A detailed study of his marriages - may Allah's prayers and peace is on him - giving the causes, circumstances and object of each will certainly elucidate matters.

The biography of the prophet shows that he spent the prime of his youth in Macca, where he could easily enjoy the pleasures of life, but he spent most of these days quietly, honestly, in contemplation and chastity. He did not marry or engage to be married until he was twenty-five years old. Had he been a pleasure seeker, as many claimants said, he would have sinned before his marriage. Had he felt any lust for women, he would have hastened to marry at an earlier age, as was the custom of young men of his days. But he did not marry till the age of twenty-five, when he traded for Al Sayeda Khadija Bint Khuwailed, who admired his honesty and good conduct.

Al Sayeda Khadija was a wealthy lady. She married twice from Bani Makhzoum, and as a widow, she was asked for marriage by many of the notable personalities of Quraish, but she refused them all because she was convinced they were after her wealth. She admired

Mohammed's honesty and good conduct, she sent him her sister- or a friend according to other sources- to ask him: " why don't you marry". He answered "I have not got the money".She said: " If you are spared that, and were invited to beauty wealth, and honour, would you accept?"

He asked: " who is she?"

She answered Khadija Bint Khuwailed".

He asked: " and how is this possible?"

She said: " leave it to me".

Allah's Messenger accepted the offer knowing that she was at least fifteen years older and that she was married twice before. When they were married, he did not feel this difference in age; the happiness, loyalty, good companionship they both felt and the joy they had in their sons and daughters made them overcome this difference.

Al Sayeda Khadija gave him two boys, Al kasim and Abd Allah (surnamed Al Tahir ) and Al Tayyeb and four daughters, Zainab, Omm Kalthoom ,fatima and Roqayya.

It is remarkable to note that while the while the prophet enjoyed the happiness of this conjugal life with Al Sayeda Khadija, he used to leave his home for several nights spending them in meditation and devotion in the cave of Hira. He was Keen on religious purification in that cave every year during the month of Ramadan and live on the least of food sent to him there.

Had he may - Allah's prayers and peace be on him- been fond of women, he

Would not have abandoned his home to an isolated cave where he spent the night alone in meditation and devotion.The happiness of the prophet with his wife and what this. Reverend lady did for him made the difference in age between them insignificant. She was the first to believe in the message of Muhammad and to help establish Islam. She participated in person and supported the cause of Islam in time of agony and hardship. Whenever the infidels opposed him. She always solaced and comforted him making things easy for him until she died.

When the prophet received his first revelation he returned homes to her shivering and frightened, she hugged and comforted him and said: " You have nothing to fear. Allah will never let you down; you are kind to your relations, you are honest and patient, you give the needy, you are generous to guests and you never fail to relieve those in distress". Then she hurried to her cousin Waraka Ibn Nawfal, who was converted to Christianity, read the scriptures and listened to the people of the Tawrat and the bible. She told him about Muhammad and expressed her worry. Waraka was silent of a moment then told her that what had befallen Muhammad was the great law that used to befall Moses; and he announced to her the good news that Muhammad would be the prophet of that nation, and that he should be strong and not panic. Khadija returned to the prophet and told him what Waraka had told her.

For twenty five years the prophet lived with al Sayeda Khadija, without taking another wife, when marrying several women was the common practice, and when

He was still a strong man, and she was getting on in age. When she was dead at the age of sixty-four or sixty- five, his grief was befitting a glorious loyal prophet.

