Why Prophet Mohamed had More than 4 Wives?

Non-Muslim: How come your prophet had more than 4 wives when you Muslims are allowed to have up to 4 wives?

Muslim: God says in the Quran 33:50 that if a believing woman wants to marry Prophet (sw) and the prophet (sw) wants to marry her too, then he is allowed to marry her. This doesn’t apply to the rest of the believers. A believer cannot marry a believing woman if he already has 4 wives but the prophet can. Note that forced marriage has no place in Islam. Some ignorant people say prophet (sw) forced women to marry him. This is a lie. Quran 33:50 say prophet (sw) can marry a believing woman if she gives herself to him. The marriage has to be based on mutual agreement between bride and groom.

Non-Muslim: Your prophet took full advantage of God’s permission for him to marry more than 4 women, didn’t he?

Muslim: Prophet (sw) did not take more wives after 33:50 was revealed because Prophet (sw)’s wives did not want him to do so. After the verse 33:50 was revealed, a believing woman came to Prophet (sw) and offered herself in marriage to him. The Prophet (sw) wished to marry her but rejected her proposal to please his present wives. So, God revealed verse 66:1 asking Prophet (sw) why he is pleasing his present wives by not taking more wives when God allowed him to take more wives. After God revealed 66:1, Prophet (sw)’s present wives understood that they should not forbid Prophet to take more wives when God permits Prophet (sw) to do so.

Non-Muslim: Are you saying that God forced the prophet to take more wives?

Muslim: No, God never forced Prophet (sw) to take more wives. God tells the Prophet (sw) that he should not make it illegal for himself to take more wives when God made it legal for him to do so. For example, let’s say God made eating apple legal for you but he doesn’t force you to eat apple. It is not a sinful act if you don’t eat apple because you don’t like the taste of apple. But it is a sinful act if you don’t eat apple because somebody doesn’t want you to eat apple although you like to eat apple.

God made it legal for Prophet to take more wives. It is not a sinful act on Prophet (sw)’s part if Prophet (sw) doesn’t marry a woman whom he doesn’t like. But it is a sinful act on Prophet (sw)’s part if Prophet (sw) doesn’t marry a woman whom he likes because his present wives don’t want him to do so. That’s why God says he is forgiving and merciful indicating he forgave Prophet (sw) for prohibiting himself from what God has made lawful for him.

Reference:

“O PROPHET! SURELY WE HAVE MADE LAWFUL TO you your wives whom you have given their dowries, and those whom your right hand possesses from those God has given to you, and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts, and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who fled with you; and IF A BELIEVING WOMAN GAVE HERSELF TO THE PROPHET, IF THE PROPHET DESIRED TO MARRY HER-- SPECIALLY FOR YOU, NOT FOR THE (REST OF) BELIEVERS; We know what We have ordained for them concerning their wives and those whom their right hands possess in order that no blame may attach to you; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful”. (33:50)

“O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what God has made lawful for you, seeking the pleasure of your wives? And God is Forgiving and Merciful”. (66:1)

“Thaabit al Banaani said: I was with Anas ibn Maalik and a daughter of his was with him. He said: “A woman came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and offered herself in marriage to him. She said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, do you want to marry me?’” The daughter of Anas said: “How little was her modesty. How shameless, how shameless!” Anas said: “She was better than you; she had a liking for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) so she offered herself in marriage to him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4828.