4 Unique Marital Rulings of Prophet Muhammad
Prophet Muhammad’s Uniqueness
The life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) occupies a
central place in human and civilizational history, for he was the living
embodiment of the values brought by the revelation of the Qur’an. Allah the
Exalted distinguished him with certain rulings not granted to other human
beings, foremost among them those related to marriage and family.
Discussing these matters, which Allah Almighty uniquely legislated
for him, is not limited to legal rulings or historical recounting of events.
Rather, it is a gateway to understanding a profound aspect of the philosophy of
Islamic legislation, which combined the uniqueness of the prophetic position
with the universality of the final message. Allah permitted for him what He did
not permit for other believers and imposed upon him what He did not impose upon
others so that his rank would remain distinct, and his pure household would
stand as a living model of legislation intended to build a cohesive society
founded upon justice, mercy, and human dignity.
The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) specificities in marriage:
First: Marrying
a Woman Who Offers Herself to Him
Among the unique qualities of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that it
was permissible for him to marry a woman who offered herself to him without a
dowry, only if she was a believer. Allah said, “And
a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet
wishes to marry her, [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers.” (Al-Ahzab
33:50)
This was something specific to him (peace be upon him) alone; no other Muslim
is permitted to marry without a dowry, since in marriage the dowry, the
guardian, and witnesses are required. This privilege was granted to him because
he (peace be upon him) was the epitome of justice and trustworthiness, far above wronging women in their rights or treating them in a
way displeasing to Allah.
It has been narrated that four women offered themselves to him (peace
be upon him): Maymunah Bint Al-Harith, Zaynab Bint Khuzaymah Al-Ansariyyah, Umm
Sharik Bint Jabir, and Khawlah Bint Hakim. He married Maymunah and Zaynab (may
Allah be pleased with them), who became among the Mothers of the Believers.
Second: Allah
Marrying Him Directly
One of the most remarkable distinctions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is
that Allah the Exalted commanded his marriage to Zaynab Bint Jahsh directly
from above the seven heavens, without a traditional contract, dowry, or
guardian. Allah said, “So when Zayd had no longer
any need for her, We married her to you.” (Al-Ahzab 33:37)
Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) had been the wife of Zayd Ibn
Harithah, whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) had adopted, and who was
formerly known as “Zayd Ibn Muhammad.” Allah intended to abolish the
pre-Islamic custom of adoption, which had prohibited the wife of an adopted son
from marrying the adopter after divorce or widowhood, just as the wife of a
biological son is prohibited. Thus, this legislation was enacted practically
through the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself, to serve as a testimony to
this ruling.
Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) would take pride in this
immense honor, saying: “Your families gave you in marriage, but Allah gave
me in marriage from above His seven heavens.” This marriage was a great
honor for her, and only after Zayd had divorced her willingly after he no
longer had affection or attachment to her.
Third: Being
Permitted to Marry More Than Four Wives
Allah the Exalted permitted His Prophet (peace be upon him) to marry more than
four women, as He said: “O Prophet, indeed We have
made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation…”
(Al-Ahzab 33:50) He (peace be upon him) married eleven women in total,
and he passed away leaving nine of them.
This privilege was not granted to anyone else in his Ummah, for it
is not permissible for other believers to have more than four wives at a time.
His protection from injustice enabled him to uphold fairness between his wives,
something other men are incapable of. Moreover, this was not unprecedented, as
other prophets before him had practiced polygamy, such as Dawud (peace be upon him).
The Prophet’s permission of polygamy was neither out of personal
desire nor lust, as most of his marriages occurred later in life, and most of
his wives were older or widows. Some of them even relinquished their right to
nightly turns to others, content with the honor of being married to the Prophet
(peace be upon him). Rather, this legislation carried great wisdom, including:
- Da`wah
and political interests: His marriages strengthened Islam by
forging ties with multiple tribes, giving Islam stability and influence.
- Abolition
of pre-Islamic adoption: as exemplified in his marriage to Zaynab Bint
Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her).
- Transmitting
his life to the Ummah: His households became the source of
conveying the intimate details of his daily life to future generations,
through the Mothers of the Believers.
- Training
female preachers: His wives became a school of religious
guidance for women throughout the Muslim world.
Fourth:
Prohibition of Marrying His Wives After Him
Allah
Almighty forbade marrying the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) after
his passing. He said: “And it is not [conceivable
or lawful] for you to harm the Messenger of Allah or to marry his wives after
him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allah an enormity.” (Al-Ahzab
33:53)
The scholars have unanimously agreed that this prohibition is
eternal; it is not permissible for anyone to marry them after him, because they
are the Mothers of the Believers, as described in the Qur’an: “And his wives are [in the position of] their mothers.” (Al-Ahzab
33:6)
Thus, marrying them is akin to marrying one’s mother, except in matters of
inheritance. However, in rulings of seclusion, travel, and gaze, they were
treated as non-mahram women.
This legislation carried noble purposes, including:
- Honoring
the Prophet (peace be upon him) and safeguarding his dignity after his
death, so that his honor and rank would never be violated. For the prohibition
of marrying the Prophet’s wives is a part of respecting him (peace be upon
him), and respecting him is obligatory.
- Preserving
the elevated status of the Mothers of the Believers,
ensuring they were revered and respected.
- Affirming
the eternal spiritual bond between the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his
wives, as they remain his spouses in this world and in the
Hereafter, a status no one else shares with them.
Thus, these specificities by which Allah distinguished His Prophet (peace
be upon him) in marriage were not personal privileges, but additional burdens
linked to his prophetic mission of carrying the greatest message, so that he
may serve as a role model and mentor for humanity.
For Further Reading:
- 5 Habits for a Healthier Life from Prophet’s ﷺ Sunnah
- Allah Hears Your Complaint
- A Reading on Family Relationships Through Surah Yusuf: "The Generation Gap"
- Make Your Homes a Sacred Sanctuary
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Resources:
- Mahasin
Al-Islam Encyclopedia.
- Tafsir
Modoee Encyclopedia.
- Islamweb: The Specific Aspects of the Prophet’s Marriages and His Wives, peace and blessings be upon him.
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