He remained all his life loyal to her, openly praising and admiring her and so careful to preserve her good memory, within the hearing of his later wives, that Al Sayeda Aisha said: " I have never been jealous of a woman as I am of Khadija; the prophet frequently mentioned her and used to slaughter a sheep and call on Khadija's friends offering them its meat". She also said: " Whenever Allah's Messenger- may Allah's prayers and peace be on him- left the house he remembered Khadija, and then he would highly praise her. One day he mentioned her and I felt jealous so I said : " wasn't she an old woman and Allah gave you a better one?" He was so angry that hair on the front of his head shook and then said: " No by Allah, he did not, she believed in me when all the others did not. She trusted me when the rest considered me al liar. She lavished her money upon me When I was poor. She gave me children while others did not". Al Sayeda Aisha then said: " so I said to myself: " I shall never again speak badly of her". Al Sayeda Khadija died three years before the Hijra.

She was among the first women to embrace Islam. Her husband, who was her cousin, AL Sakran Ibn Amr' Ibn Abd Shams became a Muslim as well. By so doing she rebelled against her uncle and her relatives, and she had to emigrate with her husband to Abbysssinia during the second immigration, fleeing from the persecution of the infidels when the returned to Macca, her husband died.

Al Sayeda Sadwa was old, heavy and slow; she could never found a suitable man to marry her. She was of an honourable family and would not accept marrying below her. Meanwhile she could not return to her people after becoming a Muslim against their wish, lest she should be injured and become an apostate.

The Prophet honoured her by marrying her two years before the Hijra, although they did not live together until they reached Al Madina, three years after the death of Khadija.

This marriage was to protect Sadwa against the persecution of her harsh people, to honour her being one of the first to be converted to Islam and to compensate for her perseverance in keeping her new religion and in sticking to her husband. On the other hand it helped in reconciliating and uniting her people, who became the inlaws of the prophet. It was therefore an honourable marriage for the benefit of Islam, and not for pleasure or begetting children.

We should also remember that Sawda, was old, heavy and slow in movement and of a sharp temperament. She said to the prophet -may Allah's prayers and peace be on him-:" you have no obligation towards me. All I want is to become one of your wives and I willingly give way to Aisha".

Allah's Messenger kept Sadwa until his death, leaving her with his other demaining wives.

She was the daughter of Abu Bakr the prophet's best and closest friend; he accompanied him in his Hijra and supported him his jihad, he often sacrificed his wealth and was ready to offer his life for the sake of Allah- thus he deserved to be his bosom friend and to act as his prime minister. to show his appreciation to his beloved friend , to bring him closer to him and to bestow a greater honour upon him we think that , he decided to marry his daughter Al Sayeda Aisha.

The Prophet - may Allah's prayers and peace be on him - married Aisha three years after the death of Khadija, when he felt he needed to get married. We already know that he married Al Sayeda Sadwa Bent Zam'a to befriend her people, besides she was quite old and conscious of her state, thus she relieved him of any obligation to her and declared that all she longed for was the honour of being one his wives.

However perfect the prophet might be, yet he was after all human and he had to marry. He never claimed to be an angel, and the Quran did not attribute to him more than it did to other Alla's Messengers before him,all human chosen by the Almighty to communicate his injunctions, and everyone of them married and had children. None of these prophets recommended monasticism. Their ultimate object was to ensure the welfare of their people in this world and the hereafter.

For three years after the death of al Sayeda Khadija, he remained a widower, so it was natural for him to marry again. Besides a wife was needed to look after is home, create a pleasant atmosphere for him;

And with her compassion and love she could help with his message . thus Allah's saying in enumerating some of his blessings to his worshippers is justified : And one of his signs it is that he has created wives form yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them , and has put love and mercy between you. Herein truly are signs for those who reflect. Ch.30. V. 21.Some might argue that he did not need to marry again as many Muslim men and women were willing to serve him but none of them could ensure the comfort and peace as a wife could; none of them would fulfil the aim of the holy verse as regards dwelling, compassion and mercy.

