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The Mothers of the Faithful

The wives of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him,
hold a special place in Islamic piety.  The Quran calls them
“Mothers of the Faithful” (Quran 33:6).  They were his wives in this life and shall be in the
life to come.  They were young and old, widows and virgins, poor and wealthy, aristocrats and
freed slaves.  Each one played their specific role in forming the history of Islam.
 
Khadijah
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) married Khadijah when he was twenty-five, She was forty years
old when she  got married the Prophet (pbuh) She was a widow, and had been married twice
before Khadijah liked Muhammad’s honesty and moral character, she asked a  relative to
propose marriage to Muhammad (pbuh)  They were married for twenty five years until her
death.  Through every persecution, Khadijah was his only companion and helper.  Khadijah, along with Aisha, played a huge contributionin the establishment and spread Islam throughout   the Islamic civilization.  Khadijah had four daughters with the Prophet:
Zainab, Umm Kulthoom, Ruqayya, and Fatima.  All four grew to maturity
and accepted Islam.  They all died before  their father, except Fatima who died
six months after the Prophet.  Khadijah also had two sons, Qasim and Abdullah, died at an
early age.   
   
     
 
Sawdah
Some time after the death of Khadijah, the Prophet (pbuh)  returned from an unsuccessful
mission in Taif, helpless and persecuted.  It is then  married Sawdah, another widow, who
possessed neither beauty, nor social status, nor wealth.  She had been forced to escape to
Abyssinia with her husband from the persecution of pagan Meccans to find some security. 
Her husband died in exile, he gave his life for the sake of his faith.  He had migrated with his
wife from his home for the cause of his religion, and he left her in utter poverty.  Driven by
a sense of generosity, the Prophet of Mercy married her, raising her to the spiritual level of
“Mother of the Faithful.”  The Prophet did not marry another woman for the first three years
of his Marriage to Sawdah.  She died a few years after the death of  Prophet Muhammad(pbuh)
Aishah
Aishah was the daughter of one of the closest companions of Prophet Muhammad(pbuh),
Abu Bakr. He was an old friend of the Prophet(pbuh), Abu Bakr was one of the earliest
converts to the faith and was considered to be the most sincere, earnest, and devoted in faith. 
Seeing the loss of the Prophet,(pbuh)one of the woman companions proposed
Abu Bakr’s daughter to him and approached Abu Bakr on behalf of the Prophet.  But there
were two problems.  One, Aishah was already betrothed to Jubair bin Mut’im, a pagan
Meccan.  Jubair, it turned out, had lost interest because of the wide gulf between paganism and
Islam.  In addition, Aishah had not yet
reached puberty, and this also contributed to Jubair’s disinterest in pursuing the betrothal.
Thus, she was betrothed to the Prophet while still in Mecca, and three years later, when
both were in Medina and she had reached puberty, he consummated his marriage. 
She was the only virgin he married, though they did not have any children.  Aishah
was a leading scholar of Islam and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the
Islamic civilization.  She taught for forty years after the death of the Prophet until her
death at the age of sixty-seven.

Hafsah
Hafsah was the daughter of Umar, he was very close  to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
after Abu Bakr. She migrated with her husband to Medina, but was left a widow after the
Battle of Badr.  With a fiery temper like her father, she had remained without a husband ever
since.  Umar first asked Abu Bakr, and then Uthman, to marry her, but each refused in turn,
much to his ire.  This shows the unavailability of marriageable males at the time.  At last,
Umar approached Prophet Muhammad.  The marriage took place in the third year after
migration.  The Prophet divorced her once, but was commanded by God to take her back. 
She was charged with keeping the official copy of the Quran during the caliphate of Abu Bakr
and Umar. She passed away four years after the Prophet. (pbuh)

Zainab
In the same year, the third year after migration, the Prophet(pbuh) married Zainab, she was made
a  widow after the Battle of Uhud.  She was very kind to the poor and was called
of “mother of the destitute.”  She was past the prime of her life and when she was wed by him
and she died a few months after their marriage.  She is the only wife beside Khadeejah who passed
away in the Prophet’s lifetime.

