The Mothers of the Believers

             

The wives of the Prophet pbuh;good women, perfectly devoted and resigned to Allah and His Messenger. They had complete faith in the Prophet pbuh and in his sayings about Allah and His Attributes and about the reality of the hereafter. They were true believers and they never swerved in their views.

They were devout and prayerful, and earnestly punctual in the observance of religious obligations. They adored Allah. They worshipped Him alone, and meticulously they obeyed all of His commands faithfully and happily.  If ever they happened to fall short in some way of being completely pious and righteous in their duties of Islam, they made taubah (repented) and insured in themselves that such neglect would never happen again. They were obedient wives, and they carried out all the instructions that the Prophet (pbuh) gave them. They imitated him in his habits, especially in his generosity. They gave away to the needy all that came to them. They did not hoard coins, gold silver, or even food..  It was only by Allah’s revelations that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was allowed to marry many women:

“O Prophet (Muhammad) Verily, We made lawful to you your wives, to whom you have paid their Mahr (money given to wife at time of marriage), and those whom your right hand possesses out of prisoners of war whom Allah has assigned to thee; And daughters of thy paternal uncles and aunts; And daughters of thy maternal uncles and aunts, who migrated (from Makkah) with thee; And any believing woman who dedicates her soul to the prophet if the prophet wishes to wed her – this is only for thee, and not for the Believers (at large)…..

Surah 33 Al-Ahzab, Verse 50.

 Also equally it was by Allah’s revelation that Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) did not marry more women:

“It is not lawful for you (O Muhammad, to marry more) women after this, nor exchange them for other wives, even though their beauty is pleasing to you, except those whom your right hand possesses; And Allah is always watching over everything.

Surah 33 Al-Ahzab, Verse 52

 When this revelation was received the Prophet Muhammad pbuh did not marry again.

Each one of the Prophets’ wives were incredible women therefore we should mention each, one them along with the characteristics they are most known for.

                            Khadija bint Khawaylid (R.A)

                                       

“Jibril (Gabriel) came to the Prophet pbuh and said, “O Allah’s Messenger! This is Khadija, coming to you with a dish having meat soup (or some food or drink).  When she reaches you, greet her behalf of her Lord (Allah) and on my behalf, and give her the glad tidings of having, a palace made of Qasab in Paradise, wherein there will be neither any noise nor any toil (fatigue, trouble, ect.).”

Al-Bukhari

Khadija (R.A) was a lady of dignity and opulence. She was an image of steadfast, devout, modest, well mannered, wise, understanding and of noble character.   Khadija RA had become a widow and was a wealthy businesswoman of the age of forty when she asked the Prophet Muhammad pbuh to wed her.  They remained together for over twenty-four years and Khadija RA was the Rusool’s pbuh first and only wife throughout that time.  She was a devoted wife nurturing Muhammad pbuh and their six fine children in an atmosphere of wealth and luxury.  Khadija RA was the first believer of Islam she bore witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.  The greatest supporter of Islam in its earliest days was Khadija RA who supported and believed in Islam and Muhammad pbuh as the Messenger of Allah.

  She was right there by his side, constantly supportive and sacrificing all the comforts of life through the three year siege (Shi’ab Abi Talib) that left them starving and abused. It was so severe that innocent children faced starvation and adults survived eating the leaves of trees.  Yet the firm followers of Muhammad pbuh did not turn away from their true religion and they came out of the ordeal spiritually stronger and purer than before.

.

The first of their children was a son whom they named Qasim, whom died when he was two years old. They then had a son named Abdulla and daughters named, Zainab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah.  All of Prophet Muhammad’s pbuh children died in his lifetime except Fatima. The siege also cost them dearly as one of their children, Fatimah RA, would never physically heal from the starvation of the boycott and was ill for the remainder of her dear life

Abdulla bin ‘Abass narrates:

“One day the Prophet Muhammad pbuh drew four lines into the earth and asked his companions  if they understood what these lines stood for.  They respectfully replied that he knows better.  He then told them that these lines stood for the four foremost ladies of the universe.  They were Khadijah bint Khawaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint Imran the mother of the Prophet Isa (Jesus), and Asiah bint Mazahim (the wife of Pharoh).”

                                       

Khadijah passed away just three years before the Hijra (migration to Medina).  She died at the age of sixty-five, having given twenty-five years to to Muhammad pbuh and the cause of Islam.  When Muhammad pbuh saw her in the throes of death he consoled her saying:

“Allah has ordained it, and that the thing you are dreading, will prove favorable for you.”

  Her eyes lit up as she gazed at her beloved husband, and her soul left its earthly body.

When Khadija RA passed away, the Rusool was heart broken at the loss of his dedicated companion of twenty-five years who had stood by him through the most difficult years of his life.  He personally supervised the preparation of his grave, and climbed down into it to check it out.  It was then that the Rusool would lower her body into her grave; thus ending the life of a noble lady who was the greatest supporter of Islam in its earliest days.  She who was the mother of Fatimah RA, the First Lady of Paradise, the grandmother of the Rusool’s pbuh beloved grandchildren Hassan and Hussain who are the foremost youths in Paradise.  She was blessed with the distinction of being greeted with salaam by Allah and the Angel Jibreel. 

Aaisha narrates:

“That whenever the Prophet pbuh talked about Khadijah RA, it was in terms of the highest praise.  One day her innate femine envy overtook her sense of decorum and she spoke  in disparaging terms of her, wandering why the Prophet pbuh missed her when he was blessed with a better, younger wife by allah.  This displeased him, but forebearing as he was, he just sighed and answered ,

“I have not yet found a better wife than her.  She had faith in me when everyone, even members of my own family and tribe did not believe me, and accepted that I was truly a Prophet and a Messenger of Allah.  She converted to Islam, spent all her wealth and worldly goods to help me spread this faith, and this too at a time when the entire world seemed to have turned against me persecuted me.  And it is through her that Allah blessed me with children.”

Aa’isha narrates that she never experienced such a feeling of natural femine jealousy for any other wife of the Prophet pbuh as she did for Khadijah.  She also narrates that when the Prophet pbuh spoke about her he would talk at great length and praise her qualities, and pray for her forgiveness.  According to Aa’isha whenever a goat was slaughtered he would send some meat to Khadijah’s friends; when Aa’isha remarked about this on one occasion he told her,

‘I have great regard for her friends, as she has a special place in my heart.’

Thus ends the brief look of Khadijah bint Khawaylid R.A......

                                       

Insha Allah I will add the remainder of the wives slowly at another time.
I hope this has piqued your curiosity and will encourage you to further your studies of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H.