Moreover his wives were given the opportunity to know more about the legislation's and injunctions of Islam, to understand what was lawful , forbidden or permissible . they also heard a lot of his traditions

(Ahadith), and this is clearly apparent in the detailed books of tradition and of legislation, to which we shall refer briefly in the conclusion of this book.A wife in the house of the prophet – may Allah’s prayers and peace be on him- would encourage women to call on her to enquire about things related to their religion, just as men did. They asked Al Sayeda Aisha about matters, which they would feel embarrassed to ask The Prophet himself about. Al Sayeda Aisha was an intelligent woman, with a s sharp memory, renowned for relating

The Traditions (Ahadith ) and for her skill in matters of religion. When the prominent companions faced a problem, they used to ask her and she always answered their queries satisfactorily.

Abu Mossa El Ash’ari said: “ Whenever we, the companions of Allah’s Prophet - ,may Allah’s prayers and peace be on him- met with a Tradition ( Hadith) that needed explanation, and asked Aisha, we always found with her satisfactory answer”, Masruq said :” I have seen the leading companion of Muhammad – may Allah’s prayers and peace be on him- ask her about the ordinances of Islam”. Al Dhahaby said : “ she was one of the most prominent scholars among the companions; and the scholars among the companions of Allah’s Messenger – may Allah’s prayers and peace be on him – used to refer to her. Her excellence was not confined to relating the Traditions and Islamic Legislationsm but she was also eloquent and convincing.

She memorised many poems and Hisham Ibn Orwa said quoting his father: “ I have not known anyone is more well versed ins Islamic jurisprudence ( Fiqh ) , medicine and poetry, than Aisha”.Abu Zinad said: “ I have not met anyone more fluent in reciting poetry than “ Orwa, and when he was told that his poetry was profuse, he remarked: I am not to be copared with Aish ; She used to describe in verse anything that happened to her.

It was said that she could recite a poem of sixty and sometimes of eighty verses. She was also clever in Quoting poetry to give examples. She once quoted to prophet – may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him- two verses from Abu Kebirs humorous poetry and he was so pleased that he kissed her between the eyes.

She was thus capable of understanding, comprehending and memorising the prophetic traditions. She could also memorise many incidents of the private life of the prophet and his seclusions. She was better than any woman in comprehending legislations for special purposes.

Thus the tellers (rowat ) of the Traditions recorded many of the prophetic Taditions that she related, and wrote down many incidents she memorised.Scholars too referred to various views she was reported to have uttered, and to which we shall refer in the concluding part of this book.

The marriage of the prophet to Al Sayeda Aisha was for the sake of friendship and to create a comfrotable atmosphere in the Reverend House. On the whole it was for the benefit of Islam and the Muslims of both sexes.

Hafsa was the daughter of his other supporter, his second minister Omar Ibn Al Khattab, When her first husban, Kheneis Ibn Hadhafa El Sahmy, died of his wounds in the battle of Badr, Omar told his friend Abu Bakr about her, in case he would think of marrying her, but Abu Bakr did not answer, and omar was vexed. He suggested her name to his friend Othman Ibn Afan- whose wife Roqaya , daughter of Allah’s Messenger had died, Othman said : “ I do not want to marry for the time being”; he wanted to marry Omm Kalthoum, daughter of Allah’s Apostle; Omar felt hurt when his two friends Abu Bakr and Othman refused his daughter.

He called on the prophet , their resort, and complained to him of Abu Bakr and Othman. The Apostle with his big heart, realised Omar’s feelings for his two friends and granted him more than what he had hoped for and immediately said: “ she will marry Othman’s better and Othman shall marry Hafssa’s better”. Then he asked Omar for her hand, married her in the third year of the Hijra, and Othman maried Omm Kalthoum.

This marriage was therefore out of courtesy to keep up brotherly relations among the Prophet’s bosom friends who supported him in propagating and protecting his message. It was an honour exteded to omar, the same as his marriage to Aish was an honour extended to Abu Bakr. It was also an act soothing whatever hard feelings Omar might have had as a result of the refusal of his two friends Abu Bakr and Othman to marry his daughter. The great man an honoured chief is keen on keeping good relations between his fathful followers and treating them equally and honourably.

