both the Imams collected and published Ahadith) and they, separately, cited 54 and 58 more Ahadith, respectively.
    Hazrat Ayesha was a modest, virtuous, gentle and simple soul, dynamically independent. Her independence, self-respect and unwillingness to accept anything, without fully comprehending, was the reason that some people misunderstood her. She was gifted with the faculty of understanding Ahadith. At that time all the ‘Sayings’ of Muhammad were not interpreted and analyzed. She elucidated the reason, objectives, and effectiveness of the intricate and subtle aspects, in lucid language. Thus, she has enlightened the Muslim world, saving them from bewilderment and confusion. For this distinctive work, she remains one of the most remembered ladies of the Islamic world. After the death of Othman, hearing of the chaotic law and order situation, she wrote with a pitiful heart:

“If the leaders of my nation, to my counsel paid attention,
I would have saved them, from conspiracy and destruction.”

    Ummatul Muminin Ayesha loved the Prophet, very much. Out of her love for the Prophet, she cared for his friends and relatives and respected them. She was very pious and fasted most of the days of the month. All the while, she worshipped Allah and prayed to Him. Almost every year, she performed Hajj and strictly observed the Pardah (veil). Her sense of Pardah (segregation) was so strong that after, Omar the second Caliph was buried beside the Prophet and Abu Bakr she never visited the Rawja (tomb of the Prophet) without a veil.
    Twice, wahies descended concerning Ayesha. Once, her camel fell behind the caravan, while returning to Medïna from a trip with the Prophet. Mischievous people started spreading rumours, smearing her character. Allah, the Protector of Honour, sent a Wahi, declaring her innocence (Al-Qurän - 24:4). From then on, it became mandatory to prove the guilt of infidelity, before accusing any woman of such a sin. For her loyalty to Muhammad, Allah declared her, ‘Siddiqa (The Loyal)’. On another occasion, while on trip she lost her necklace. The search delayed the trip, and the caravan had to stop at such a place where there was no water. Allah sent a Wahi allowing Taiyammum (ablution with sand). The Companions were happy and prayed for her (Al-Qurän - 5:6). On the seventeenth of Ramadhan, Hegira 58(corresponding 13 June 678 AD), at 66, Ayesha died. Abu Huraira was the governor of Medïna led the funeral prayers. She remains buried at Jannatul Baki, in Medïna.

HAZRAT HAFSA :

To refuse, any proposal of a father to marry his daughter was considered a serious disgrace. Demeaned in such a way, the family had to endure social humiliation. Hafsa, the daughter of Omar was widowed in the battle of Ohud. Omar loved Hafsa very much. He was very perplexed at her fate. Abu Bakr and Othman both declined the proposal of accepting Hafsa a wife. They were great friends of Omar; he, therefore, was very much dejected at their refusal. Hearing of their refusal and Omar’s plight, Muhammad proposed and married her. Hafsa was nineteen at marriage, in the third year of Hegira. The Prophet liked Omar very much. He was second only to Abu Bakr as a friend and companion of the Prophet. He made these friendships eternal, marrying the pious daughters of these two friends.
    Ummul Muminin, Hazrat Hafsa, was very scholarly. In her early life, Ayesha learned many things from her. She narrated sixty Traditions, which she heard from the Prophet and Omar. Hafsa acquired profound knowledge of the meaning and essence of the religion, in the company of the Prophet. This education was tremendously helpful in her later years, in enlargement of Islam. Fascinated by her erudite discussion on the Qurän, the Prophet took measures to enlighten her further. Hazrat Hafsa disliked disagreement and discord. Her brother Abdullah ibn Omar liked to remain away from conflict and confrontation and stayed in seclusion in the home. She urged her brother to come out of his seclusion after the ‘Battle of Siffin’, when negotiation about a compromise was suggested. “Though you would not be personally benefited, you must participate in this, because, people depend and respect your righteous decisions; silence on your part would confuse them:” said she, to her brother.
    She was upright and straightforward like his father and never hesitated to say the right thing to anybody. Omar on many occasions admonished her for being harsh to the Prophet. She was incensed quickly like her father, Hazrat Omar Faruque. Because of the similarity in temperament, Omar liked her very much. Her father’s character was truly mirrored in her. As she was quick tempered, so was she courageous and bold, in the battlefield, like her father. A commander of the Prophet, she led and fought in many wars, with full competence. To win would have been difficult for the Muslims, if Hafsa did not participate in the battles of Tabuk, Khyber and others. There were love and affection between Ayesha and Hafsa, as was there between Abu Bakr and Omar . Both stayed together in the same house like sisters, and accompanied the Prophet on tours, occasionally. This regal lady died at sixty-two, during Shaban in the forty-fifth Hegira. She was childless and was buried at Jannatul Baki.

