brother4ever
Junior Member
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the prophet of Islam, is one of the most influential personalities in the history of humankind. More than one-fifth of the world population follows his teachings and the Quran, which was revealed to him by Allah.
The conduct and actions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) were inspired by Allah. He possessed an excellent character, charming manners, and was highly revered. His noble character remained the same in victory and in defeat, in power and in adversity.
Muslims try to follow his examples in all aspects of their lives. He was the best example in his treatment of his family members and society as a whole. Even some of his enemies converted to Islam due to the kind treatment they received from him.
He was born in the year 570 CE, his father had died prior to his birth. His mother died when he was 6 years old. He had a very difficult life and was reared by various relatives until adulthood. As evidenced by his later life, he grew to adulthood and did not feel any bitterness about his past and felt only great compassion toward his relatives and family members.
Among the Prophet's acts of kindness toward his family members was his adoption of his baby cousin, Ali, to raise as his own son. Ali later married the Prophet's daughter Fatima. Ali and Fatima had two sons, Hassan and Husein. There are numerous narrations, especially about the Prophet's love and kind treatment toward Ali, Fatima, Hassan, and Husein.
At the age of 25, the Prophet married his first wife, Khadijah, who was 40. She was a wealthy woman who had entrusted her wealth and business to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to manage. But he did not marry her for her wealth. She was the one who proposed to him after noticing his honesty, sincerity, and noble character. They were married for 25 years until Khadijah passed away.
Muhammad was called to prophethood at the age of 40. His wife Khadijah was the first woman and his cousin Ali the first young man to believe in the message of Islam.
He married other women after the death of his beloved wife, Khadijah. However, he did not marry out of lust or passion. His decisions to get married were made to create an alliance for the sake of his people, for some benefit of his followers, or to protect widows. It is noteworthy to mention that all but one of his wives were widows when he married them. He married for humanitarian, political, and social reasons and not for selfishness or greed.
Although Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his family suffered from poverty during the earlier years of the advent of Islam, he later controlled the treasury of the Muslim Ummah. Yet he chose to live a life of abstinence and modesty and encouraged his family to do the same.
He tried to balance his political, social, and family life in a way that no one was neglected. He used to milk his own goat, mend his clothes, repair his shoes, help with the household work, and visit people when they got sick. He also helped his companions while they were working. He was a true model of simplicity and humbleness.
He lived a very hard life till he died, and he left neither money nor anything else except his white riding mule, his arms, and a piece of land which he left to charity. (Al-Bukhari and Ahmad)
The following is a short introduction the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) wives, the years of marriag,e and possible reasons for the marriages. Except for Khadijah and Zainab bint Khuzayma, all of Muhammad's wives died after him:
Khadijah bint (daughter of) Khuwaylid married in 595 CE; widow; died in 619.
Sawada bint Zama married soon after 619; widow.
Aisha married in 622; virgin.
Hafsa bint Umar married circa 624-625; widow, political.
Zainab bint Khuzayma married circa 626-627; widow; died soon after marriage to Muhammad.
Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya married in 626; widow.
Zainab bint Jahsh married circa 625-627; widow and divorcee.
Juwayriya bint al-Harith married circa 627-628; widow, possibly political.
Umm Habibah married 629; widow, political.
Safiyya bint Huyayy married 629; widow, captured in battle.
Maymuna bint al-Harith married 629; widow.
The Prophet also had a slave, according to the customs of his time, Maria al-Qibtiyya (Maria the Copt), with whom he had lawful conjugal relations. She was given to the Prophet as a present by Al-Muqawqis, the Byzantine governor of Alexandria at the time. She was the mother of Muhammad's short-lived son, Ibrahim.
Proper understanding of Prophet Muhammad's family life is extremely important, particularly for Jews and Christians who have adopted prohibitions against polygamy within their own religions. An in-depth look at the scriptures of the three Abrahamic religions would illustrate that the One true God directed his prophets with the similar messages, laws, and guidance and wished for us all to live together in peace and harmony.
