At the age of twenty-five he was employed by Hadhrat Khadijah (RA), a noble lady of Mecca, as her agent in a caravan that was about to set out for Syria on a mission. And the Holy Prophet (PBUH) completed his duties so well that she was deeply impressed by his honesty, integrity, and his pleasing and attractive personality.
Hadhrat Khadijah (RA) was a widow, after married twice, and had children from both marriages. Now she sent the proposal of marriage to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) through one of her maids. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was surprised and took counsel with his uncle, who favoured the proposal and the match was arranged. At that time the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was twenty-five years of age and Hadhrat Khadijah (RA) was forty. This was the first marriage of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The marriage, despite the difference in age and prosperity, proved to be a very happy one. This marriage lasted for 25 years. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was 50 years old when Hadhrat Khadijah (RA) died at the age of 65 years. After the death of Hadhrat Khadijah (RA), the Holy Prophet (PBUH) married an old lady named Sowda Binte Zamah. She was the widow of Sakran Bin Amar, who was one of the servants of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Up to the age of 50 years the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had only one wife. After the death of Hadhrat Khadijh (RA), he married more wives. Polygamy was a common practice of the society. There was not any limit to the number of wives one could have. Abraham had three wives, David one hundred, and Solomon over seven hundred. But the Holy Prophet (PBUH), according to God’s command limited polygamy to marry up to four wives. All his wives when he married were widows or divorced, except Hadhrat Aisha (RA), the daughter of his beloved companion, Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddique. She was about nine years old when her parents requested to perform her Nikah, and that was according to the Arab customs. But she was married to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) when she was 12 years of age and well matured. That was the time when people used to arrange marriages for their girls at a very young age. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) had a very successful and happy married life. The ladies who married the Prophet (PBUH) did so of their own preference. None of them was forced into marriage. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was extremely kind and fair towards his wives. He established an excellent example in respect of dealing with wives of different age groups having different temperaments and social status.
Hadhrat Khadija (RA) was his first wife, and she had made great sacrifices in his cause. She was the first woman to accept Islam, when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) brought the message of Islam and one God. She was much older than the Prophet. After her death he married younger women but he always remembered her. Whenever any of Hadhrat Khadija’s friends visited him he would stand up to receive her. If he saw any article that had belonged to or had been connected with Hadhrat Khadija (RA), he was always overcome by emotion. He often praised Hadhrat Khadija (RA) to his other wives and stressed her virtues and admired the sacrifices that she had made in the cause of Islam. On one such occasion, Hadhrat Aisha (RA) was irritated and said, “O Messenger of Allah, why go on talking of the old lady? God has bestowed better, younger and more attractive wives upon you.” The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was overcome by emotion at hearing this and said: “O no, Aisha! You have no idea how good Khadija was to me.”
He was very cooperative to his wives in his day-to-day life. He not only helped them in their household activities, but also he always tried to do his personal work with his own hands. In this regard Hadhrat Aisha (RA) says: ‘He would patch his garments and sole his sandals.’ She was once asked, ‘How was he with his family?’ She responded, ‘He was in the service of his family until it was time for Prayer, at which time he would go and pray.’ The Messenger of Allah never complained about any type of food, if he liked it he ate it, and if he disliked it he left it alone. (Bukhari and Muslim) There is another similar statement of Hadhrat Aisha (RA): ‘Allah’s Messenger peace and blessings of Allah be upon him used to patch his sandals, sew his garment and conduct himself at home as anyone of you does in his house. He was a human being, milking his sheep, and doing his own household tasks.’ (Tirmidhi).
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was very serious in improving the condition of women in society and on securing for them a position of dignity and fair and equitable treatment. Islam was the first religion, which conferred upon women the right of inheritance.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was so careful with regard to the kind treatment of women that those around him who had not previously been accustomed to looking upon women in the light of helpmates and partners found it difficult to accommodate themselves to the standards that the Prophet was anxious to see set up and maintained. Hadhrat Umar (RA) relates, “My wife occasionally sought to intervene in my affairs with her counsel and I would admonish her, saying that the Arabs had never permitted their women to intervene in their affairs.” She would reply: “That is all past. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) lets his wives counsel him in his affairs and he does not stop them. Why don’t you follow his example?”
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was so careful concerning the sentiments of women that on one occasion when he was leading the Prayers he heard the cry of a child and concluded the service quickly, explaining thereafter that as he had heard the cry of the child he imagined that the child’s mother would be distressed at its cry and he had therefore concluded the service quickly so that the mother could go to the child and look after it.
