20d Islam: Muhammad the Prophet - wives, death

Summary

The script discusses the marriages of Prophet Muhammad, highlighting his monogamous life with his first wife Kadija and the political significance of his subsequent polygamy. It mentions the number of wives and concubines, the controversies surrounding his marriage to Aisha, and the Islamic law on marriage. It also touches on the power struggles after Muhammad's death, involving Aisha, and the Quranic verses related to marriage.

Takeaways

• 👥 Muhammad was monogamous during his first wife Kadija's lifetime, but later had multiple wives, which was a common practice among rulers at the time.
• 🤝 Having multiple wives was a political strategy to solidify alliances and avoid conflicts with neighboring rulers and kingdoms.
• 🕵️‍♂️ At the time of his death, Muhammad had either nine or eleven wives and two concubines, which were given to him as gifts.
• 🤔 Historian Fe Peters suggests that Muhammad's marriages were a mix of political, compassionate, and affairs of the heart.
• 👰 Islamic teachers emphasize that Aisha was the only virgin Muhammad married, and most of his wives had been previously married, reflecting compassion for widows.
• 💍 Marriage to Muhammad was a significant social advancement for most of his wives, as it elevated their wealth and status.
• 👧 Aisha, the daughter of Abu Bakr, was the most interesting of Muhammad's wives. She was engaged at six and married at nine, while Muhammad was in his early 50s.
• 🔍 There is controversy over Aisha's age at marriage, with some sources suggesting she was older, but the mainstream narrative supports her being a child.
• 🚫 The marriage of Muhammad to the ex-wife of his adopted son Zaid was controversial, as it was seen as a conflict of interest.
• 📖 Aisha played a significant role in Islamic history as many Hadith reports are attributed to her.
• ⚖️ The Quran allows a Muslim man up to four wives, provided he can treat them justly, but Muhammad was given special dispensation to have more.

Q & A

What was the common practice regarding marriage among rulers in ancient and medieval times?

Rulers in ancient and medieval times commonly had multiple wives as a way to solidify alliances with surrounding rulers and kingdoms, and to avoid trouble.

How many wives did Muhammad have at the time of his death?

Historians believe that at the time of his death, Muhammad had either nine or eleven wives.

What was the role of marriage in Islamic society according to the transcript?

Marriage in Islamic society was seen as a way to provide care for lone women and elevate their status in society, as opposed to the then prevalent norm of casting them off to a life of destitution.

Who was Aisha and why is she significant in Islamic history?

Aisha was the daughter of Muhammad's friend and companion Abu Bakr. She is significant in Islamic history because many Hadith reports are attributed to her, and she was caught up in power struggles after Muhammad's death.

At what age did Muhammad become engaged to Aisha according to Hadith reports?

According to Hadith reports, Muhammad became engaged to Aisha when she was six years old.

What is the controversy surrounding Aisha's marriage to Muhammad?

The controversy surrounding Aisha's marriage is her young age at the time of marriage, which has been a subject of debate and criticism in recent times, especially considering the age difference between her and Muhammad.

What does Islamic law say about the consummation of marriage?

Islamic law, like many others, understands marriage to imply consummation, meaning that sex is expected within a marriage.

How did Aisha's marriage to Muhammad impact her role in Islamic history?

Aisha's marriage to Muhammad elevated her status and allowed her to become a significant figure in Islamic history, with many Hadith reports attributed to her.

What was the most controversial marriage of Muhammad during his lifetime?

The most controversial marriage of Muhammad during his lifetime was to the ex-wife of his freed slave and adopted son, Zaid.

What does Surah 4 in the Quran say about a Muslim man having multiple wives?

Surah 4 in the Quran states that a Muslim man may have up to four wives, so long as he can treat them justly.

How does Surah 33 of the Quran differentiate the rules for Muhammad compared to other Muslim men?

Surah 33 of the Quran allows Muhammad to have more than four wives as he pleases, while other Muslim men are restricted to four wives.

Outlines

00:00

👤 Muhammad's Marriages and Their Significance

The paragraph discusses the marital practices of Prophet Muhammad, highlighting that having multiple wives was a common practice among rulers of his time to solidify alliances and avoid conflicts. It mentions that at his death, Muhammad had nine or eleven wives and two concubines. Historian Fe Peters suggests that Muhammad's marriages were a mix of political, compassionate, and possibly based on affection. Islamic teachers emphasize the compassion shown towards widows and previously married women, which was a significant social advancement in Islamic society. The paragraph also discusses the controversial nature of Aisha's marriage, who was young when she married Muhammad, and the historical importance of Aisha due to the many Hadith reports attributed to her. It concludes with a mention of the controversy surrounding Muhammad's marriage to the ex-wife of his adopted son, which was based on a divine revelation.