HAZRAT JOYNAB BINT KHOZAIMA:

    Joynab was widowed, after the martyrdom of her first husband, Abdullah ibn Jahan, in the Battle of Ohud, in the third Hegira. She was passing very tough days as a widow. The Prophet, hearing of her plight, took her under his shelter as his wife. She was thirty years old then. Luck did not favour her longer and she died the same year. Joynab was the only other wife of the Prophet buried by him, after Khadija. As she was very charitable, she was called the Ummul Masakin (the mother of the poor). Jannatul Baki is her last resting-place.

HAZRAT UMME-SALMA:

    Abu Umayya of Mecca was a kind-hearted noble man. In the beginning of Islam, his daughter, Umme-Salma, a beautiful lady, along with her first husband, Abdullah bin Abdul Asad, embraced Islam and migrated to Abyssinia. Later returned to Mecca and again migrated to Medïna. In this manner, she is the only Muslim lady who migrated twice, one negotiating the journey through the waters of a mighty sea and then through an arid desert. The pagan’s persecution was intolerable. They took away her infant child and returned it after seven days. Abdullah was a valiant warrior of Islam who suffered grievous injuries at the Battle of Ohud, and died the next year of the wounds. Already living in harsh conditions, her husband’s martyrdom worsening her condition forced her into very difficult situations. The Prophet consoled and comforted her. Later by marrying her, Muhammad gave her shelter and status.
    Umme-Salma was very intelligent and a wise women. She was always very alert about the comfort and happiness of the Prophet. Her slave Sofina was liberated with the condition of serving the Prophet all his life. As she was very learned in Fiqh and other political subjects, the Prophet respected her. During the Treaty of Hudaibiya, she was with the Prophet. According to the term of the pact, the Muslims had to return from there without proceeding to Mecca. Except Abu Bakr, none consented to the seemingly unequal agreement. The Companions was very displeased and dejected, they ignored the Prophets (PBUH) orders for sacrificing animals. Thrice, the Prophet ordered and it was ignored. Muhammad went to his wife Umme-Salma who was accompanying him, and told her everything. She advised him to go ahead with sacrificing his own animal, and shave his head for coming out of Ihram, without telling anybody anything. He did as advised. Now it dawned upon the Companions that the order was irreversible, and they complied.
This is a remarkable incidence in the history of Islam. By judging the mood of the people properly and acting accordingly, an awkward situation was saved. It illustrated the depth of her understanding of the human nature. It has been stated in ‘Imanul Harmain’ that no other woman in history gave such an appropriate advice to anybody. All of the wives of the Prophet acquired great wisdom living with the Prophet. Umme-Salma enriched and strengthened Islam for a long time after the death of the Prophet, as she died long after him. After Ayesha, she has described the largest number of Traditions among women. She narrated three hundred and seventy-eight Traditions. Ayesha respected her very much. She would always offer her seat to Umme-Salma. Umme-Salma, affectionately, would kiss Ayesha on the forehead.
    She was recognized for her ability to give accurate judgement on a matter, which was always universally accepted. This is an evidence of her sophisticated analytical ability. Companions like, Abu Huraira and Abbas who were renowned for their knowledge and wisdom, depended on the Ummatul Muminins. Hazrat Umme-Salma explained intricate matters in simple and lucid language, making them easily understandable. She loved Muhammad very intensely. A very beautiful and charitable lady, she never cared for mundane wealth and prosperity. In sixty-three Hegira, the year of the Kerbala tragedy, she died at the age of eighty-five. Abu Huraira led the funeral prayer. Umme-Salma was buried at Jannatul Baki.