Umm Salama
One year later, the Prophet married another widow who had suffered persecution, at one time
losing the custody of her children to her pagan in-laws.  After the Battle of Uhud, she was
left a widow with four children.  Abu Bakr first proposed to her, but she refused because
she did not think anyone could be patient with her children.  Finally, the Prophet proposed,
assuring her the children would be taken care of; Prophet Muhammad married Umm Salama
because of this noble motivation.  The faithful loved their Prophet all the more and honored
him as the Prophet of God.  They saw in him a father to the destitute, the deprived, the weak,
and the poor as well as to everyone who had lost his father in the cause of God.  Umm Salama
was the last wife of the Prophet to die.  She passed away forty nine years after his death at the
age of eighty-four.

Umm Habeebah
Umm Habeebah was the Muslim daughter of Islam’s archenemy, Abu Sufyan.  Umm Habeebah
was one of the early coverts to Islam in Mecca.  She had migrated with her husband to
Abyssinia who converted to Christianity over there.  On his death, the Prophet sent a proposal
to her while she was still in Abyssinia.  She returned to Medina three years before the death
of the Prophet.  She passed away thirty four years after the Prophet.

Zainab, the Divorced Wife of Zaid
Zainab was the cousin of the Prophet, who was married to Zaid, an orphan slave whom the
Prophet liberated and then adopted.  The Prophet proposed the marriage of Zainab with Zaid
to her brother, but he refused to let his sister, a noble girl of Hashimite and Quraishite ancestry
and the first cousin of the Prophet, become the wife of a former slave.  Such a union was
regarded by the Arabs as a thing of great shame.  For the daughters of the aristocracy to
marry their slaves, even freed slaves, was unthinkable.  The Prophet sought to wipe
out racial and class distinctions between men.  He was to educate the world that no Arab
is superior to any non-Arab unless it be in virtue and piety, as God had said,
“…Indeed, the most honorable among you in the sight of God is the most god-fearing…”
 (Quran 49:13)
The Prophet did not choose to force this principle on a woman outside his own tribe. 
It was his cousin Zainab who, in complying with the Prophet’s wishes for Zaid, willingly
opposed the Arabian custom.  And Zaid, a freed slave, was the person of too low a lineage
for marriage into Meccan aristocracy in her family’s eyes.  Thus, the Prophet encouraged
Zainab to agree to marry Zaid, and, when Zainab agreed, insisted that her brother accept
the adopted orphan as a brother-in-law.  
However, after the marriage, Zaid found it hard to live with her.  Zaid consulted the Prophet
 who advised him not to divorce her.  Never-the less, once all attempts to work out the
marriage had failed, divorce was the only alternative left.  After the divorce, she and her
relatives insisted that the Prophet marry her.  Feeling bound to meet their wishes after a
failed marriage that he had arranged, the Prophet was hesitant.  The pagan custom allowed
marrying step-mothers and mothers-in-law, but looked upon the marriage of the divorced
wife of an adopted son as unacceptable.  To undo the custom and to set an example, God
commanded the hesitant Prophet to marry Zainab.  Their marriage took place in 5 A.H.  She
died ten years after the Prophet.