Omar considered the marriage of the prophet to Hafas an honour extended to him and when he heard that the prophet had divorced Hafsa, he ws deeply affected and said: “ Allah will never care for Omar and his daughter after this “ and he did not calm down until he was sure that the prophet did not divorce her.

On the other hand Hafsa herself was honoured by this marriage, consoled and compensated for the loss of her husband at the Battle of Badr.

The prophet married her in the second year of the Hijra, after the battle of Badr. She was the wife of Abu Salamah Abd Allah Ibn Abd El Asad Ibn Makhzoum.

This lady was one of the first converts to Islam.

She and her husband were the first to eimigatre to Abyssinia, and when they returned home, they emigrated again to Al Madina. Her husband took part in Badr and distinguished himself in the battle; he then took part in the battle of Ohod and was fatally wounded.

Abu Salamah was related to the Prophet throught his mother, Barra Bent Abdul Muttaleb, the aunt of Allah’s prophet on his father’s side; he was also his foster brother.

Chen her husband died , Omm Salamah was advanced in age and had many children. Abu Bakr and Omar propsoed to her but, she refused on the ground of her old decided to take care of her in return for what she and her husband had done to Islam . similarly , modern states consider, perfer and honour the families of martyrs in various ways. To console her for her deep grief over her husband and to look after her children , he said to her: “ pray to Allah to giver you strength in your calamity and to compensate you well”.

So she said : “ And who would be better than Abu Salamh?’ The prophet married her and she knew he was better than Abu Salamah. He looked after her and her children arranged for her son Salmah to marry Omama Bent Hamza Ibn Abdul Muttaleb, whom Ali , Ga’afar and Zaid wanted to marry.

When the prophet proposed to Omm Salamah, she said to him :” I have three inborn qualities : I am old, I have many children and I am extremely jealous”.

He answered her: “I am older than you are . As for the children , they are Allah’s charge, concerning jealousy, I prato Allah to reliever you of it”.

in pre- islamic time, she was called the “ mother of the poor”. She was either married to Attofail Ibn Al Hareth Ibn Al-Motteleb who died in the battle of Badr of to Abdullah Ibn Gahsh who was killed in the battle of Ohod. She was neither pretty nor young.

The prophet married her to protect her , to be kind to her children and to compensate her for the loss of her husband who was killed in the battle-field . He married her in the third year of the Hijra, and she died two or three months later.

Her father was the chief of Bani Al Mustaliq; he rallied a large number of his followers to fight the prophet. When the tow forces met in the battle of Al Muraisee’ or Bani Al Mustaliq in the fifth year of the Hijra ( Emigration ) , the prophet asked them to join Islam, but they refused. He , therefore , fought and conquered them.

Juwaireyya, whose name was Barra, wife of Musafe Ibn Safwan Al Mustalaqi, was captured by Thabit Ibn Quais. He offered to free her for a ransom of seven ounces of gold, which she could not afford, thus she appealed to the prophet :” O Allah’s Messenger ! I am the daughter of Al Harith Ibn Abu Darrar, chief of Bani Al Mustaliq you are aware of my plight, I have been captrued by Thabit Ibn Quais.

I asked him to se me free and I am here for your support”.

The Prophet said to her: “ would you wish for better ?”

She answered: “ what could it be, Allah’s Apostle?”

He said:“ I set you free and marry you”.

She said: “ yes”.

He said : “ it is done”.

The news of the prophet’s marriage to Bent Al Harith spread among the people and commenting on it they said: “they are now the in laws of the prophet- may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him – and it is not proper to keep their women in captivity”. Thus the Muslims released their captives from Bani Al-Mustaliq . on that occasion Al Sayeda Aisha said: “ no woman has ever been A blessing to her people than Juwairiyya. She was originally called Barra the prophet called her Juwairiya.

Bani Al Mustaliq embraced Islam, and became its ardent defenders after having been its bitter enemies.