HAZRAT JOYNAB BINT JAHASH:

     A Muslim of the earlier period of Islam, Hazrat Joynab bint Jahash was a first cousin of Muhammad. She migrated to Medïna along with her mother and brother. Muhammad married her to his foster son Zaid whom he liberated and adopted earlier. This was done to illustrate the great ideal of equality by breaking the long established aristocratic superiority and haughtiness. Joynab was a noble lady belonging to the great Hashemite clan, while Zaid was an emancipated slave. Joynab at first refused to marry Zaid, since, she was still filled with patrician pride of her birth and status; and as she was harbouring the desire of becoming a wife of the Prophet. However, after the Quränic message: “. . . and obey God and His Apostle (Al-Qurän- 33:5),” she consented to the marriage. Unfortunately, the marriage did not work. She could not tolerate her husband, as he was a freed slave, and not a noble like her. Allah wanted to prove another point and eradicate another superstition through this morganatic marriage. Zaid expressed his wish to divorce her, but Muhammad repeatedly advised against dissolution of marriage. All efforts failed and the marriage was dissolved through a divorce.
    After the divorce, Joynab became a destitute. The Prophet was visibly disturbed, as he was the initiator of the marriage between Zaid and Joynab. Naturally, the responsibility to rehabilitate Joynab fell on the Prophet. Muhammad was puzzled and heartbroken, because nobody wanted to marry a hotheaded thirty-five years old divorcee. The Prophet blamed himself for the mishap, as he was the matchmaker. On the other hand, before her marriage, Joynab expressed her desire to be Muhammad’s (PBUH) wife.
    In those days, marrying a divorcee of an adopted son was prohibited as a foster son was considered a real son in Arabia. So the Prophet waited to hear from the Lord of Honour and Power, Allah and Most Gracious Allah Sent the following messages through the Qurän:

1. … NOR HAS HE MADE YOUR WIVES WHOM YE DIVORCE BY ZIRÂR YOUR MOTHERS: NOR HAS HE MADE YOUR ADOPTED SONS YOUR SONS. SUCH IS (ONLY) YOUR (MANNER OF) SPEECH BY YOUR MOUTHS. (AL-QURÄN - 33:4).

2. THEN WHEN ZAID HAS DISSOLVED (HIS MARRIAGE) WITH HER, WITH THE NECESSARY (FORMALITIES), WE JOINED HER IN MARRIAGE WITH THEE. (AL-QURÄN - 33:37).

    This was clearly a permission to enter in marital associations ignoring false relationship. Muhammad directly entered into Joynab’s room after the message was received. Religious formality by a Kazi was not necessary anymore, since, Most Gracious Allah Himself solemnized this marriage. A feast was given on the occasion and there came the instruction for Pardah (veil).
    Hazrat Joynab was a very beautiful lady with great qualities of heart and mind. She was self-restrained, virtuous, humane, benevolent, truthful and affectionate toward her kith and kin. In charity and magnanimity, she was very accomplished. Devotion and humility distinguished her religious rituals. The Prophet loved and respected her. Ummatul Muminins praised her honesty and truthfulness. She narrated eleven Traditions. Umme-Salma said, “Joynab, a virtuous worshiper, fasted and prayed regularly.” Ayesha said, “I have not seen anybody more religious, truthful, generous, benevolent and eager to please Allah than Joynab.” She also said, “Among the wives, she is the one who was equal to me in respect and position, in the eyes of the Prophet. Beggars and the poor received so much in charity from her that at her death; they were terrified and worried.” Once the Prophet told his pious wives, “That whose hand is long will join me first in death.” She was the first among the Ummatul Muminins to join the Prophet in death; her hands were long as she extended her hands in charity more than anyone else did. She had no children and died at the age of fifty-three in twenty Hegira. Jannatul Baki is her last resting-place.