Juwairiyah
In the same year, a large number of prisoners fell into the hands of Muslims at the Battle
of Bani Mustaliq.  Among them was Juwairiyah, the daughter of an Arab chief, who
 approached the Prophet(pbuh) with a ransom for herself to which her captor readily agreed. 
The Prophet then proposed marrying her, and she, in turn, accepted.  As soon as the Muslims
 heard the news of the marriage, they released their prisoners from the tribe of Banu Mustaliq.
They felt they could not keep a tribe honored by the Prophet(pbuh) in captivity, so some one hundred
families from the tribe of Banu Mustaliq were freed as a blessing of her marriage with the
Prophet.  Juwairiyah was one devoted to worship.  Once, the Prophet passed by her after
the dawn prayer and found her busy in worship in her place of prayer.  The Prophet(pbuh) passed
by her again during late morning and found her still in her place, whereupon he commented,
“You are still in your state (of worship)?”
She responded, “Yes.”
“Should I not teach you some words greater in reward!  Say, ‘How perfect is God, I praise Him
by the number of His creation and His pleasure, and by the weight of His Throne, and the ink
of His Words.’
She died some forty years after the Prophet.(pbuh)

Safiyyah
Safiyyah, daughter of a Jewish chief of Banu Nadheer, was taken as a prisoner in the Battle
 of Khaibar in the year 7 A.H.  The Prophet(pbuh) liberated and then married her.  Upon marriage,
the Prophet found marks of abuse on her cheek about which he was curious.
She explained, “I saw a dream in which the full moon rose over Medina and fell in my lap. 
I told the dream to my cousin who slapped me and said, ‘You want to marry the king of
Medina!’  This mark is from his slap.”
When the Prophet (pbuh)was on his deathbed, she wept and said, ‘I wish I could be in your place,
O Messenger of God,’ to which he replied, “By God, she is telling the truth.”

Maimoonah
Maimoomah, another widow, requested marriage to Prophet Muhammad(pbuh), may the mercy
and blessings of God be upon him, in Mecca in 7 A.H.  She was from his tribe and was
already over fifty.  Prophet Muhammad married her in order to support her, a poor relative
of his.  Her nephew, Ibn Abbas, who later became the greatest scholar of the Quran, learned
much from her knowledge.

 
 
The Rights of Muslim Women

 
Spiritual Equality of Women and Men

Allah has got ready forgiveness and tremendous rewards for the Muslim men and women; the believing men and women; the devout men and women; the truthful men and women; the patiently suffering men and women; the humble men and women; the almsgiving men and women; the fasting men and women, the men and women who guard their chastity; and the men and women who are exceedingly mindful of Allah. (Al-Ahzab 33:35)
Attitudes towards women
O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may take away part of the dower ye have given them,-except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good. (An-Nisa 4:19)
Collaboration and consultation
The believing men and women, are associates and helpers of each other. They (collaborate) to promote all that is beneficial and discourage all that is evil; to establish prayers and give alms, and to obey Allah and his Messenger. Those are the people whom Allah would grant mercy. Indeed Allah is Mighty and Wise. (Al-Taubah 9:71)
Examples of Consensual Decision Making
If both spouses decide, by mutual consent and consultation, on weaning [their baby], there is no blame on either. If you want to have your babies breastfed by a foster mother you are not doing anything blame-worthy provided you pay to the fostermother what you had agreed to offer, in accordance with the established manner. Fear Allah and know that Allah is aware it what you are doing”. (Al-Baqarah, 2:233)

Women’s Right to Attend Mosques
Narrated Ibn Umar: The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Allow women to go to the Mosques at night.” (Bukhari Volume 2, Book 13, Number 22)
Narrated Ibn Umar: One of the wives of Umar (bin Al-Khattab) used to offer the Fajr and the ‘Isha’ prayer in congregation in the Mosque. She was asked why she had come out for the prayer as she knew that Umar disliked it, and he has great ghaira (self-respect). She replied, “What prevents him from stopping me from this act?” The other replied, “The statement of Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) : ‘Do not stop Allah’s women-slave from going to Allah s Mosques’ prevents him.” (Bukhari Volume 2, Book 13, Number 23)
Ibn ‘Umar reported: Grant permission to women for going to the mosque in the night. His son who was called Waqid said: Then they would make mischief. He (the narrator) said: He thumped his (son’s) chest and said: I am narrating to you the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and you say: No! (Sahih Muslim Book 004, Number 0890)
Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Do not deprive women of their share of the mosques, when they seek permission from you. Bilal said: By Allah, we would certainly prevent them. ‘Abdullah said: I say that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said it and you say: We would certainly prevent them! (Sahih Muslim Book 004, Number 0891)
Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said that Atika bint Zayd ibn Amr ibn Nufayl, the wife of Umar ibn al-Khattab, used to ask Umar ibn al-Khattab for permission to go to the mosque. He would keep silent, so she would say, “By Allah, I will go out, unless you forbid me,” and he would not forbid her. (Sunan Abu Dawud Book 14, Number 14.5.14)
The Common Performance of Ablutions
Narrated Ibn Umar: “It used to be that men and women would perform ablutions together in the time of the Messenger of Allah’s assembly.” (Bukhari: 1: Ch. 45, Book of Ablution)

