ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Philosophy of Marriages of (s.a.w.) List of Wives of the Prophet of Islam After the death of his first wife, Khadijah, he married upto twelve wives in this order:- (1) Sawdah (2) `A'ishah (3) Umm-Salamah (4) Hafsah (5) Zaynab bind-Khuzaymah ( 6) Zaynab bint-Jahsh (7) Umm-Habibah (Ramla) ( 8) Maymunah (9) Zaynab bint-`Umais (10) Juwayriyah (11) Safiyah (12) Khawlah bint-Hakim Let us examine the circumstances and con- ditions under which these marriages had taken place.

In principle, it can be stated that the marri- ages were contracted with one or more of the following objectives:- (1) For the sake of caring for the orphans and looking after the poor widows. These were some Muslim women who had earlier enjoyed high dignity in the Arab society. But on the death of their husbands, their status and even faith were in jeopardy, because their tribal chiefs would take them back and compel them to renounce Islam, thus converting them back to polytheism.

For example, Sawdah had migrated to Abys- sinia where her husband died, and she became absolutely without helper. It was the time when the Prophet had lost Khadijah, his first wife; so he married Sawdah. Likewise, Zaynab daughter of Khuzaymah, was an old-aged widow, who after the death of her husband was inflicted with poverty, despite her being amiable and being known as 'Ummul-Masa- kin' ( Mother of the poor).

The Prophet married her to uphold her dignity and she died of old age only after two years of that marriage. (2) For the sake of enacting a new law and eradicating injustice by the ignorant tribes. For example, Zaynab bint-Jahsh was the daughter of the Prophet's aunt. She was married, at the reco- mmendation of the Prophet, to Zayd ibn-Harithah, the freed slave and adopted son of the Prophet.

This marriage was contracted to eradicate the dis- crimination against slaves and poor and to empha- size the Islamic equality and brotherhood, as Zay- nab was from the family of `Abd al-Muttalib, the grandfather of the Holy Prophet and the Chief of Quraysh, whereas Zayd was a slave who was freed by the Prophet. Unfortunately, Zaynab due to her family pride, did not get along well with Zayd despite Prophet's persuations. The rift between the two culminated into divorce.

Meanwhile, the system of adoption of children was expressly forbidden by Allah.