HAZRAT JUWAIERA:

    Haris, the father of Juwaiera, was the Chief of the Bani Mustâlik tribe. She was married to her own tribe’s man Munafe bin Safwan. Both her father and the husband were avowed enemies of Islam. In a battle against the Prophet, famous as the Battle of Gajwae-Muraisia, her father was defeated and her husband was killed. She was brought to Medïna as a prisoner of war along with other prisoners. Juwaiera, the wise daughter of a Chieftain, decided to pay ransom according to the prevailing law, for her own freedom. Accordingly, she appeared before the Prophet and requested him for the ransom. The kind-hearted Prophet arranged for the ransom and set her free. Overwhelmed by the kindness of the Prophet, she wished to stay with him. Muhammad granted her, her wish and married her in the fifth Hegira. The consequences of this matrimonial relationship was very extensive; for the Companions immediately freed all the prisoners of war of the Bani Mustâlik tribe, without any ransom. Ummul Muminin Juwaiera says, “Three days before the Prophet went to battle the Bani Mustâlik, I dreamt that the moon travelling from Yathrib (Medïna) descended on my lap. I have not narrated this to anybody, but now I have seen the interpretation with my own eyes.” (Tafsir-e-Ma’aref ul-Qurän). Hazrat Ayesha said, “I have not seen anybody luckier than Juwaiera for his or her tribe. For her, hundreds belonging to Bani Mustâlik tribe were set free without any ransom.” She further said, “Juwaiera, had a captivating smile and was very civil, anybody that had seen her once was impressed by her. She had such a lovely aura of softness that it would induce respect and regard in the beholders, instantly.” The Prophet loved her very much. Every Friday she fasted. Once, the Prophet while returning at noon saw her in the same state as he saw her in the morning praying in the Mosque.
    Intelligent and wise Juwaiera narrated twenty-four otherwise twenty-five Traditions. In the fiftieth year of Hegira in the month of Rabiul Awwal, she died at the age of sixty-five. She is buried at Jannatul Baki.

HAZRAT MARIA KIBTIA:

    For the first time, in the sixth Hegira, the Prophet started for Mecca from Medïna for Hajj with fifteen hundred Companions. The Quraish stopped him at place called Hudaibiya. Here he entered in an agreement with the Quraish, which has become famous in history as the Treaty of Hudaibiya. Released from the opposition of the Quraish, the Prophet now sent his ambassadors to all over the world, with the invitation to accept Islam. During the process, gifts and letters were exchanged with kings and emperors, which brought international fame to the Prophet. The then Emperor Micaucus of Egypt of the Kibtia dynasty replied the Prophet with great respect and regards. He also sent precious gifts for Muhammad, along with two maidens named Shirin and Maria of royal descent. Some historians have described Maria as the first cousin of Emperor Micaucus.
    European critics have described these maidens as slaves. However, the letter from the emperor says, “Two maidens of noble origin of the Kibtia dynasty, excellent clothes and horse driven carriages for carrying them, are sent for your service.” They later accepted Islam. In the fifth Hegira, the Prophet accepted Maria Kibtia as his wife. She bore the Prophet his fourth son, Ibrahim. The other maiden, Shirin was married to poet Hazrat Hassan. At various times Muhammad married for different reasons, but never before, he took a Christian wife. Emperor Micaucus provided him with the opportunity and that created a bond with the Christian world. Muhammad provided Maria with comfort of life and always looked after her well-being. Maria Kibtia respected and venerated the Prophet. She had all the qualities of a queen. The Prophet passed the busiest time in his life when he married Maria and the message of Islam has already reached everywhere. He was the head of the state and at the same times the spiritual leader. As it was his duty to look after the affairs of the state, so was it his responsibility to propagate Islam. Along with other wives Hazrat Maria Kibtia, helped and cooperated with the Prophet, in doing both the duties.
    Hazrat Maria Kibtia bore the Prophet his fourth son and the last issue. He was named after Prophet Abraham. On the seventh day, an animal was sacrificed in his name, and his head was shaved. A foster mother was appointed for the child. However, at the age of one and a half years the child died. At his death Muhammad’s (PBUH), eyes were filled with tears.