This clearly shows that the prophet’s marriage to Juwairiyya was solely for the good of Islam and the power and glory of the Muslims, besides increasing the number of its supporters.

Her maiden name was Ramla. She embraced Islam against her father’s wish, and emigrated to Abysinia, with her husband, Obaid Allah Ibn Gahsh. Where her husband was converted to Christianity again and wanted her to follow his example . She refused to obey him , so he deserted her, and later he died.

Her father was one of the strongest and bitterest enemies of the prophet, so how would the prophet reward a woman who become a Muslim against her father’s wish? How would he reward a woman who emigrated from Macca to Abyssinia, fleeing with her faith, defying the suffering of alination, the risk and the need of defending her religion? How would he reward a woman whose husband was converted to Christianity while they were both abroad and away from home, and wanted her to follow his example, and refusing to obey him, he deserted her and let her down?

The prophet decided to reward her , to endear and protedt her by marrying her when she was still in Abyssinia in the year six or seven ( of the Hijra) . he wanted also to save her the embarrassment of exile, loneliness and poverty to soothe the heart of her father who was one of the leading polytheists and enemies of Islam .

She did not return form Abyssina until the year of the truce with Khalid Ibn Said , in the year even of the Hijra, the day of the conquest of Khaibar.

She is the cousin of the prophet, daughter of his aunt Omaima Bent Abd Al Muttaleb. The marriage of the prophet to zainab was wrongly interpreted and some adversaries of Islam took the opportunity to attack Allah’s Prophet – may Allah’s prayers and peace be on him – but their falsehoods were refuted.

It is understood that hypocrites tell lies about the marriage of the prophet to Zainab , but it is astonishing to know that some Muslims have registered those lies as truth. Some of them said that the prophet called on Zaid Ibn Haritha, Zinab’s husband, but he refused and left , muttering some words of which Zainab could only hear: “ Glory be Allah the great, Glory be to him who overrule hearts”.

When Zaid returned home ; she told him what had happened , so he went to see Allah’s Messenger and said to him : “ I have been told , O Allah’s Messenger. That you called on me, but you did not go in ; if you like Zainab, I am ready to release her?” The prophet answered: “ keep your wife and fear Allah”.

But Zaid failed to keep her, so he divorced her, then after the period was over for a divorced woman to marry again, the prophet married her.

In another version the prophet called on Zaid’s house and saw Zainab sitting in the middle of her room busy grinding some aromatic herbs. When he looked at her he exclaimed “ Glory be to Allah, creator of light ; Glory be to Allah the best Creator”. And so saying, he went out When Zaid returned home she told him , and he said: “ may be you appealed to Allah’s messenger. Would you like me to divorce you to marry him?”

She answered: “ I am afraid he does not marry me after I get a divorce”.

Zaid went to see Allah’s Apostle and said; “ I want to to divorce Zainab”.

The prophet answered: “ keep your wife and fear Allah”. Such versions and others similar to them be refuted to protect the Prophet, the truth is:A. - Zaid Ibn Haritha Al Kalbi was a slave during the jahilia ( ignorance). Al Sayeda Khadija Bent Khuwailed bought him and offered him to Allah’s Messenger – may Allah’s prayers and peace be on him - ; he adopted him in Macca, before the Revelation of the Message . Zaid was eight years old at that time.

B. - Zaid’s father; Haritha, Knew of his son’s where about and set out to redeem him. He met the prophet – may Allah’s prayers and peace be on him – who said to him : “ let him choose , if he choosed you, he is yours, if he chooses me, I will not fail him”.

Ziad recognised his father and his uncle, but he chose to stay with Allah’s Messenger. Hence Allah’s Messenger took Zaid to the public square and called the people to wittness that Zaid was his adopted son and that they would inherit each other. Haritha and his brother were contented, and Zaid was known to be the son of Muhammad, until Islam dawned upon the world and the Almigthy said what means: name them after their fathers. Ch.33, V. 5. Zaid was henceforth called Zaid Ibn Haritha, and all adopted children were called after their fathers.