When during any of his journeys women were also among the party he always gave directions that the caravan should move slowly. On one such occasion when the men were eager to push forward, he said: “Take care of the glass! Take care of the glass!” meaning thereby that women were of the party and that if camels and horses were put to the gallop they would suffer from the jolting of the animals. (Sahih Bukhari)
During a battle confusion arose among the ranks of the mounted soldiers and the animals became unmanageable. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) fell from his horse and some of the women also fell from their mounts. One of his Companions, who was riding a camel immediately behind the Prophet jumped down and ran towards him crying, “May I be your sacrifice, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet’s foot was still in the stirrup. He released it hastily and said to his Companion, “Don’t worry about me, go and help the women.”
Just before his death, he addressed to all Muslims and laid stress upon that they should always treat women with kindness and consideration. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: “If a man has daughters and he makes arrangement to have them educated and takes pains with their upbringing, God would save him from the torment of Hell.” (Tirmidhi)
It was a common practice with the Arabs to inflict physical chastisement upon women for every little fault. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) taught that women were equal to men as the creatures of God, and were not the slaves of men and should not be beaten. The Prophet admonished men and told them that those who treated women with unkindness could never win the favour of God. Thereafter, the rights of women were established, and for the first time women began to be treated as free individuals in their own right.
In connection with the respect, honour and status of woman as a mother, the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH) has a great regard. Once a Companion consulted him to seek advice to participate in a war, when he said, “Do you have a mother?” He said, “Yes.” Then Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “Be with her, because paradise is under her feet.” This indicates the outstanding status of woman in Islam far superior than granted by any other religion of the world. No other religion comes close to the prominence given to women by the Holy Prophet of Islam.
To strive for caring for one’s parents is considered an honour and a blessing, and an opportunity for great spiritual growth. God asks that not only we pray for our parents, but also act with limitless compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children they preferred us over themselves. Mothers are particularly honoured. In Islam, serving one’s parents is one of the greatest duties. It is considered despicable to express any irritation when, through no fault of their own, the old age becomes difficult for them. Once a Companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) asked, “O Apostle of Allah! To whom should I show kindness?” He replied, “Your mother, next your mother, next your mother, and then comes your father, and then your relatives in order of relationship.” (Abu Dawud)
Woman as a wife has also a very special status in Islam as it is described in the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and sayings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The Holy Qur’an says: ‘And of His Signs is that He has created wives for you from among yourselves that you may find peace of mind in them, and He has put love and tenderness between you. In that, surely, are Signs for a people who reflect.’ (Holy Qur’an, 30:22) The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “The best among you is the one who is best in his treatment of his wife and I am the best of you in this treatment.” (Tirmidhi) In his farewell address, after the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had glorified and praised Allah, he drew special attention of men towards their wives in the following words: “Be ever mindful of the duty you owe to Allah in respect of your wives. You have married them with the guarantee of Allah’s name, and you have made them lawful for yourselves in accordance with Allah’s word. So be mindful of your covenant. They owe you fidelity; for any default on their part you may correct them gently. You owe them suitable maintenance.” (Tirmidhi)
To take care of a daughter tenderly is much emphasized in the sayings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) of Islam. For example, Hadhrat Aisha (RA) said: A woman came with her two daughters, asking charity but she did not find with me anything except a date. I gave it to her and she divided it between her two daughters, and did not eat it herself. Then she got up and went out, and the Prophet of Islam entered on us, and I informed him about it. So the Prophet said: ‘Whoever is thrown into trial on account of these daughters, they (the daughters) are a screen for him from Hell fire’.
HERE'S THE VIDEO ABOUT THE REASON THAT WHY HAZRAT MUHAMMAD (S.A.W) MARRY MANY WIVES BY GREAT SCHOLAR DR.ZAKIR NAIK ....
HERE'S THE VIDEO OF THE LIST OF THE NAMES OF HAZRAT MUHAMMAD (S.A.W) WIVES ....
HERE'S SOME EXPLANATION ON HAZRAT MUHAMMAD (S.A.W) MARRIAGE HAZRAT AYESHA (R.A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSXVhuj3sIE
On the 8th Dhul-Hijjah 10 (9th March 632) — that is the Day of Tarwiyah, he left for Mina where he performed the noon, the afternoon, the sunset, the evening and the dawn prayers. — i.e. five prayers. Then he stayed for a while till the sun rose up then he passed along till he reached ‘Arafah, where there was a tent built for him at Namirah. He sat inside till the sun went down. He ordered that Al-Qaswa’, his she-camel, should be prepared for him. They saddled it and had it ready, so he went down the valley where a hundred thousand and twenty-four or forty-four thousand people gathered round him. There he stood up and delivered the following speech:
