Muslims are allowed to have up to four wives (Qs 4:3). Yet, Muhammad had 15 wives! According to Islamic teaching, Muhammad married his wives for special purposes. They were to help out widows, unite different clans, and strengthen family bonds under Islamic teaching. However, it also seems that Muhammad had more privileges in marriage than other Muslims do.
Muhammad’s Wives Must Obey Him
According to the Quran, one privilege was that Muhammad’s wives had to obey him. Otherwise, he would divorce her. This obedience is reflected in these words: “If you will be on your guard, then be not soft in (your) speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease yearn; and speak a good word. And stay in your houses and do not display your finery… and keep up prayer, and pay the poor-rate, and obey Allah and His Messenger” (Qs 33:32-33).
Muhammad Could Divorce Whoever He Wanted
Muhammad could also divorce his wife if he didn’t like her anymore. This happened with his wife, Sauda bint Zamah. She had become old and unattractive. When she knew Muhammad was going to divorce her, she offered her turn with Muhammad to be with Aisha. “Narrated ‘Aisha that Sauda bint Zam’ah gave up her turn to Aisha, and so the prophet used to give Aisha both her day and the day of Sauda’” (Bukhari, the Book of Nikah, Hadith No. 139). Muhammad accepted it and spent her days with Aisha.
Muhammad Could Marry Whoever He Wanted
Muhammad had more privileges in who he married than other Muslims do. Zainab was Muhammad’s cousin who was married to his freed slave, Zaid. One day, Muhammad went to Zaid’s house on business. However, he was not at home. Zainab greeted him. She was wearing a dress that showed her beauty. He couldn’t help crying out, “God be praised, who turns the hearts of men as he pleases!”
Zainab told her husband about this. Zaid decided to divorce Zainab so Muhammad could marry her. Qs 33:36-38 states, “It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by God and His Messenger to have any choice in the affair. Whoever disobeys God and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path. …There is no fault in the Prophet, touching what God has ordained for him.” This revelation seems designed to give Allah’s approval of the marriage.
The Injil’s Teachings about Marriage
The Injil directly contradicts the Quran on marriage. It teaches that marriage should only be between one man and one woman. This applies to all believing men, including pastors. “… An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife …” (1 Timothy 3:2).
The Injil also tells husbands to love their wives. “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, … In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself” (Ephesians 5:25-28). Isa loved us so much, He willingly sacrificed Himself for all mankind. Isa is the role model for husbands. So, a husband must love his wife so much he is willing to give up his life for her.
Through Isa’s sacrifice, we can know perfect love and forgiveness. Would you like to have this? You can, by trusting in Isa as your Sacrifice.
[We invite you to visit us at https://www.isaandislam.com/way-of-salvation to learn more about God’s gift of Salvation. God loves you and waits to hear from you. Isa clearly said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Injil, John 14:6). For a deeper understanding of Isa we suggest you subscribe to “Isa, Islam, and Al-Fatiha” at this link.]
SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW
We encourage our readers to comment on the article above. Comments that don’t directly relate to the topic will be removed. Please start a dialogue with us by focusing on one of the following questions:
• Do you think it’s fair that Muhammad was allowed to divorce his wife if she disobeyed him?
• Why do you think Muhammad was allowed more freedom in marriage than any other man?
• What does the Injil teach about marriage?
If you have a question regarding this article, please contact us by clicking this link.
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Don’t forget that the injil says, Muhammad is the prophet after Isa.
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Soroosh,
Thank you for your comment. Many Muslims told us that the Injil recorded that Muhammad would be the prophet after Isa. This is not true. There isn’t Muhammad mentioned in the Injil. Get more explanation through this link: https://www.isaandislam.com/muhammad/how-do-christians-view-the-prophet-muhammad.html.
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I don’t agree with the freedom of marriage or any sin done by My prophet Muhammad. First of all look in ourselves then try to comment.
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Dear Tofik,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I don’t agree either with polygamy and sin. It’s not because of “me.” But because God commands His people to marry one woman or one man. He also commands us not to sin. Therefore, we shouldn’t also sin.
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Muhammad (Saw) is the last prophet of Allah. He had marriages according to God’s order. It is also mentioned in the Quran about the marriages of Muhammad (Saw) in detailed. The reader should open the Quran and search it. Thanks.
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Dear Muhammad,
Thanks for giving your comment here. So you mean that God ordered Muhammad to do polygamy? Yet, why does it contradict God’s teaching in the Injil that a man should only have one wive/husband? Here’s a link that could explain you why polygamy is not from God.