Keywords

💡Monogamous

Monogamy refers to the practice of being married to only one person at a time. In the context of the video, it is mentioned that Muhammad was monogamous during the lifetime of his first wife, Kadija. This term is significant as it contrasts with his later marriages, illustrating a shift in personal practice that aligns with broader social and political strategies.

💡Polygamy

Polygamy is the state of having more than one spouse. The video discusses how Muhammad had multiple wives, which was a common practice among rulers to solidify alliances and avoid conflicts. This concept is central to understanding the strategic use of marriage in ancient societies and its implications for political stability.

💡Alliances

Alliances, in the context of the video, refer to agreements between different rulers or kingdoms to cooperate and support each other. The script mentions that having multiple wives was a way to solidify alliances, as marrying the daughter of a neighboring ruler could prevent conflict and foster goodwill.

💡Concubines

Concubines are individuals, typically women, who live with and have a sexual relationship with a person of higher social status, often in a quasi-marital arrangement. The video notes that Muhammad had two concubines, which were given to him as gifts. This term is important for understanding the social dynamics and power structures of the time.

💡Political Marriages

Political marriages are unions arranged for reasons of statecraft or diplomacy rather than for love. The script suggests that many of Muhammad's marriages were political, highlighting the strategic use of marriage to secure peace and strengthen ties with neighboring rulers.

💡Compassion

Compassion, as discussed in the video, refers to feelings of sympathy and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. It is mentioned that some of Muhammad's marriages were compassionate, marrying widows and providing for 'lone women,' which was seen as an act of kindness and support within Islamic society.

💡Aisha

Aisha was one of Muhammad's wives and is a key figure in Islamic history. The video describes her as a young girl when she became Muhammad's wife and notes the controversy surrounding her age at marriage. Aisha's role is significant as she is attributed with many Hadith reports, making her an important source of Islamic tradition.

💡Hadith

Hadith are the collections of sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad that, along with the Quran, form the basis of Islamic law and tradition. The video mentions that many Hadith reports are attributed to Aisha, emphasizing her importance in preserving and transmitting the teachings of Muhammad.

💡Controversy

Controversy in the video refers to the disputes or disagreements over certain actions or beliefs. It is noted that Muhammad's marriage to the ex-wife of his adopted son was controversial during his lifetime, illustrating the complexities and sensitivities around marriage and adoption in the context of Islamic tradition.

💡Quran

The Quran is the holy book of Islam, considered by Muslims to be the word of God as revealed to Muhammad. The video references Surahs (chapters) from the Quran that discuss marriage laws, such as the allowance for a Muslim man to have up to four wives and the special provision for Muhammad to have more.

💡Islamic Law

Islamic law, or Sharia, is a system of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. The video discusses how Islamic law permits a man to have up to four wives, provided he can treat them justly, and how there is a special provision for Muhammad to have more wives, which is a point of interest in understanding the application of Islamic law.

Highlights

Muhammad was monogamous during his first wife Kadija's lifetime.

Having multiple wives was a common practice among rulers for political alliances.

Marriage to the king's daughter could prevent conflict as she would be under his protection.

At the time of his death, Muhammad had either nine or eleven wives and two concubines.

Historian Fe Peters suggests Muhammad's marriages were a mix of political and compassionate.

Islamic teachers emphasize that Aisha was the only virgin Muhammad married.

Most of Muhammad's wives had been previously married, including his first wife Kadija.

Muhammad's marriages are seen as compassionate, providing a better life for widows.

Aisha, daughter of Abu Bakr, was engaged at six and married at nine to Muhammad in his 50s.

There is controversy over Aisha's age at marriage, with some suggesting she was older.

Islamic law implies marriage includes consummation, which has been a point of controversy.

Aisha is significant in Islamic history as many Hadith reports are attributed to her.

Aisha was involved in power struggles after Muhammad's death and was accused of immorality.

Muhammad's marriage to Zaid's ex-wife was controversial, as Zaid was his adopted son.