HAZRAT SOFIA:

    Jewish princess Hazrat Sofia was a descendant of Hazrat Haroon, the brother of Moses. Among the wives of the Prophet, only she could claim to be a descendant of a prophet and a wife of a prophet, with royal lineage. Her father the chief of the Banu-Nazr, mother the daughter of the chief of Banu-Khuraiza and brother were sworn enemies of Islam. The clan of Sofia was very proud of the fact that they lived in the most fortified fortresses of Khyber and had plenty of arms and ammunition. Convinced that they were very strong and invincible, they lost no opportunity to oppose Islam and its Prophet. Constantly, they conspired against the Muslims, and breaking treaties helped their enemies. Once the Prophet pardoned them their misdeeds as they begged for forgiveness, but they went back to their old ways. At this, the Prophet was left with no other alternative than to take punitive measures. This time he attacked and conclusively defeated them. Hazrat Sofia’s father, brother and husband were killed in the battle and she was brought to Medïna as a prisoner of war. In accordance with the custom of the time, the war booties were divided among the victors. She fell to the share of the Prophet, but as prayed by Dahiya Kalbi, Muhammad gave her to him. Many of the Medinease were related to the Banu-Nazr and Banu-Khuraiza; they felt uneasy at the decision of handing over a noble lady to a commoner. Muhammad respecting their sentiments freed Hazrat Sofia. Impressed greatly by the magnanimity of the Prophet, she accepted Islam and asked for Muhammad’s (PBUH) shelter. The Prophet granting her, her wish accepted Sofia as his wife, in the sixth Hegira.
    Muhammad loved and cared for Sofia a great deal. Once during a journey, the camel carrying Sofia fell ill. The Prophet requested Hazrat Joynab to give Sofia the extra camel she had. Joynab refused saying: “I shall not give my camel to the daughter of a Jewish.” For this, Muhammad did not talk to Joynab for two months. Sofia had the idea that Ayesha, Hafsa and Joynab all deserved special place, as they belong to the noble Quraish tribe. The Prophet cheering her used to say, “You are the descendant of Moses and Haroon, and the wife of the Rasul, you are not inferior to them in any way.”
    Sofia, at her father’s abode came to know about Muhammad. She dreamed in her father’s house that the moon had come to her lap. Listening to the dream her father, the Jewish Chieftain, Huyai bin Akhtab became very angry. He slapped Sofia, saying, “You wish to be the queen of Medïna.” She, narrating another incident about her father said, “My father and my uncle, Yasser bin Akhtab went to see the Prophet when he arrived in Medïna. Coming back after seeing the Prophet, the elder brother said to the younger: ‘By God there is no doubt that he is that last Prophet of God’.” Even after all these, they did not listen to him; and opposing and conspiring against him, died a wretched death in a battle against the Prophet.
    Pious Sofia was the best cook among the wives of the Prophet. Wherever the Prophet was, she would send food for him and Muhammad would gladly eat those. She was of royal descent and brought plenty of precious stones and large quantity of gold and other wealth with her. At the behest of the Rasul of God, she departed with those to lead an austere life with Muhammad. Sofia intensely loved Muhammad. When, Muhammad became ill, she with great sadness wished: “If I were ill instead of you.” At this all the wives present there looked at each other. Muhammad said, “She told the truth”, meaning she said it from her heart. Sofia was endowed with many noble qualities like the other wives of the Prophet. She was beautiful, intelligent, tolerant, pious and educated.
    Citation of twenty-four Traditions has been credited to her. She ran a school at her residence. Women came from various places to learn about different rules and regulations. About her Hazrat Ayesha said, “I have not seen anybody a better cook than Sofia. She often treated us with various preparations of meat. At the Prophet’s (PBUH) arrival in my room, I would call Sofia, and we listened to the sermons of Muhammad together. We were all pleased with her at her sweet behaviour. She loved me like a sister and I respected her a lot. Sofia was very kind and was a protector of her relatives. She even was kind and sympathetic to her Jewish relatives. Once, she replied without hesitation to a courier of Omar, ‘I am kind to my Jewish relatives’.” One thirds of the 100,000 dirham that she left at her death, was given to her Jewish nephew, according to her will.
    When the rebels surrounded Othman, she went to help him but she was forced to return by the rebel leaders. From her home, she sent food for the Caliph through Hazrat Imam Hassan. In the fiftieth Hegira, she died at the age of sixty in the month of Ramadhan. Sofia was buried at Jannatul Baki.