Blessings.
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Before i start what is Injil?
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Hi Amos,
Injil is the Arabic word for gospel. Injil is the good news about salvation through Isa Al-Masih. Isa died to save us from eternal punishment due to our sins. That’s why we would say that the Gospel is Good News! Have you heard about this Good News?
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After he died, none of his wives complained that he was unfair with them, that is something phenomenal because most men are not capable of handling a single woman let alone more than one.
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Thanks for your comment regarding to the article. If you read the article, Sawdah was treated differently because of her physical appearance.
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He should not be allowed to divorce his wife, looking at the reason for some divorce’s cases. It’s excommunicated, redundant and archaic. Also Getting old is a nature ordained by God. So why must a human being divorce his wife because she was old? It’s very wrong before God and human.
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Hi Caleb,
Isa Al-Masih taught not to divorce a wive, except for sexual immorality. [b]”‘Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery””[/b] (Injil, Matthew 19:8-9).
Blessings.
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Kindly refer authentic source, understand the real history. When she was older, the prophet was worried that Sawda might be upset about having to compete with so many younger wives, and offered to divorce her. She said that she would give her night to Aisha, of whom she was very fond, because she only wanted to be his wife on the Day of Rising. She lived on until the end of the time of Umar ibn al Khattab. She and Aisha always remained very close.
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New Zul,
Thank you for your comment. Maybe you could refer to one of the Hadiths to support your argument?
Blessings.
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They say that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) divorced one of his wives Sauda bint Zamah is not trie. He didn’t divorce Ummu Sauda nor any of his wife through out his life time. In the first instance “what does divorce mean in Islam”? Divorce is a total separation between a wife and a husband. When divorce emerge there will be no responsibility between the two couples interns of husband and wife, every body will stay away from each other no partnership. This did not happen.
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Dauda,
You are right that Muhammad didn’t divorce his wives. Yet, what the article told us that he could divorce and marry whoever he wanted.
Thank you.
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It’s not my wish to offend anybody but let me ask, why didn’t God give Zainab to Muhammad before she would get married. I don’t think God could offend a man in favor of another.
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Pasta Lameck,
Thank you for your thought. I agree with you, God doesn’t want to offend a man in favor of another. Especially within the context of the story of Muhammad and Zainab.
Blessings.
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Muhammad did what ever the God said him to do!!
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Can God contradict His previous Words about marriage?
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Who says Injil denounce polygamy? Solomon David Abraham had many wives. The Injil even legalizes concubine, prostitution and incest. About Sauda’s case. You shift the context. She was an old woman. What she needs is shelter not physical fulfillment. There is nothing The Prophet would divorce her. She voluntary gave her turn so the younger wives can use her turn to be with him.
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Dito,
Thanks for your comment. Injil is the good news of Isa Al-Masih. The Injil taught that God’s plan is to have one husband and one wife marriage.
Isa Al-Masih said, [b]”For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh”[/b] (Injil, Mark 10:6-8). So the two will become on, not three or four.
Regarding Zainab, we need to learn more the story of Muhammad and his wives. Through the story, we learned that Muhammad was going to divorce her.
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[quote name=”Aila”]~
Can God contradict His previous Words about marriage?[/quote]
First get your facts right. Don’t argue for the sake of it. Islam obeys the commandments of One and only creator ALLAH and follow the preaching of Muhammad. You may like or hate it. It doesn’t affect us Muslims. Your views are good for you.
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Dear Mak,
Thank you for your comment. It’s good to believe and have faith in God. But, it’s much better to learn and be critical to what we believe and have faith in. We need to grow in the right knowledge and understanding of God. We need to learn who is God? We can learn about Him through His revelations. If you click this link, it’ll explain more of my comment.
Blessings.
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Moses, Isa, Daud, Muhammad brought different Shariah/orders from God. Therefore it is not necessary that one issue would solve according to relevent book. E.g. the Quran , the Injil, the Taurat, the Zabur.
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Hanif,
We are grateful for your comment posted. The Quran claims that it confirms the messages before it (Qs 5:48). It also tells us to follow the Signs of Allah that are found in the Taurat and the Injil (Qs 5:47). What are Allah’s signs? Click here to learn further about Allah’s signs: https://www.isaandislam.com/the-bible/the-quran-taurat-injil-and-the-signs-of-allah.html.
Blessings.