Why Did the Prophet (SAW) Have Many Wives? 

When we study the Prophet’s life we see that for most of his adult and married life (25 years) he was a one woman man. Only in the later part of his life (10 years) when he was a ruler of a state he married multiple women for various reasons. One reason was to establish closer ties with people of importance among his own companions. A second reason was strategic/political – marrying into influential tribes to neutralize their opposition to Muslims. Another important reason was the need to teach Muslim women their religion which the Prophet’s wives did on his behalf. Lastly, there were some social reasons (e.g. supporting widows and orphans) and social taboos which he was ordered by the Almighty to break by marrying certain women.

When a person has multiple wives the underlying reason is commonly perceived to be his heightened sexual desire. In the Prophet’s case, however, it can be seen that when he was a young man of 25 years and in his prime he married a widow 15 years older to him who had married twice before and had had children with former husbands. And he led a happy and content life with her for the next 25 years. He did not take on another wife while Khadija (RA) was alive. He married after Khadija’s death at the age of 53 and then for the next 10 years he married 8 or 9 women. It is not logical to assume that his sexual desires suddenly increased after the age of 50. We have to look at the list of the women he married and figure out the reasons in case of each marriage.

To teach Muslim men and women their religion
As the wives of the Prophet (SAW) had the privilege to spend a lot of time with him, they had the opportunity to learn the religion from him and teach others. In particular, they were an excellent source to teach Islam’s rulings about issues specific regarding women such as menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, Iddat, etc.

Ayesha (RA) and Umm Salma (RA) are known for their intellect and scholarly prowess. Ayesha (RA) taught two generations of Muslims after the Prophet’s death for 48 years, transferring her knowledge of Shari’ah rulings and the underlying wisdom as she had learnt from the Prophet (SAW). It is said that a third of our religion comes to us through Ayesha (RA). She disagreed on a number of issues with other companions of the Prophet in their
understanding or interpretation of those issues and her opinion generally prevailed.

To forge a closer bond with key people
Abu Bakr, Umar, Usman and Ali were some of the most important people for the Prophet (SAW) and each of them had served tremendously for the cause of Islam. These four also became caliphs one after the other. The Prophet (SAW) married the daughters of Abu Bakr (Ayesha) and Umar (Hafsa) while he gave his daughters in marriage to Usman (Ruqayya and after her death Umm Kulthoom) and Ali (Fatima).

Political and strategic reasons
In the tribal culture of the time marriage was an important factor in extending one’s influence or neutralizing opponents by creating a network of close relations. The Prophet (SAW) used this effectively as he took on the daughters of various tribal leaders as his wives. Umm Habiba (Abu Sufiyan’s daughter), Juwairiya (the daughter of Haris, the leader of the Banu Mustaliq tribe) and Safiya (the daughter of Hui bin Akhtab, Jewish leader) are good
examples.

To protect and support widows and orphans
The Prophet’s marriages with Sauda, Hafsa, Zainab bint Khuzaima, Umm Salma, Umm Habiba and Maimoona seem to be an attempt to support widows (and in some cases their orphaned children). During the battles a number of Muslims were martyred and in a small society of Madina it became a social issue as to who would protect and support the widows and the orphaned children. The Prophet (SAW) married some of these women and set an
example for others to follow.

To eradicate certain social taboos
The marriage of the Prophet (SAW) with Zainab bint Jahash (RA) was for the purpose of setting a prophetic example that marrying the ex-wife of one’s adopted son was Halal. Also, the marriage with Ayesha (RA) was partly to dispel the notion that the daughter of the foster brother was Haram.