Women’s Right of Proposal
Narrated Sahl: A woman came to the Prophet, and presented herself to him (for marriage). He said, “I am not in need of women these days.” Then a man said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Marry her to me.” The Prophet asked him, “What have you got?” He said, “I have got nothing.” The Prophet said, “Give her something, even an iron ring.” He said, “I have got nothing.” The Prophet asked (him), “How much of the Quran do you know (by heart)?” He said, “So much and so much.” The Prophet said, “I have married her to you for what you know of the Quran.” (Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 72)

Women’s Right of Permission
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! How can we know her permission?” He said, “Her silence (indicates her permission).” (Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 67)
Narrated Khansa bint Khidam Al-Ansariya that her father gave her in marriage when she was a matron and she disliked that marriage. So she went to Allah’s Apostle and he declared that marriage invalid. (Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 69)

The Right of Women not to be Forced
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: Barira’s husband was a slave called Mughith, as if I am seeing him now, going behind Barira and weeping with his tears flowing down his beard. The Prophet said to ‘Abbas, “O ‘Abbas ! are you not astonished at the love of Mughith for Barira and the hatred of Barira for Mughith?” The Prophet then said to Barira, “Why don’t you return to him?” She said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Do you order me to do so?” He said, “No, I only intercede for him.” She said, “I am not in need of him.” (Bukhari: Volume 7, Book 63, Number 206)

Asserting Women’s Rights
Ibn Al-Jauzi narrated the virtues and merits of Umar bin Al-Khattab (Allah bless him) in the following words: Umar forbade the people from paying excessive dowries and addressed them saying: “Don’t fix the dowries for women over forty ounces. If ever that is exceeded I shall deposit the excess amount in the public treasury”. As he descended from the pulpit, a flat-nosed lady stood up from among the women audience, and said: “It is not within your right”. Umar asked: “Why should this not be of my right?” she replied: “Because Allah has proclaimed: ‘even if you had given one of them (wives) a whole treasure for dowry take not the least bit back. Would you take it by false claim and a manifest sin’”. (Al Nisa, 20). When he heard this, Umar said: “The woman is right and the man (Umar) is wrong. It seems that all people have deeper insight and wisdom than Umar”. Then he returned to the pulpit and declared: “O people, I had restricted the giving of more than four hundred dirhams in dowry. Whosoever of you wishes to give in dowry as much as he likes and finds satisfaction in so doing may do so”. quoted in: “On the Position and Role of Women in Islam and Islamic Society” 
Seeking advice and comfort
Narrated ‘Aisha (the mother of the faithful believers): … Then Allah’s Apostle returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid and said, “Cover me! Cover me!” They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, “I fear that something may happen to me.” Khadija replied, “Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones.” Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin ‘Abdul ‘Uzza … (Bukhari Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3)

The Characteristics of a Believing Man
Narrated AbuHurayrah: Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said: a believing man should not hate a believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics, he will be pleased with another. (Muslim Book 8, Number 3469)