HAZRAT UMME-HABIBA:

    Before the conquest of Mecca, Abu Sufiyan was a staunch enemy of the Prophet. Ummul Muminin Umme-Habiba was his daughter. She and her first husband, Obaidullah bin Jahash, are among the earliest converts of Islam. They migrated to Abyssinia, at the call of the Prophet. There a son and a daughter, Habiba, were born to them. After some time, Obaidullah apostatized to Christianity. Consequently, their marriage was dissolved, as Habiba remained a Muslim, and deeply distressed she became shelter less. The Prophet, knowing of her firm faith and predicament proposed marriage to give her a shelter. He requested Emperor Najjasi to take care of her through a courier. In the sixth year of Hegira, emperor Najjasi before an assembly of Muslims, including Hazrat Ja’afar, married Umme-Habiba to the Prophet. He dispatched her by ship to the Prophet with precious gifts, accompanied by Companion Sohrabil ibn Hasoona. She was thirty-five at the time. In this way, her faith in God brought her the unique honour of becoming the wife of the Prophet.
    Her father, Abu Sufiyan used to say, “I have the most beautiful daughter in Arabia, Umme-Habiba.” She loved Muhammad dearly and revered him. Umme-Habiba was very gentle by nature. After becoming the wife of the Prophet, she wanted the same honour for her sister. She prayed with utmost devotion and followed the teachings of the Prophet carefully. Umme-Habiba narrated sixty-five Traditions. After the conquest of Mecca, her father came to Medïna still a heathen. He went to his daughter’s room and wanted to sit on the bed, but Umme-Habiba quickly folded the bed. At this, to save the situation, Abu Sufiyan joked: “Such love for the bed!” Replied Umme-Habiba: “You are a pagan and as such impure and this is the bed of the holy Prophet.” In the reign of Amir Mu'äwiyah, in forty-four Hegira, she died at the age of seventy-three.

HAZRAT MAIMUNA:

    Born in the noble Quraish family, Hazrat Maimuna was an aunt of Khalid who was bestowed the title of 'Saifullah’ (God’s Sword). After divorced by the first husband and the death of the second, she wished to pass the last years of her life as a wife of the Prophet. The Prophet at that time was in Mecca to perform Omrah (pilgrimage out of season). They were married there and this was Muhammad’s (PBUH) last marriage. Hazrat Maimuna was a very pious and kind lady. She was very attentive to the instructions of the Prophet. Buying slaves, she would free them, and helped the needy even if she had to borrow. Narration of forty-six Traditions has been credited to her. Her deep knowledge is reflected in the narration of Traditions. At a place called Sharaf in Mecca she was married, and died in the same place after forty-four years, in fifty-one Hegira. She was buried in the same place at Sharaf in Mecca.

NECESSITY OF MARRIAGES OF THE PROPHET:

    With the desire to acquire mundane power and wealth, people marry the daughters of wealthy and influential persons. This they have been doing from time immemorial, disregarding the age of the groom. Guardians, parents willingly give their wards or daughters in marriage to Kings, Emperors, Politicians and Spiritual Leaders, in quest of power and wealth. In comparison to them, the Prophet’s (PBUH) status is much, much loftier. He shines above everybody, since he is the King of the kings, Emperor of the emperors, Leader of the leaders: He is the leader of the prophets and the Emperor of the Worlds. Muhammad is at the zenith of his glory, as the temporal and spiritual leader of the mighty Muslims, whose empire was spread from Yemen to Syria. Mighty emperors of Persia and Rome have received his invitation to accept Islam. His name and fame has travelled everywhere. In these circumstances, even many honourable companions were willing to marry their maiden daughters to him. However, Muhammad never expressed his desire to marry any one of them.
     At the establishment of a Muslim state at Medïna, Muslims were the targets of constant conspiracy, intrigues and attacks by the heathens and the Jewish. Muhammad entangled in wars with them and had to fight many battles. As a natural consequence of wars, the male population dwindled. Many women became widows without shelter and provisions to survive. Children became orphans in scores. To rehabilitate these helpless populations was a tremendous burden for the nascent state. Though a Muslim state established, social, political and economic, reforms are still an ongoing process. Still the pre-Islamic customs have not been weeded out of Arabia. Many customs of the barbaric times are still prevalent in the society. Most of the males prefer marrying virgins and there is no limit of age for males, but females were restricted by age. None wanted to marry widows past their youth. Women had no status; anybody could marry them at will and divorce them at any time. Widows, particularly aged women were subjected to untold misery and torture. Nobody married them and there was no way for them to live honourably. This condition greatly saddened the Prophet, and he constantly searched for a way out of this miserable condition. He deeply meditated to find out a way to ameliorate the sordid condition in which people lived. His prime concern was to cleanse the society of the curse of misery, poverty, injustice and diseases. Muhammad induced the same zeal of serving the humanity in his ardent followers and together they advanced their campaign.
    He passed the prime time of his life married with Hazrat Khadija for twenty-five years. Only after her death, forced by circumstances, he married the fifty-five years old Shawda, at fifty. Later in life, to break from the superstitious traditions, and to show his followers the right way, he had taken old and widowed women as his wife. In those days, as has been stated earlier, nobody wanted to marry widows, particularly, those past their prime. However, they needed shelter and protection to live respectfully in the society. After the Battle of Badr and Ohud, Joynab bint Khozaima, Umme-Salma and Hafsa were widowed and became helpless and shelter less with their children. Joynab bint Jahash was exposed to poverty and misery, as she was divorced. Umme-Habiba was thrown into the wilderness of uncertainty, in a foreign land, across the sea, in Abyssinia, deserted by her husband. In those early days of Islam, the Meccan immigrants were still dependent on the help of their Medinease brethren. In that circumstances, the miserable conditions of the families can easily be comprehended whose sole bread earners died in the battles. Therefore, the Prophet created example by giving shelter to these defenceless souls. Inspired by his example, his Companions began to take these helpless women, past their primes, as their wives thus assuring them shelter and means to a respectable life. Rehabilitation of the war destitute was thus completed. From that, the practice of remarrying widows began as a tradition of the Prophet. This is an example of his multifaceted Social Reforms.
    Toward the end of his life Muhammad was busy tackling the intrigues and conspiracies of the pagan Quraish and the Jewish. Constantly required to take measures to repulse their attacks on the nascent state, Muhammad was engrossed in the state affairs. In the same time, he was busy propagating the truth, his prime mission. At exactly the same time, from the fiftieth to the fifty-ninth year of his life, he took many wives. A king rarely goes for a morganatic marriage. Marrying a slave is out of question for a royal. Even in recent times, the King of England had to abdicate to marry a divorced commoner. It is a general propensity of the male to marry young and beautiful damsels, irrespective of his own age and looks. Still today, nobody wants to marry a middle-aged widow. Again, it is not possible, to set examples, of ideal married life with different types of women, by marrying only once. Therefore, the Prophet had to marry several women of various backgrounds and status. He by examples had shown his disciples how to live harmoniously with wives of different backgrounds. He gave the slaves and the freed women same status as his wives to demonstrate equality. In his household nobles, royal, Jewish, Christians and slave girls were equals. Therefore, it became the tradition of the Prophet, and his followers without any question began following him. All great social reforms demand change in the behavioural pattern of the population or the targets. Only legislation or enforcement of law is not enough. There is no better way to bring in change, in the behaviour of a nation than the demonstration of the expected change by the leaders. Moreover, what could be a better demonstration than that of the supreme temporal and spiritual leader? Thus, the Prophet effectively, established permanent social reforms of far reaching magnitude.