C.- The Prophet learned by revelation – as explained later – that Ziad would marry Zainab, then divorce her , to be married afterwards to the prophet, aiming at refuting what was customary among the Arabs.

The prophet asked his cousin Zainab to marry Zaid, but she refused , and so did her brother Abd Allah on the ground that she was of a noble family while Zaid was a slave , freed by the prophet.

The Almighty sent down the following sign which means: And it is not for a beliver, man or woman, to have any choice in their affairs when Allah and his apostle have decreed an injuction; and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, erres with palpable error.Ch.33.V.36.

Thus Zainab and her brother had to submit to the will of Allah and His Messenger. She married Zaid and Allah’s Apostle paid her dowry instead of Zaid . The dowry was sixty dirhams, a veil, a long wrapper and a shawl, as well as fifty loads of provision and thirty loads of dates.

D. Zainab could not overcome her pride , and was constantly boosting about her noble faily, treating her husband harshly and hurting his feelings. It was even said that the denied him his right to touch her.

One day he came to the prophet and said: “ O Allah’s messenger, Zainab is becoming very harsh and I want to divorce her”.

Allah’s Apostle said: “ keep your wife, fear Allah and do not divorce her”.

Allah’s Asaid: “ keep your wife, fear Allah and do not divorce her”.

E. prknew by rethat Zaid would eventually divorce Zainab, and that he would marry her, thus a wise and divine legislation was set repealing what was customary among the Arabs forbidding the father to marry the ex-wife of his adopted son, considering her to be n the same position as the wife of a son .

The prophet’s marriage to Zainab took place in the year five of the Hijra and it was a good precedent . nobody but the prophet was capable of repealing such a precedent in force for several generations. Such a repeal would need a strong and positive action to draw the attention of the people to the new legislation. Thus it was necessary that the Quran should come down with a sign forbidding this custom and asking the prophet to give the example himself.

Some may wonder why does the Quran forbid a precedent and ask the prophet to give example. Such law of precedence was so strong and established that nothing could repeal it but a legislation to be executed by the Messenger himself, the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be on him. He protects the religion and could give the example.

The prophet did not reveal, neither to Zaid nor to anybody else what he had learnt by Revelation; he was afraid of gossip and felt the awkward situation. Allah the Almighty blamed His prophet for keeping to himself what he had learnt by Revelation fearing the people when he should only fear Allah. He should do, what Alalh allowed him to do; thus when Zaid complained to him, he should have kept silent or left the matter to Zaid’s discretion.

The Almighty said in this respect what means: And remember, when you said to him unto whom Allah have shown favor, and to whom you also had shown favor, keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allah; and you did hide in your mind what Allah would bring to light, and you did fear man, but more right had it been to fear Allah. And when Zaid had made up his mind to divorce her, we married her to you, that it might not be a crime for the faithful to marry the wives of their adopted sons, when they have settled their affairs. And the best of Allah is to be performed.

The blame was followed by a declaration that the prophet was not to blame if he executed what Allah ordered him to do; this was the way previous prophets behaved . Allah’s order is final and must not be questioned.

Previous prophets followed the divine path as shown to them; they used to coney His message, fear Him alone, and no one else. They were never embarrassed to execute

What was allowed them by Allah even if it was to marry and when they had wives both free and slaves.

The almighty said what means: no blame attaches to a prophet when Allah has given him a permission. Such was the way of Allah with those prophets who flourished before you, for Allah’s behest is a fixed decree. Who fulfilled the mission with which Allah had charged them, and feared him , and feared none but Allah. And Allah is apt to feared". Ch . 33, V. 38,39.

