The Messy Home Life of the 'Prophet'
How the Muhammad used 'revelations' to manage his home and sex life
To say that Muhammad’s polygamous home life was complex may be the understatement of the year. Yet, he did have an ace up his sleeve when it came to smoothing out problem on the home front. Large parts of the Qur’an seem to have been written to fulfil the desires and to regulate Muhammad’s home life.
This is nothing short of remarkable. Muslims believe that the Qur’an is Allah’s final word and the guide for faith and practice for the whole world from South America to China. Yet Allah could not find a place in its pages for the Shahada (Confession of Faith), the ‘five pillars’, how often you have to pray and many other crucial instructions. He did, however, seemingly find time and space to settle the domestic squabbles of one single individual. Some examples:
Allah reveals that Muslims are only allowed to marry four women (Qur’an 4:3). Muhammad wants more. How convenient! He gets a revelation allowing him to marry as many as he wants. Allah explicitly states that this privilege is “…for you only, not for the rest of the believers.” (Qur’an 33:50)
Allah reveals that multiple wives are always to be treated equally (Qur’an 4:3). Yet Muhammad develops favorites among his wives, wanting to spend more time with some of them. How convenient! He promptly receives a revelation telling him that he can ‘postpone’ and ‘receive’ his wives as he sees fit. (Qur’an 33:51[4])
Muhammad desires the wife (Zaynab) of Zaid, his adopted son. Zaid divorces her so that Muhammad can marry her. This causes a great deal of grumbling among his followers, many of whom regard his actions as tantamount to incest. How convenient! Allah immediately steps in with another special revelation making it clear that when adopted sons are ‘done’ with their wives, their adoptive fathers may marry them and that whoever questions this ruling questions Allah! (Qur’an 33:37)
Muhammad had sex with a slave (Mary the Copt) to whom he was not married. The wife (Hafsa) whose turn it was that night furiously objected. Muhammad promised not to touch Mary again if Hafsa kept quiet. She does not and a scandal ensues. How convenient! Ever faithful, Allah steps in to smooth things over: “O Prophet! Why do you ban (for yourself) that which God has made lawful to you…" (Qur’an 66:1) Allah then goes on to threaten Muhammad’s wives with divorce if they do not get their act together and obey Muhammad! (Qur’an 66:5)
Is it any wonder that Aisha (Muhammad’s favorite wife) reacted as follows to the ‘convenient revelation’ allowing Muhammad to ignore any schedule regulating fair treatment and sleep with any of his wives when he wished: “A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: I felt jealous of the women who offered themselves to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Then when Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed this: "You may defer any one of them you wish, and take to yourself any you wish; and if you desire any you have set aside (no sin is chargeable to you)" I ('A'isha) said: It seems to me that your Lord hastens to satisfy your desire.” (Sahih Muslim 3453) Quite.
For an in depth evaluation of the truth-claims of Islam, see ‘Questioning Islam - Tough Questions and Honest Answers About the Muslim Religion’
Kind regards,
Peter
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