The Education of Women
Narrated Abu Said: A woman came to Allah’s Apostle and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Men (only) benefit by your teachings, so please devote to us from (some of) your time, a day on which we may come to you so that you may teach us of what Allah has taught you.” Allah’s Apostle said, “Gather on such-and-such a day at such-and-such a place.” They gathered and Allah’s Apostle came to them and taught them of what Allah had taught him. (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 92, Number 413)
On the Treatment of Women
Narrated Mu’awiyah al-Qushayri: I went to the Apostle of Allah (pbuh) and asked him: “What do you say (command) about our wives?” He replied: “Give them food what you have for yourself, and clothe them by which you clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them.” (Sunan Abu Dawud: Book 11, Number 2139) “The best of you is one who is best towards his family and I am best towards the family”. (At-Tirmithy). “None but a noble man treats women in an honourable manner. And none but an ignoble treats women disgracefully”. (At-Tirmithy).

A Husband must keep the Privacy of his Wife

Narrated AbuSa’id al-Khudri: Allah’s Messenger (peace_be_upon_him) said: The most wicked among the people in the eye of Allah on the Day of Judgement is the man who goes to his wife and she comes to him, and then he divulges her secret. (Muslim Book 8, Number 3369)
A Husband’s Attitude
‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) said that a man came to his house to complain about his wife. On reaching the door of his house, he hears ‘Umar’s wife shouting at him and reviling him. Seeing this, he was about to go back, thinking that ‘Umar himself was in the same position and, therefore, could hardly suggest any solution for his problem. ‘Umar (RA) saw the man turn back, so he called him and enquired about the purpose of his visit. He said that he had come with a complaint against his wife, but turned back on seeing the Caliph in the same position. ‘Umar (RA) told him that he tolerated the excesses of his wife for she had certain rights against him. He said, “Is it not true that she prepares food for me, washes clothes for me and suckles my children, thus saving me the expense of employing a cook, a washerman and a nurse, though she is not legally obliged in any way to do any of these things? Besides, I enjoy peace of mind because of her and am kept away from indecent acts on account of her. I therefore tolerate all her excesses on account of these benefits. It is right that you should also adopt the same attitude.” quoted in Rahman, Role of Muslim Women page 149
The Prophet’s Disapproval of Women Beaters
Patient behavior was the practice of the Prophet, even when his wife dared to address him harshly. Once his mother-in-law- saw her daughter strike him with her fist on his noble chest. When the enraged mother -in-law began to reproach her daughter, the Prophet smilingly said, “Leave her alone; they do worse than that.” And once Abu Bakr, his father-in-law, was invited to settle some misunderstanding between him and Aishah. The Prophet said to her, “Will you speak, or shall I speak?” Aisha said, “You speak, but do not say except the truth.” Abu Bakr was so outraged that he immediately struck her severely, forcing her to run and seek protection behind the back of the Prophet. Abu Bakr said, “O you the enemy of herself! Does the Messenger of Allah say but the truth?” The Prophet said, “O Abu Bakr, we did not invite you for this [harsh dealing with Aishah], nor did we anticipate it.” quoted in: Mutual Rights and Obligations
And Allah (swt) knows best.

The Muslim womens dress code

Allah has ordered women in the Quran to cover themselves this is a liberation for Muslim women.
Not only has Allah ordered modesty in dress for muslim women he has ordered it on muslims men as well which we will be disscussing in another section.

The word “Hijab” comes from the Arabic word “hajaba” meaning to hide from view or conceal. In the present time, the context of Hijab is the modest covering of a Muslim woman. The question now is what is the extent of the covering? The Quran says:

“Say to the believing man that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands…” Noble Quran 24:30-31]