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (Quran 49:13)
There are numerous stories written about Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his interaction and treatment of his family. One is awed to see this great statesman was the best husband, father, and provider of his family.
The conduct and actions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) were inspired by Allah. He possessed an excellent character, charming manners, and was highly revered. His noble character remained the same in victory and in defeat, in power and in adversity.
Muslims try to follow his examples in all aspects of their lives. He was the best example in his treatment of his family members and society as a whole. Even some of his enemies converted to Islam due to the kind treatment they received from him.
He was born in the year 570 CE, his father had died prior to his birth. His mother died when he was 6 years old. He had a very difficult life and was reared by various relatives until adulthood. As evidenced by his later life, he grew to adulthood and did not feel any bitterness about his past and felt only great compassion toward his relatives and family members.
Among the Prophet's acts of kindness toward his family members was his adoption of his baby cousin, Ali, to raise as his own son. Ali later married the Prophet's daughter Fatima. Ali and Fatima had two sons, Hassan and Husein. There are numerous narrations, especially about the Prophet's love and kind treatment toward Ali, Fatima, Hassan, and Husein.
At the age of 25, the Prophet married his first wife, Khadijah, who was 40. She was a wealthy woman who had entrusted her wealth and business to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to manage. But he did not marry her for her wealth. She was the one who proposed to him after noticing his honesty, sincerity, and noble character. They were married for 25 years until Khadijah passed away.
Muhammad was called to prophethood at the age of 40. His wife Khadijah was the first woman and his cousin Ali the first young man to believe in the message of Islam.
He married other women after the death of his beloved wife, Khadijah. However, he did not marry out of lust or passion. His decisions to get married were made to create an alliance for the sake of his people, for some benefit of his followers, or to protect widows. It is noteworthy to mention that all but one of his wives were widows when he married them. He married for humanitarian, political, and social reasons and not for selfishness or greed.
Although Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his family suffered from poverty during the earlier years of the advent of Islam, he later controlled the treasury of the Muslim Ummah. Yet he chose to live a life of abstinence and modesty and encouraged his family to do the same.
He tried to balance his political, social, and family life in a way that no one was neglected. He used to milk his own goat, mend his clothes, repair his shoes, help with the household work, and visit people when they got sick. He also helped his companions while they were working. He was a true model of simplicity and humbleness.
He lived a very hard life till he died, and he left neither money nor anything else except his white riding mule, his arms, and a piece of land which he left to charity. (Al-Bukhari and Ahmad)
The following is a short introduction the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) wives, the years of marriag,e and possible reasons for the marriages. Except for Khadijah and Zainab bint Khuzayma, all of Muhammad's wives died after him:
Khadijah bint (daughter of) Khuwaylid married in 595 CE; widow; died in 619.
Sawada bint Zama married soon after 619; widow.
Aisha married in 622; virgin.
Hafsa bint Umar married circa 624-625; widow, political.
Zainab bint Khuzayma married circa 626-627; widow; died soon after marriage to Muhammad.
Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya married in 626; widow.
Zainab bint Jahsh married circa 625-627; widow and divorcee.
Juwayriya bint al-Harith married circa 627-628; widow, possibly political.
Umm Habibah married 629; widow, political.
Safiyya bint Huyayy married 629; widow, captured in battle.
Maymuna bint al-Harith married 629; widow.
The Prophet also had a slave, according to the customs of his time, Maria al-Qibtiyya (Maria the Copt), with whom he had lawful conjugal relations. She was given to the Prophet as a present by Al-Muqawqis, the Byzantine governor of Alexandria at the time. She was the mother of Muhammad's short-lived son, Ibrahim.
Proper understanding of Prophet Muhammad's family life is extremely important, particularly for Jews and Christians who have adopted prohibitions against polygamy within their own religions. An in-depth look at the scriptures of the three Abrahamic religions would illustrate that the One true God directed his prophets with the similar messages, laws, and guidance and wished for us all to live together in peace and harmony.
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (Quran 49:13)
There are numerous stories written about Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his interaction and treatment of his family. One is awed to see this great statesman was the best husband, father, and provider of his family.