Quranic verse on multiple marriages:
“And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; But if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or that which your right hands possess. That will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.” (4:3)

Quranic command for men to be fair with their wives or restrict themselves to only one wife:
“You will never be able to treat your wives with equal fairness, however much you may desire to do so, but do not ignore one wife altogether, leaving her suspended…” (4:129)

Quranic verse allowing the Prophet (SAW) to marry more than four women:
“O Prophet! We have made lawful for you your wives to whom you have paid their (full) dowries as well as those (slave girls) in your possession, whom Allah has granted you. And (you are allowed to marry) the daughters of your paternal uncles and aunts, and the daughters of your maternal uncles and aunts, who have emigrated like you. Also (allowed for marriages) a believing woman who offers herself to the Prophet (without dowry) if he is interested in marrying her—(this is) exclusively for you, not for the rest of the believers. We know well what (rulings) We have ordained for the believers in relation to their wives and those (slave girls) in their possession. As such, there would be no blame on you. And Allah is All- Forgiving, Most Merciful.

It is up to you (O Prophet) to delay or receive whoever you please of your wives. There is no blame on you if you call back any of those you have set aside. That is more likely that they will be content, not grieved, and satisfied with what you offer them all. Allah (fully) knows what is in your hearts. And Allah is All-Knowing, Most Forbearing.
It is not lawful for you (O Prophet) to marry more women after this, nor can you replace any of your present wives with another, even if her beauty may attract you—except those (slave girls) in your possession. And Allah is ever Watchful over all things.” (33:50-52)

*EXTRA INFORMATION*
Below are listed, in chronological order, the names of the each of the Prophet’s wives and the background of their marriages.

1. Khadija (RA)
Khadija (RA) was a rich woman of high social stature belonging to the tribe of Quraish who would hire people to take her trade goods to Syria and Yemen. She was widowed twice and had multiple children from her previous husbands. She hired Muhammad (SAW) when he was in his twenties and was so impressed with his honesty and justice in trade dealings that she decided to send a proposal of marriage. At that time she was 40 years old while the Prophet (SAW) was only 25. This was the only marriage that the Prophet (SAW) had before he became a prophet. He lived with Khadija happily for 25 years and did not take another woman while she was alive. All his surviving children (four daughters) were born to Khadija (RA).

Many years after Khadija’s death the Prophet (SAW) would often remember her. He once stated that Khadija’s love had been poured into his heart by Allah. On another occasion he said that she was the best wife he had. She dedicated herself and all her wealth for the Prophet (SAW). She supported him like a rock through the toughest period in Makkah when the Prophet (SAW) would be rejected and ridiculed by most people.

2. Sauda (RA)
The Prophet (SAW) married Sauda after Khadija’s death. At that time Sauda was 55 years old. She was earlier married to Sakran bin Amr. Both converted to Islam and emigrated to Abyssinia along with other Muslims at the instruction of the Prophet (SAW). After a while both returned to Makkah where her husband died and she became a widow. The Prophet (SAW) sent a marriage proposal, as she had no one to look after her at the time.

3. Ayesha (RA)
After Khadija (RA) and Sauda (RA) the Prophet (SAW) married Ayesha (RA). She was the daughter of Abu Bakr (RA), the most trusted and loyal friend of the Prophet (SAW) and his most prominent companion who later became the first Muslim caliph. This is the only marriage that the Prophet (SAW) had with a virgin. All of his other wives were widows or divorcees when he married them. Ayesha’s age at the time of nikah was 6 years (other narrations state 9 or 12 years) and after three years when she became an adult the marriage was consummated.

Ayesha (RA) had an exceptionally intelligent and inquisitive mind and also possessed an excellent memory. She would ask questions to learn the details of religious rulings and the wisdom behind them from the Prophet (SAW). She lived for 48 years after the Prophet (SAW) and taught two generations of Muslims. She would teach from her house in Masjid-e-Nabvi and prominent companions of the Prophet (SAW) would be among her students. It is
said that one fourth or one third of the religion has reached us through Ayesha (RA). She narrated 2,210 Ahadith, second only to Abu Huraira’s 5,374 narrations.