With the help of this decisive legislation, enacted by Allah’s messenger, the quran decreed the relation between a man and his adopted child, between a man and the wife of his adopted son. It is clear that an adopted son is different from a real one, although the Arabs used to consider him as such. The quran proved the falsity of this allegation by giving two example: the first is that Allah the almighty did not create two hearts in any one body, and the second is that one woman can not be both a wife and a mother to the same man, because in Jahilia when a man wanted to profibit himself from pursuing normal conjugal love with his wife, he used to tell her that he considered her as his mother.

Meanwhile a man cannot be the son of two men: his real father and his foster father. He can be the son of only one man. The one who begot him, and whose name he should bear. Thus the adopted son does not inherit the man who adopted him, and the ex-wife of the adopted son is not forbidden to marry the foster father of her ex-husband. In this respect Allah the Almighty said what Means: Allah has not given a man two hearts within him; neither has he made your wives whom you divorce be as your mothers; or has he made your adopted sons to be your own sons. Such words are indeed what you say; but allah speaks the truth, and in the right way he guides. Name after their father ; this will be more right before Allah. But if you know not who their fathers are, then be your brothers in the faith, and your comrades. And unless made with intent of heart , mistakes in this matter shall be no crime by you: for allah is lenient and merciful. Ch.33. V. 40.

F. The marriage of Allah's messenger to Zainab, however, was a compensation to her, for submitting to the decree of Allah and his messenger by accepting to marry Zaid, the freed slave, inspite of her noble descent, and her society which highly esteemed and cherished nobility.

G. To those who spread seditious rumours and believe in falsehoods, the following questions are set:

1- did not the prophet know Zainab his cousin and how beautiful she was? Was not he the one that gave her in marriage to Zaid, and even compelled her to do so?

2 - why did he wed Zainab to Zaid and did not marry her himself considering that had he wanted, it would have been easy for him?

3 - would it not be more becoming his social position to marry his cousin first, than to marry her as the divorcee of his freed slave?

4 - is it possible that the prophet should feel embarrassed by that marriage, which Allah decreed, keep it a secret, and fear people's talk, when they accused him of admiring the beauty of his follower's wife then marry her?

5 - how could the prophet with his heavy responsibilities, have the time for such admiration?

H. There is no doubt that this marriage was decreed by Allah the almighty to legalise what people forbade. The glorious quranic signs reveal the whole truth and define the aim of that marriage thus refuting the false allegations of the ignorant and the exaggerations of the adversaries of Islam.

Her father was the chief of Bani Al Nodeir. She was a jewess, married twice to two Jews, Sallam Ibn Mashkam and Kenana Ibn Al Rabie' Ibn Abul Hakik. She was among the captives during the battle of Khaiber in the year seven , and when Dohayya Al kalby asked Allah's prophet for a woman of the captives , he offered him one; Safiyya.

When the companions of the Prophet know about this, they came to him and said: " O Allah's Messenger, Safiyya is the daughter of the chief of Bani Qorayza and Bani Al Nodeir, and you are the only one fit for her.”

The prophet told Dohayya to take another captive, and asked her to choose between going back to her fold or to be set free and marry him. She preferred to marry him.

When Safiyya was wife of kenana she had a dream in which she saw the moon fall down into her lap. She told her husband about the dream and he sarcastically commented! " the only interpretation of this dream is that you wish to marry the king of Hidjaz; Muhammad. So saying he slapped her on the face so strongly that her eyes were swollen.

When she was summoned to the prophet he noticed her swollen eyes, he asked her about them. The prophet was not to blame for protecting a captive, the daughter of a chief, had she been destined to someone else, she would have remained the rest of her life tormented by a feeling of bitterness, shame and degradation. One day the prophet entered her room and saw her crying, when he asked her the reason she answered: " I have been told that Aisha and Hafsa are speaking badly of me. They say that they are better that Safiyya because they are cousins and wives of Allah's Messenger". The prophet then said: " how about saying to them" : " How come when my father is Haron , my uncle is Moses and my husband is Muhammad?"