Surah 4 of the Quran allows a Muslim man up to four wives if he can treat them justly.

Surah 33 of the Quran allows Muhammad more than four wives as he pleases.

Muhammad died unexpectedly after a short illness, with speculation on the cause.

Aisha was reportedly around 18 when Muhammad died in her arms.

Transcripts

while his first wife Kadija was alive

Muhammad was monogamous that he came to

have many wives is not in itself

controversial this was a common practice

for rulers in ancient and Medieval Times

collecting wives was a way to solidify

alliances with the surrounding rulers

and kingdoms and a way to avoid trouble

if the king next door's daughter is one

of your wives then he's a relative of

yours he doesn't want harm to come to

his daughter historians believe that at

the time of his death Muhammad had

either nine or 11 wives as well as two

concubines which were given to him as

gifts historian Fe Peters says that it's

hard to make generalizations about

Muhammad's marriages he says that quote

many seem to have been political some

compassionate some perhaps Aisha or

zanab Affairs of the heart end quote

Islamic teachers sometimes emphasize

that Aisha was the only virgin Muhammad

married and that all but Aisha and one

of the concubines had been previously

married even kadia who had been married

twice before in the words of one

commenter this shows quote the

importance and care that needs to be

given to Lone women in Islamic society

as against the then prevalent Norm of

casting them off to a life of

destitution end quote devout Muslims

then will hold up these marriages of

Muhammad as a sign of his compassion it

is true that this would be a step up for

most of them in wealth and Status it's a

big deal to be married to the Undisputed

ruler of the community and it's also

also true that in maybe a couple of

cases he married the widows of people

killed in battle and some of them were

not exactly young women anymore the most

interesting of Muhammad's wives is Aisha

she was the daughter of his friend and

companion Abu Bakr who will meet in the

next lecture according to Hadith reports

that are traced back to Aisha Muhammad

became engaged to her when she was six

and she became his wife at nine and he

would have been in his early 50s at the

time those aren't the only dates that

are given in the sources times they say

7 9 10 and some Islamic apologists will

argue that she must have been in her

mid- teens or even in her mid 20s but

that's not what the mainstream says also

many will assume and assert that the

marriage was not consumated until she

reached puberty I'm not aware of any

source that says that in Islamic law as

elsewhere marriage is understood to

imply sex it's understood to imply a

consummation of the marriage needless to

say this has been fuel for controversy

in recent times with Christian

apologists and atheist critics making a

lot of it but it wasn't that

controversial back then you have to keep

in mind that in many societies a woman

is considered to be of marriageable age

as soon as she reaches puberty part of

the reason for the controversies in

recent times is because this has been

considered a precedent there have been

many cases in traditional Islamic

countries of middle-aged men marrying

young teens or even pre-teens in any

case some sources say that a was

Muhammad's favorite wife and that she

was about 18 when he died in her arms

after a short illness that then is how

Muhammad died he died rather

unexpectedly after a short illness we

don't know what although various modern

writers have speculated about what

conditions or diseases he might have

suffered from Aisha is important to

Islamic history because many Hadith

reports are attributed to her but she

was caught up in the power struggles

after Muhammad's death there was some

accusation of immorality against her is

mentioned in Surah 24 in the Quran and

this accusation it's unclear what it was

but this was believed by Ali

consequently she and Ali were bitter

enemies and she actually ended up

leading troops into battle against his

troops the only marriage of Muhammad

that was really controversial during his

lifetime was to the ex-wife of his freed

slave and adopted son it seems that Zade

willingly divorced her so that she could

marry Muhammad at the urging of a divine

revelation this is controversi

and there are various versions of the

story but some versions say that he saw

her and thought she was beautiful and

soon after received a divine revelation

that she was to become his wife and that

because of that his adopted son divorced

her and apparently she agreed that's not

hard to imagine because again it would

be a big rise in status to be a wife of

the Prophet based on Surah 4 in the

Quran in general a Muslim man may have

up to four wives so long as he can treat

four wives just justly it doesn't quite

explain that but commentators will

elaborate much on that if you can't

really handle having four and treating

them well then you shouldn't have that

many this rule though doesn't apply to

the prophet in Surah 33 there's a

revelation that allows Muhammad more

than four wives as he pleases although

he is there forbidden from marrying more

wives although not it says from

acquiring more

concubines in our next lecture Islamic

history and the many sects within Islam