Why was Prophet Muhammad allowed to have more than 4 wives?
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29/07/2007 2:55:12 PMI'm sure someone here will give a better answer than me . But in the meantime I'll just give my opinions on this matter.
First we have to understand that in the past they were not forbidden to marry more than four wives . It was only later when the quran was revealed that muslims were only to marry one wive. Therefore it was not uncommon or shocking that Muhammad (s.a.w) had 12 wives . It is only in the modern context that we find it difficult to understand therefore questions are being asked.
And if you read his history , except for Aishah and Khadijah he had married most of (or all) his other wives are widows whose husbands had died in war. In one case , there was a woman (can't remember her name) whose father went from one of prophet's companion to another to ask for them to marry his daughter. All of them rejected him . Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) accepted her as his wife and took great care of her.
So maybe you can try explaining to your friend the circumstances in which prophet married his wives for his understanding? I've only read about them in the passing so i can't provide you with details but i'm sure if you find out it'll help.
And also you might want to learn about why polygamy is allowed in the first place.Understanding is the key i think.
This is one great great video for that answer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Also you might want to watch Dr.Zakir Naik's videos because he provides AWESOMEGREATMARVELLOUS answers to difficult questions.
And they really come in handy in conversations with non-muslims. =D
Assalamualaikum
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30/07/2007 6:52:15 PMIt is important first to admit that there is hikma (wisdom) in everything that our prophet did... if only we understood. Modern science is only now proving some of his practices after so many years. These being one third food, one third water and one third empty and the sequence of drinking the water etc. Right now, we also know that slowly towards the end of time, the women population will increase and thus the Quran is way ahead of our time and looking into the future to allow for men to marry up to 4 wifes provided he meets the conditions. It is also important that the Prophet was also corrected of his actions by the revelations of the verses of the Quran thus abrogating all the previous actions even of the prophet s.a.w. In short, there is wisdom which at times will be evident inthe near future. Insya Allah we hear and we obey.
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2/08/2007 10:11:09 PMManaged to 'dig through some websites for answers'. I managed to find a link concerning the post questions. I paste the link below;
http://www.answering-christian...
Here I will quote a surah taken from the Quran mentioned in the website. Quoting..
And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two AND three AND four (mathna WA thulatha WA rubaAAa); but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them), then (marry) only one or what your right hands possess; this is more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course.
Surah. 4:1-4 (Eng Translation of Quran by M.Shakir)
(Note: However the M.M.Pickethall version i'm holding most of the time, difference is found in this translation noted where "...marry such women....two OR three OR four;but if...". So please again, take note of it.)
In summary of the explanation given by Basam Zawadi in the link, there are three different approach to the these verse. The 3 approach is explained below;
1)Muslims can marry UP to FOUR of ANY wives. ( This threoy appeals to Islamic theologist in the past and became the regulations for many muslims these days.
2) Restriction is polygamy is not limited so long equality is restircted (not commonly followed in Singapore as far as I know of)
3) The verse relates to the issue on orphans, hence does not have any apply to restricition number of wives . .(probably the least favored answer in this part).
Several hadith is quoted in the link also for your reference. Since this is only 1 of the possible answers, please do not take the above explanation as a finality. Hope my answers helps.
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30/08/2007 11:09:28 PMProphet Muhammad (s.a.w) was bestowed with special priviledges by Allah s.w.t. One of it is the number of wives that he could marry. Allah has grant this priviledge to him alone and not to other believers. Surah 33 Verse 49-50 tells us about this ruling.
Among muslims, this is not an issue because we understand the circumstances, customs of the Arabs of that time and we obey Allah's Law.
But this is one issue non-muslims find difficult to understand.
Maybe what we can explain is that when a woman is taken as a wife by the prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), her status is actually elevated within the community and in the eyes of Allah. To be a wife of the prophet Muhammad is indeed a very special priviledge by itself.
If we read or study the history of the Prophet in detail, we will find that some of the wives even offered themselves to the Prophet. And also that there was an occasion when some of the wives were worried if they will be divorced by the Prophet due to some problems because of jealousy among them. There were matrimonial problems or difficulties with prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) which many were solved through Quranic verses which in turn then used as Islamic ruling pertaining matrimonial issues. Wallahu'alam.
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9/09/2007 2:38:49 PMSalaam bmtalib,
Yeah agree. The only verse of this limitation of the marriage was in the verse An-Nisa 4:3 "And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hand possesses. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice]."
According to some hadith(sorry at present cant remeber which) for the context of this verse, the muslims have just lost the war in Battle of Uhud, and they lost many soldiers in the war, hence resulted many orphans and widows especially women. Hence , as a statesmen, prophet pbuh have received a revelation regarding issues on excess of female population untaken care of. Polygamy was then encouraged to reduce dangers of fitnah, rape or molestation, and even poverty. In response, this revelation protects the female liberty, status, and well beings in that time and society.
Many pro-evangelist and muslim critics used the quranic verse to depict restrict and cruelty of women rights. Ist's sad though, for them, as in Christianity, Jesus Christ never say one cannot marry more than one as the Torah has never disallowed it in the first place. As depicted in their New Testament, Mathew 5:17 " Think not that I have come to destroy the law, or the prophets:I am not come to destro,but to fullfil"(RKJV)..
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Hi,
My name is Fariz and a muslim. I recently has a warm discussion with a Christian friend, John (not his real name), regarding polygamy. In a short conversion, he asked why prophet had twelve wives but muslims could only have four in maximum, as revealed in the Quran. As my knowledge in muslim is limited, I can't answer the question for him. My friend was a nice person and he just wants a muslim perspective of the answer.
The question would be;what would be the choice of answer, at muslim perspective, to answer to my friend's question regarding muhammad's life with tweleve wives and the law that muslim could have at most, four wives? Why didnt Muhammad have more than four wives knowirng the maximum should be four in the law of the Koran? Hope my questions do not pose any negative sentiments towards my muslim brothers and sisters, may Allah forgive me.
500 pts
brainy
1
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