Polygamy and the marriages of Prophet Muhammad are topics that often spark curiosity and debate. Why did the Prophet marry multiple wives? Was it out of personal desire or deeper wisdom? This article uncovers the humanitarian, spiritual, and social reasons behind each marriage—revealing a story far greater than assumptions.
What did the Prophet say about polygamy?
Allah permitted polygamy in the Qur’an:
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا۟ فِى ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ فَٱنكِحُوا۟ مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَـٰثَ وَرُبَـٰعَ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ فَوَٰحِدَةً أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعُولُوا۟ ٣
If you fear you might fail to give orphan women their ˹due˺ rights ˹if you were to marry them˺, then marry other women of your choice—two, three, or four. But if you are afraid you will fail to maintain justice, then ˹content yourselves with˺ one or those ˹bondwomen˺ in your possession. This way you are less likely to commit injustice.
There are specific conditions for polygamy in Islam, including financial capability and the obligation to treat all wives with fairness.
Many people wonder What did the Prophet say about polygamy? He said:
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ - رضى الله عنه - عَنْ اَلنَّبِيِّ - صصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – قَالَ:{ مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ اِمْرَأَتَانِ , فَمَالَ إِلَى إِحْدَاهُمَا , جَاءَ يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ وَشِقُّهُ مَائِلٌ } رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ , وَالْأَرْبَعَةُ , وَسَنَدُهُ صَحِيح ٌ 1 .
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) ssaid, “Anyone who has two wives and inclines to one of them will come on the Day of Resurrection with a side (of his body) inclining.”
[Reported by Ahmad and al-Arba’a; its chain of narrators is Sahih (authentic)].
Why did Prophet Muhammad marry multiple wives?
Many orientalists question Why did Prophet Muhammad marry multiple wives? (eleven in total), trying to cast doubt on his intentions. However, the Prophet’s marriages had political, humanitarian, and social reasons, such as:
- Increasing the number of Muslims.
- Marrying widows to protect and support them, and to help raise their children.
- Strengthening ties with certain tribes, as marriage fosters closeness and unity, which helped spread Islam.
- Increasing the number of female teachers in the Muslim community who learned directly from the Prophet.
When analyzing Polygamy And The Marriages Of Prophet Muhammad, we find that his marriages were not driven by desire, as some claim.
If that were the case, he wouldn’t have married older or widowed women. In fact, Aisha (RA) was the only virgin he married.
Stages of the Prophet’s Married Life
Polygamy and the marriages of prophet Muhammad can best be understood by looking at the three main Stages of the Prophet’s married life
First Stage: Before Marriage
The Prophet ﷺ grew up in a hot climate where young people matured early and had strong desires. Many would either marry early or fall into immoral behavior.
Despite growing up in this environment, the Prophet remained pure and unmarried until the age of 25.
Second Stage: Marriage to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
Before marrying Khadijah, he worked in her trade business. She was 15 years older than him. When she saw his honesty and character, she sent her friend to propose marriage on her behalf. They married, and she gave birth to all his children except Ibrahim, who was born to Maria.
The Prophet did not marry any other woman while he was married to Khadijah, even though polygamy was common. After her death, he continued to speak of her virtues, which sometimes caused jealousy among his other wives.
Third Stage: After Khadijah’s Death
After Khadijah died, the Prophet was deeply saddened. That year became known as “The Year of Sorrow.” Out of concern for him, his companions suggested he remarry. Khawla bint Hakim came to him and advised him to consider marriage.
He asked, “After Khadijah?” She suggested Aisha, the daughter of his closest companion Abu Bakr. He replied, “But she is young.” She said, “She will grow,” and also suggested Sawda bint Zam’a, a widow left alone after her husband died in Abyssinia. The Prophet married Sawda out of compassion and protection. He did not marry anyone else for four years until Aisha grew up and they married.