These Ayah`s tell us two main things A muslim women should not show her beauty (except for that which must ordinarily appear of it ).
The head covers should be drawn so as to cover the hair, the neck and the bosom.
Islam does not says what a Muslim women should wear only how the clothing should be and there are certain requirments on the clothing. The first is that the clothing should cover the areas in which has been stated. Muhammed (pbuh) was sent as a guidence to mankind to show them the right way.
Below is a Hadith regarding this issue
“Ayshah reported that Asma’ the daughter of Abu Bakr came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while wearing thin clothing. He approached her and said: ‘O Asma’! When a girl reaches the menstrual age, it is not properthat anything should remain exposed except this and this. He pointed to theface and hands.” [Abu Dawud]
The second thing is the looseness of the clothing, the muslim womens clothing must be loose enough as not to show the shape of her body, also the thickness of the clothing is to be of such that you cannot see the colour of skin meaning nothing see though.
The prophet Muhammed (pbuh) stated that in later generations of his ummah there will be

“women who would be dressed but naked and on top of their heads (what looks like) camel humps. Curse them for they are truly cursed.” [Muslim]
Women must not dress so as to appear as men.
“Ibn Abbas narrated: ‘The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the men who appear like women and the women who appear like men.’” [Bukhari]
The muslim womens dress code should be modest below we have listed a check list of the muslim womens dress code below we will discuss evidence from the  Quran
the new modern dress is a new invention. Looking at the clothing of women as recently as seventy years ago, we see clothing similar to Hijab. These active and hard-working women of the West were not inhibited by their clothing which consisted of long, full dresses and various types of head covering. Muslim women who wear Hijab do not find it impractical or interfering with their activities in all levels and walks of life. Hijab is not merely a covering dress but more importantly, it is behavior, manners, speech and appearance in public. Dress is only one facet of the total being. The basic requirement of the Muslim woman’s dress apply to the Muslim man’s clothing with the difference being mainly in degree. Modesty requires that the area between the navel and the knee be covered in front of all people except the wife. The clothing of men should not be like the dress of women, nor should it be tight or provocative. A Muslim should dress to show his identity as a Muslim. Men are not allowed to wear gold or silk. However, both are allowed for women.
For both men and women, clothing requirements are not meant to be a restriction but rather a way in which society will function in a proper, Islamic manner.
Evidence from the holy Quran and Hadith
The Scholars of the holy Quran agree that the commandment regarding the Hijab for women was revealed in the following verse  of Surah Ahzab this verse is also known as the verse of hijab

O you who believe! Enter not the Prophets houses until permisison is given to you for a meal (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preperation; but when you are invited,enter; and when you have taken your meal, disperse without seeking vain talk. Such (behaviour) annoys the Prophet; he is ashamed to dismiss you,but Allah is not ashamed (to tell you) the truth. And when you asl(his wives) for anything. You want, ask them from behind screen(hijab;that makes greater purity for your hearts and theirs. Nor is it right for you that you should annoy Allah messenger or marry his widows after him at any time. Truly such a thing in Allah sight is a enormity.

(Surah Ahzab v 53)
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that:

A women extended her hand from behind a curtian to hand a piece of paper to the prophet(pbuh) The prophet pulled his hand back and said, “i dont know if it is a mans or womens hand“ she said it is a womens hand. The Prophet responded “if you were a women you would have coloured your hands with henna (abu dawud nasai)

The hadith clearly gives evidence that women used to observe hijab which is why she extended her hand from behind a curtain.

Allamam ibn Kathir writes:

The are the ettiquetes Allah taught the wives of the prophet (pbuh) and since all the women of the Muslim Ummah are required to follow their example,these commandments are applicable to all Muslim women

(Ibn Kathir,vol 3,p.483)

Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you,your members of the family and to make you pure and spotless ( Surah Ahzab v.33)

O prophet tell your wives and daughters,and believing women that they should cast (Yudnina Alaihinna) their outergarments (jilbab) over thwm; so that is the likelier that they will be known and not harmed and Allah is all forgiving,most merciful. (Surah Ahzab v,59.)

Above we have listed many evidences from the Quran and Hadith is there is anything you need more help with don`t hesitate to contact our imam.