Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

I am Zayd Haji, a student at Zad Academy. In this blogpost, we will explore the marriages of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, their wisdom, and the noble role of the Mothers of the Believers. Islam teaches that marriage is a natural way to channel human inclinations through halal means. The Prophet ﷺ, like all human beings, married, but his marriages carried wisdom, mercy, and service to Islam.

1. Marriage to Khadijah (RA)

As a young man of 25, the Prophet ﷺ worked in trade under Khadijah (RA), a respected businesswoman. She witnessed his honesty, trustworthiness, and noble character through her servant Maysarah. Impressed, she proposed marriage. Despite turning down many dignitaries, Khadijah chose the Prophet ﷺ.

The Prophet ﷺ married her, and their marriage lasted 25 years. He never married another woman during her lifetime. She was about 40 years old, and he was 25. From her, he had all his children except Ibrahim, who was born later from Maria al-Qibtiyya.

Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Many amongst men attained perfection but amongst women none attained the perfection except Mary, the daughter of `Imran and Asiya, the wife of Pharaoh. And the superiority of `Aisha to other women is like the superiority of Tharid (i.e. an Arabic dish) to other meals."

Sahih al-Bukhari 3769

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3769

2. His Children

With Khadijah (RA), he had:

• Qasim (after whom he was nicknamed Abul Qasim)
• Abdullah (al-Tayyib or al-Tahir)
• Four daughters: Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and Fatimah (RA).

All his sons died in childhood. His daughter Fatimah (RA) died six months after him. His son Ibrahim, from Maria al-Qibtiyya, also died at two years old. The Prophet ﷺ bore these losses with patience and trust in Allah’s decree.

Allah says:

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient.”

(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155, quran.com)

3. Marriages After Khadijah

After Khadijah’s death, the Prophet ﷺ married several women. Most were widows or divorced women who needed protection and support. His marriages also built alliances and conveyed the private aspects of his Sunnah.

Among his wives were:

• Sawda bint Zamʿa (RA) – a widow.
• Aisha bint Abu Bakr (RA) – the only virgin wife, who narrated over 2,000 hadith.
• Zaynab bint Jahsh (RA) – whose marriage abolished pre-Islamic adoption (Surah al-Ahzab 33:37, quran.com).
• Umm Salama (RA) – a widow with children.
• Hafsa bint Umar (RA) – daughter of Umar ibn al-Khattab.
• Safiyyah bint Huyayy (RA) – from a Jewish background, honored through marriage after embracing Islam.
• Juwayriya bint al-Harith (RA) – her marriage led to the freeing of many captives.
• Maymunah bint al-Harith (RA) – the last wife he married.

These marriages were not driven by desire but by divine wisdom, mercy for widows, strengthening community bonds, and preserving the Prophet’s Sunnah.

4. Wisdom of His Marriages

The Prophet’s ﷺ marriages taught Muslims:

1. Compassion – caring for widows and orphans.
2. Social Justice – freeing captives through marriage.
3. Preservation of Knowledge – his wives conveyed intimate details of his private life for the Ummah’s guidance.

Allah says:

“The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves, and his wives are their mothers.”

(Surah al-Ahzab 33:6, quran.com)

The Prophet’s ﷺ marriages were acts of mercy, justice, and divine wisdom. Khadijah (RA) was his first and most beloved wife. The Mothers of the Believers played an essential role in preserving Islam. Through his marriages, we learn lessons of patience, responsibility, and the importance of family.

Notes:

1. Khadijah (RA) was the Prophet’s only wife during her lifetime.
2. All his children except Ibrahim were from Khadijah.
3. Most later marriages were to widows and served noble purposes.
4. Aisha (RA) preserved much of the Sunnah.
5. His wives are the Mothers of the Believers, honored forever in Islam.