He later married Hafsa bint Umar after her husband was martyred in the Battle of Badr. Her father, Umar, offered her to Abu Bakr and Uthman, but both declined. When he mentioned this to the Prophet, the Prophet comforted him and said, “Hafsa will marry someone better than Uthman, and Uthman will marry someone better than Hafsa.” So, the Prophet married Hafsa.
This shows how the companions cared to marry off the widows of martyrs to protect them and uphold their dignity.
Zaynab bint Khuzaymah and Umm Salamah were also widows whose husbands died in battle. The Prophet married them to support and care for them and their children, refuting claims that he married for desire.
All of the Prophet’s marriages were either to comfort widows, care for orphans, or strengthen ties with tribes. Polygamy and the marriages of Prophet Muhammad were acts of compassion and responsibility, not personal gratification.
Other Prophets Practiced Polygamy
Polygamy is not exclusive to Islam. There are other prophets who practiced polygamy before Muhammad, including
- Prophet Ibrahim married Sarah and Hagar.
- Prophet Ya’qub (Jacob): Had four wives.
- Prophet Dawud (David): Had 100 wives.
- Prophet Sulayman (Solomon): Had 300 wives and 700 concubines.
Polygamy and the marriages of Prophet Muhammad follow a divine tradition, but Islam set rules and limits to regulate it.
FAQ
What did the Prophet say about multiple wives?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned in some of his sayings (hadiths) about polygamy. Here are some examples:
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ - رضى الله عنه - عَنْ اَلنَّبِيِّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -قَالَ: { مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ اِمْرَأَتَانِ , فَمَالَ إِلَى إِحْدَاهُمَا , جَاءَ يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ وَشِقُّهُ مَائِلٌ } رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ , وَالْأَرْبَعَةُ , وَسَنَدُهُ صَحِيح ٌ 1 .
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Anyone who has two wives and inclines to one of them will come on the Day of Resurrection with a side (of his body) inclining.”
[Reported by Ahmad and al-Arba’a; its chain of narrators is Sahih (authentic)].
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَنْهَى عَنْ نِكَاحَيْنِ أَنْ يَجْمَعَ الرَّجُلُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْأَةِ وَعَمَّتِهَا وَبَيْنَ الْمَرْأَةِ وَخَالَتِهَا .
It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah forbid two types of marriage: For a man to be married to a woman and her paternal aunt (at the same time), and to a woman and her maternal aunt( at the same time).”
Why did the Prophet marry widows?
He married widows whose husbands died in battles to support them, care for their children, and protect them from harm.
Which wife did Prophet Muhammad love the most?
The Prophet’s most beloved wife was Aisha bint Abu Bakr, as mentioned in the following hadith:
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَهُ عَلَى جَيْشِ ذَاتِ السَّلاَسِلِ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ ” عَائِشَةُ ” . قُلْتُ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ قَالَ ” أَبُوهَا ” . قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ” عُمَرُ ” . فَعَدَّ رِجَالاً .
‘Amr b. al-‘As reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) sent him in command of the army dispatched to Dhat-as-Salasil. When ‘Amr b. al-‘As came back to the Prophet (ﷺ) he said, Who amongst people are dearest to you? He said, A’isha. He then said, Who amongst men? He said, Her father, and I said, And who next? He said, Umar. He then enumerated some other men.
Who are the 11 wives of the Prophet Muhammad?
- Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.
- Aisha bint Abu Bakr.
- Sawda bint Zam’a.
- Hafsa bint Umar.
- Zaynab bint Khuzaymah.
- Umm Salamah (Hind bint Abi Umayyah).
- Zaynab bint Jahsh.
- Juwayriya bint Al-Harith.
- Ramla bint Abi Sufyan (Umm Habibah).
- Safiyyah bint Huyayy ibn Akhtab.
- Maymunah bint Al-Hari.
Conclusion
Polygamy and the marriages of Prophet Muhammad were not driven by desire but were acts of mercy, wisdom, and responsibility. Each marriage played a vital role in building the Muslim community and upholding its values.
Want to learn more about the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad with authentic sources?
Join Rahiq Academy‘s certified courses on the Quran, Hadith, and Islamic Studies.