    Napoleon, for political reasons had to marry the Austrian princess. For that, according to Christianity, he had to divorce his loyal wife, Empress Josephine. The great Prophet of God married many times for political reasons, but he did not sacrifice other wives for that. King Rama Chandra of Oudh in ancient India fearing the scorns and slanders of his subjects had to abandon pure and chaste Sita Devi. The Prophet did not abandon Ayesha in the face of slanders by the hypocrites and pagans. He did not think of himself but was concerned about the fate of a helpless innocent woman. By courageously standing beside the innocent helpless lady ignoring all false allegations and calumnies, he proved his greatness and love for the truth. Among the wives that he took in the last decade of his life, only Ayesha, the daughter of Abu Bakr, the first Caliph was a virgin. The rest were either widows, divorcees, abandoned, prisoner of wars, middle aged or old ladies. Therefore, clearly the Prophet was not driven by carnal desire. Behind the marriages were his intense love for suffering humanity and desire to provide the destitute women with shelter and respectability. Besides, to build a bridge of friendship, he married Jewish and Christian ladies.
    Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH) was primarily concerned with establishing his Islamic state, as an acceptable entity to all. He wanted to live in peace with his Jewish, Christian, and pagan and idolater neighbours. Marrying Sofia, he turned her Jewish tribe into a friendly tribe. Similarly, he married Abu Sufiyan’s daughter Umme-Habiba, Khalid’s aunt Maimuna and the daughter of the Banu-Mustâlik Bedouins. In this way, he made them friends and paved the way of conquering Mecca. On the other hand, by marrying the daughters of his two trusted lieutenants and foremost Companions, he not only confirmed their friendship, but also gave them eminence as the future leaders. All these, only proves his farsightedness. These marriages brought a balance in the Islamic society and assured the future friendship of the powerful Quraish Clan. The impact of these marriages was far reaching.    
    Leader of the leaders, the King of the Worlds, Muhammad in the interest of happy conjugal life, arranged for sports and recreation as wished by his wives. Beside that at marriage ceremonies of the orphan children brought up by his wives, he permitted songs and music for recreation. The company of the Prophet endowed Ummul Muminins with magnanimity, kindness and other human qualities. The single most important purpose in their lives was to carry out the bidding of the Prophet. They were intensely loyal and deeply in love with him. Prophet’s (PBUH) sacrosanct company purified them of all worldly desires. They had no inclination for temporal wealth and comfort. Educated and inspired by him, they were well prepared and indoctrinated in his mission. That in the later years, tremendously, helped the induction of Islam in the female population. Women could learn the Qurän, Traditions, Islamic rules, regulation and etiquette from the Ummul Muminins whom the Rasul (Messenger of God) directly taught and groomed. As early in his childhood Muhammad lost his parents, he was deprived of parental love and affection. He had no brothers or sisters. In the beginning of his Ministry, nobody blessed him beside a few Hashemites. However, in his conjugal life, the support, trust cooperation, loyalty, love, and affection he received from his wives mostly compensated his loss. In adversity, Hazrat Khadija has comforted and encouraged him. At the dawn of Islam, she gave him unqualified support without any hesitation. She gave her heart to Muhammad (Peace be upon) and sacrificed her wealth at his foot. Shawda gave him proper advice in difficult situations. Umme-Habiba loved him like a trusted friend. Joynab was very deft and affectionate in taking care of the Prophet. In politics, Umme-Salma acted as his Prime Minister. On her advice, the ‘Treaty of Hudaibiya’ was signed. Hafsa was his Commander in war field. She paved the way for victory in the battles of Tabuk, Khyber and others, by teaching the Muslim soldiers the art of cordoning the enemy. Maria, the Egyptian princesses kept the Prophet amused by providing entertainment. Juwaiera kept Muhammad charmed with her lucid talk, beauty and sweet demeanour. The princess of Khyber, Sofia cooked delicious food for the Prophet. Maimuna nursed and cared for the Rasul of Allah. The youngest of them all, Ayesha was the solace in sadness. She always tried hard to keep the Prophet in humour, by her friendship, love, and sweet and simple conduct. They together were the best blessing of God for Muhammad.