4. Hafsa (RA)
Hafsa (RA) was Umar bin Khattab’s daughter. She was married to Khunais bin Huzafa (RA) who was martyred in the battle of Badr. Umar (RA) first spoke to Usman (RA) to marry Hafsa (RA) but he declined; then he spoke to Abu Bakr (RA) and he also declined. The Prophet (SAW) then proposed and Umar (RA) gladly accepted. Most historians are of the opinion that the main reason for marrying Hafsa (RA) was to strengthen further the bond with Umar (RA).

5. Zainab bint Khuzaima (RA)
She was married to Abdullah bin Jahash (RA), the Prophet’s cousin, who died in the battle of Uhud. Zainab was 60 years old at the time of her marriage with the Prophet (SAW). She died within months of her marriage and the Prophet (SAW) led her funeral prayer.

6. Umm Salma (RA)
She was married to Abu Salma (RA) who was martyred at the battle of Uhud. She had four children and she was very concerned about their upbringing. Initially she refused the Prophet’s proposal but later accepted. She was a scholarly person and a number of Shari’ah rulings (Fatwas) are attributed to her. She was also wise and gave valuable suggestions to the Prophet (SAW) at critical occasions.

7. Zainab bint Jahash (RA)
She was the Prophet’s cousin and the sister of Abdullah bin Jahash (RA). Her first marriage, at the initiative of the Prophet (SAW), was with Zaid bin Harisa (RA), his adopted son. It did not last long. After Zaid (RA) divorced her Allah ordered the Prophet (SAW) to marry Zainab (RA). This was done to eradicate the prevalent norm which prohibited a person from marrying the ex-wife of his adopted son. It was such a strong cultural practice that mere
instruction in the Quran or Hadith would not have worked and the Prophet (SAW) needed to set a personal example to kill it, once and for all.

8. Juwairiya bint Haris (RA)
She was the daughter of the tribal leader Haris of the Banu Mustaliq tribe. This was an influential tribe which was against the Muslims and had always sided with the Makkans. In the 6th year after Hijrah the Muslims got wind of the Banu Mustaliq planning to attack Madina. The Prophet (SAW) made a pre-emptive strike and subdued the tribe. Juwairiya became a prisoner of war and was given to a companion of the Prophet (SAW) as a slave. She negotiated with him to free her in return for some gold. When she came to seek the Prophet’s financial support to pay her master, he gave her the money and also proposed to her. She sought some time to think about it. After a while she accepted the proposal (she had already converted to Islam). When she got married to the Prophet (SAW) all the people of her tribe who had become slaves and were distributed among the companions of the Prophet
(SAW) were freed by their masters to honour this marriage. Ayesha (RA) says that she did not see a woman more beneficial for her people than Juwairiya (RA) as her marriage caused her people to earn their freedom.

9. Umm Habiba (RA)
She was the daughter of Abu Sufiyan, one of the worst enemies of Islam. She was married to Ubaidullah bin Jahash and both had converted to Islam in the early days. They immigrated to Abyssinia when the Prophet (SAW) ordered. There Ubaidullah bin Jahash converted to Christianity. After a while he died and Umme Habiba became a widow in a foreign land. She could not return to her parents in Makkah as they would have forced her to abandon Islam. The Prophet (SAW) sent his proposal which she accepted. She came to Madina in the 7th Hijri. After this marriage Abu Sufiyan did not attack the Muslims in a battle. Among the Arabs it was considered a big shame to fight with the son-in-law or his tribe.

10. Safiya (RA)
She was the daughter of a Jewish leader Hui bin Akhtab of Banu Quraiza. Her mother was the daughter of the leader of another Jewish tribe Banu Nazeer. During the battle of Khyber her father, brother and husband got killed and she became a prisoner of war and a slave. Just like Juwairya she wanted to free herself and sought the Prophet’s help. He proposed to her in case she converted and decided to live in Madina. She accepted the proposal and did not return to her people.

11. Maimoona (RA)
She was the sister of the wife of the leader of Najd. She was also the half sister of Zainab bint Khuzaima (RA) who had died at the time of this marriage. The Najd tribe was against the Muslims and would always conspire against them. Maimoona was married twice before; her second husband died in the 7th year of Hijrah.