On the other hand, there is no harm in the prophet marrying a captive, after giving her the choice of freedom and returning to her folk, or marrying him.

Safiyya was renowned for her wisdom, intelligence and kindness.

This lady dad connections with many of the Arab nobility. She had four sis: Omm Fadl lobaba seni, wife of Al Abbas Ibn Abd Al Mottaleb, the porphet's uncle , and loboba junior, wife of Al Walid Ibn Al mohgira, mother of khalid Ibn AL Wailed , Asma'a, wife of Ibn Abi Khalaf Agamhi, and Azza wife of Zeyad Ibn Abdallah Al Hilali. She also had three half sisters , on the mother's side: Asma Bent Omeis, wife of Gaafar Ibn Abu Taleb, Salma Bent Omeis, wife of Hamza Ibn Abdel Mutaleb and Sallama Bent Omeis, wife of Abdalla Ibn Ka'ab Ibn Monabbeh El Khath'amy.

When her second husband died, al abbas ibn abd al muttaleb went to see the prophet when he was performing the minor hajj and said to him: " O Allah’s messenger, Maymouna Bent Al Harith is a widow . Will you marry her? the prophet agreed.

In another version : when the prophet finished with Khaibar he went to Macca to visit the great house in year seven , Gaafar Ibn Abi Taleb, returning from Abyssinia, came to him and suggested he would marry Maymouna bent Al Harith who accepted and he married her to the prophet.

There are three point to be considered concerning this marriage:

A) one of her sisters was the wife of Al abbas, the prphet's uncle , and one of her half-sisters was the wife of Gaafar ibn abi taleb and another one was the wife of Hamza, the prophet's uncle also. Al Abbas , Gaafar and Hamza were among the closest kin to Allah's messenger and the dearest to him. They were also among the most loyal to him and to Islam.B) Both Al Abbas, the prophet’s uncle , and Gaafa, his cousin, offered to marry her to him thus honouring Maymouna as well as themselves. The prophet’s generosity, his affection and loyality to his friends and companions would not make him reject such an offer.

C) Both her sisters and half-sisters were wives of noble men, and such an alliance would support and benefit Islam.

D) the lady could not attract suitors, because she was married twice before.

E) It was she offered to marry the prophet. On that occasion the almighty said what means: O prophet , we allow your wives whom you have dowered, and the captives whom you possess out to the body which Allah has granted you, and the daughters of your uncle, and of your paternal and maternal aunts who had emigrated with you , and any believing woman who has given herself up to the prophet desired to wed her – A privilege for you above the rest of the faithful.”. Ch.33, V. 50.

This marriage was a support to Islam and the Muslims. When she married, her name was Barra but the Prophet called her Maymouna.

In the year six the prophet delegated Hateb Ibn Abu Balta’a to deliever a letter to Al Muqawqas, the governor of Alexandria and Misr, to invite him to embrace Islam. Al Muqawqas received well the prophet’s delegate and sent several presents to Allah’s Messenger – may Allah’s prayers and peace be on him. The Coptic Maria, was his personal present to the prophet, her sisiter syrin, an eunoch and propbably four other slaves were sent as well.

The prophet offered syrin to hassan Ibn Thabit and she begot him his son Abd Al Rhaman, and the prophet married Maria and she begot him his son Ibrhami.

Al Muqawas received the prophet’s letter and delegate well and sent him presents. He could not refuse his present when he was doing his best to propagate the cause, gain the sympathy of the people and ralley as many supporters as possible.

Maria was sent to him personally and the prophet could neither send her back nor offer her to somebody else. Had he done that, he would have hurt the feelings of Al Muqawqas and Marria; he would be either refusing the present or too haughty to accept it, He had to marry her to please them both, and to be an example of a Muslim marrying a believer in the scriptures; such marriage would be an advantage to Islam and an effective means to its propagation.