Question 3
- Discuss the marital life of the Prophet (S.A.W.)
This question was not popular among the candidates. Majority of the candidates who attempted this question performed below expectation. Due to its non-popular nature, instead of the candidates to write on the marital life of the prophet (S.A.W.), they were virtually writing about the life history of the prophet (S.A.W.) in general.
The question requested the candidates to discuss everything concerning the marital life of the Prophet starting from his wife ( Khadijah) to the last. Thus:
The marital life of the Prophet (S.A.W.) started around the year 595 C.E. (Introduction).
- The Prophet (S.A.W) got married to his first wife Khadījah at the age of 25 years.
- Khadījah was forty at the time of the union.
- His marriage to her lasted about twenty-five years.
- The marriage with Khadījah assisted his mission as a Prophet (S.A.W) in no small measure.
- The marriage also produced six of the seven children.
- All the children of the Prophet’s marriage died while he was alive except Fatimah who died six months later.
- Such women include cĀ’ishah and Maryam Qibtiyyah who gave birth to Ibrahim, the seventh child of the Prophet (S.A.W.).
- He (S.A.W.) married other women after the death of Khadījah in 619 C.E.
- Khadījah proved to be a devoted wife as the Prophet (S.A.W.) was also an ideal husband.
- The marriage of the Prophet (S.A.W.) produced cĀ’ishah as the best female custodian of Prophetic traditions.
- cĀ’ishah described his conduct as a husband in what she likened with the Qur’ān (Khulquhu al-Qur’ān).
- All his wives became teachers of Islam in their women folk e.g. Ḥafṣah.
- However, due to political and security reasons the Prophet (S.A.W.) diplomatically married: Juwairiyyah, Ṣafiyyah, Zaynab, ’Ummu Ḥabībah, ’Ummu Salmah, Maymunah and Sawdah.
- He treated his wives very well with generosity.
- He was a servant to his family and participated in domestic chores.
- He was equally kind and supportive to all his wives.
- According to cAli, whenever the Prophet (S.A.W.) was at home, he divided his time into three, one for Allah, one for his family and one for himself.( Hadith)