In this post I will revisit Muhammad’s shameful mistreatment and disrespect of women, by showing how he and his deity relegated females to the status of sex objects to be misused for the pleasure of men.  

Muhammad’s god states that women are a field which men own and can plow into however and whenever they like:

Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will; but do some good act for your souls beforehand; and fear God. And know that ye are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give (these) good tidings to those who believe. S. 2:223 Y. Ali

Allah also made men superior to women, which is why husbands are allowed to beat their wives whom they fear will be rebellious:

Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great. S. 4:34 Shakir

The Islamic deity even permits his jihadists to not only murder in his cause, but also to take single and married women captive and essentially rape them:

Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those (captives and slaves) whom your right hands possess. Thus has Allah ordained for you. All others are lawful, provided you seek (them in marriage) with Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) from your property, desiring chastity, not committing illegal sexual intercourse, so with those of whom you have enjoyed sexual relations, give them their Mahr as prescribed; but if after a Mahr is prescribed, you agree mutually (to give more), there is no sin on you. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise. S. 4:24 Hilali-Khan

Here is how the sunni expositors interpreted the aforementioned verse:

Abu Said al-Khudri said: The apostle of Allah sent a military expedition to Awtas on the occasion of the battle of Hunain. They met their enemy and fought with them. They defeated them and took them captives. Some of the Companions of the Apostle of Allah were reluctant to have intercourse with the female captives in the presence of their husbands who were unbelievers. So Allah, the Exalted, sent down the Quranic verse, ‘And all married women (are forbidden) unto you save those (captives) whom your right hands possess’. That is to say, they are lawful for them when they complete their waiting period.

Grade: SAHIH (Al-Albani) (Sunan Abu Dawud, Volume 2, Number 2150 https://sunnah.com/abudawud/12/110; emphasis mine)

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri that he said: We got female captives from Awtas who had husbands. It seemed that some of the companions of the Messenger of Allah felt it difficult upon themselves to have sexual relations with them on account of their husbands are from the infidels. We asked The Messenger of Allah about that thereupon Aallah revealed (what means): {Also (forbidden for marriage) are the married women, except those whom your right hand possess}. By this, they became lawful for us (once the term of their ‘iddah elapsed). [Abu Dawud; At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i]

It is narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas that he said: When it was the day of Hunayn (battle) and Allah Almighty helped the Muslims conquer Hunayn, the Muslims got female captives from the people of the Scripture. If a man liked to have sexual intercourse with any woman (of them whom his right hand possessed) SHE WOULD SAY TO HIM: “I HAVE A HUSBAND”. The Messenger of Allah was asked about that, thereupon Allah revealed this Qur’anic Verse. [Al-Tabarani] (Jalal Al-Din Al-Suyuti, Reasons and Occasions of Revelation of the Holy Qur’an (Lubab An-Nuqul Fi Asbab An-Nuzul), translated by Dr. Muhammad Mahdi Al-Sharif [Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut 2015], pp. 101-102; emphasis mine)

And forbidden to you are wedded women those with spouses that you should marry them before they have left their spouses be they Muslim free women or not; save what your right hands own of captured slave girls whom you may have sexual intercourse with even if they should have spouses among the enemy camp but only after they have been absolved of the possibility of pregnancy after the completion of one menstrual cycle… (Tafsir al-Jalalayn https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=4&tAyahNo=24&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2; bold emphasis mine)

(And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess…) [4:24]. Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Bunani informed us> Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Hamdan> Abu Ya‘la> ‘Amr al-Naqid> Abu Ahmad al-Zubayri> Sufyan> ‘Uthman al-Batti> Abu’l-Khalil> Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri who said: “We had captured female prisoners of war on the day of Awtas and because they were already married we disliked having any physical relationship with them. Then we asked the Prophet about them. And the verse (And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess) was then revealed, as a result of which we consider it lawful to have a physical relationship with them”. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn al-Harith informed us> ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Ja‘far> Abu Yahya> Sahl ibn ‘Uthman> ‘Abd al-Rahim> Ash‘ath ibn Sawwar> ‘Uthman al-Batti> Abu’l-Khalil> Abu Sa‘id who said: “When the Messenger of Allah captured the people of Awtas as prisoners of war we said: ‘O Prophet of Allah! How can we possibly have physical relationships with women whose lineage and husband we know very well?’ And so this verse was revealed (And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess)”.

Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Farisi informed us> Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Amrawayh> Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Sufyan> Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj> ‘Ubayd Allah ibn ‘Umar al-Qawariri> Yazid ibn Zuray‘> Sa‘id ibn Abi ‘Arubah> Qatadah> Abu Salih Abu Khalil> Abu ‘Alqamah al-Hashimi> Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri who reported that on the day of Hunayn the Messenger of Allah sent an army to Awtas. This army met the enemy in a battle, defeated them and captured many female prisoners from them. But some of the Companions of the Messenger were uncomfortable about having physical relations with these prisoners because they had husbands who were idolaters, and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed about this (And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess). (Al-Wahidi, Asbab al-Nuzul https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=86&tSoraNo=4&tAyahNo=24&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2; emphasis mine)

Forbidding Women Already Married, EXCEPT FOR FEMALE SLAVES

Allah said…

(Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess.) The Ayah means, you are prohibited from marrying women who are already married…

(except those whom your right hands possess) except those whom you acquire through war, for you are allowed such women after making sure they are not pregnant. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said, “We captured some women from the area of Awtas who were already married, and we disliked having sexual relations with them because they already had husbands. So, we asked the Prophet about this matter, and this Ayah was revealed…

(Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess). Consequently, we had sexual relations with these women.” This is the wording collected by At-Tirmidhi An-Nasa’i, Ibn Jarir and Muslim in his Sahih. Allah’s statement…

(Thus has Allah ordained for you) means, this prohibition was ordained for you by Allah. Therefore, adhere to Allah’s Book, do not transgress His set limits, and adhere to His legislation and decrees. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir http://www.alim.org/library/quran/AlQuran-tafsir/TIK/4/24; emphasis mine)

This next source claims that Q. 4:24 was “sent down” to also justify temporary marriage called zawaj al-muta, which is nothing more than prostitution:

(And all married women (are forbidden unto you save those (captives) whom your right hands possess) of captives, even if they have husbands in the Abode of War, after ascertaining that they are not pregnant, by waiting for the lapse of one period of menstruation. (It is a decree of Allah for you) that which I have mentioned to you is unlawful in Allah’s Book. (Lawful unto you are all beyond those mentioned) as unlawful, (so that ye seek them) marry (with your wealth) up to four wives; it is also said that this means: so that you buy with your wealth captives; and it is also said that this means: so that you should seek with your money marrying women for an agreed period of time (zawaj al-mut’ah) but the lawfulness of this practice was later abrogated… (Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn ‘Abbas https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=73&tSoraNo=4&tAyahNo=24&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2; emphasis mine) 

If this weren’t bad enough, Muhammad’s idol contradicts himself in that he allows his followers to marry up to four wives (with no limit to how many sex slaves they can have) only if they are able to be just with all of them:

And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the captives and the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice. S. 4:3 Hilali-Khan

And yet realizing that no husband can deal fairly with multiple spouses, Allah goes ahead and permits them to marry more than one woman anyway:

And if a woman fears cruelty or desertion on her husband’s part, there is no sin on them both if they make terms of peace between themselves; and making peace is better. And human inner-selves are swayed by greed. But if you do good and keep away from evil, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do. You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives even if it is your ardent desire, so do not incline too much to one of them (by giving her more of your time and provision) so as to leave the other hanging (i.e. neither divorced nor married). And if you do justice, and do all that is right and fear Allah by keeping away from all that is wrong, then Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. But if they separate (by divorce), Allah will provide abundance for everyone of them from His Bounty. And Allah is Ever All-Sufficient for His creatures’ need, All-Wise. S. 4:128-4130 Hilali-Khan

What the readers may not realize is that the foregoing passage was “sent down” to justify the abuse and neglect of women by their husbands.

For instance, the Muslim expositors admit that Allah “revealed” these verses in the context of Sawdah bint Zam’ah, one of Muhammad’s wives, whom Muhammad wanted to divorce because she had gotten old and was therefore no longer attracted to her. In order to avoid being divorced, Sawdah made a deal with her husband to keep her as a spouse while giving the day assigned to her over to his child-bride Aisha.

In other words, Sawdah agreed to forego her conjugal rights so as to remain Muhammad’s spouse, a deal that Allah and his messenger were all too eager to accept!

Adding insult to injury, the commentators unashamedly admit that this injunction also permits men to prefer and spend more time with younger and more attractive women over against their older and less desirable spouses:

… Most recite ‘an yassaliha’ and the Kufans recite ‘an yusliha’. Al-Jahdari and ‘Uthman al-Batti recite ‘an yussliha’. It means to agree between themselves, and there is idgham.

The ayah was revealed about Sawdah bint Zam’ah. At-Tirmidhi reported from Ibn ‘Abbas: ‘Sawdah FEARED that the Messenger of Allah would divorce her and said, “Do not divorce me. Keep me and I will give my day with you to ‘A’ishah.” She did that and this was revealed.’ If they are reconciled on the basis of something, it is allowed. This is a hasan gharib hadith. Ibn ‘Uyaynah related from az-Zuhri that Sa’id ibn al-Musayyab reported that Rafi’ and Khadij was married to Khawlah bint Muhammad ibn Maslamah. He disliked something about her, EITHER AGE or something else, and wanted to divorce her. She said, ‘Do not divorce me and allow me what you wish.’ So this was revealed. Al-Bukhari reported from ‘A’ishah that it was about a man who was married to a woman who he DID NOT CARE FOR MUCH AND WANTED TO LEAVE. She said, ‘I put you in the lawful in regard to me,’ and this was revealed.

In fiqh, this question refutes foolish, ignorant people who think that when a man takes a young woman and she becomes old, he may not replace her. Ibn Abi Mulaykah said, ‘When Sawdah bint Zam’ah BECAME OLD, the Prophet wanted to divorce her but she preferred to remain with him and said, “Keep me and I will give my day to ‘A’ishah.” The Prophet did so and she died as one of his wives.’

That is what the daughter of Muhammad ibn Maslamah did. Malik related from Ibn Shihab that Rafi’ ibn Khadij married Khawlah bint Muhammad ibn Maslamah and she was married to him UNTIL SHE WAS OLD and then he married a young woman with her. He PREFERRED THE YOUNG WOMAN TO HER and she asked for a divorce. He divorced her once her and then took her back. Again HE PREFERRED THE YOUNG WOMAN and she asked for a divorce and he said, ‘There is one left. If you wish, you can agree TO THE PREFERENCE YOU SEE, or, if you wish, I will divorce you.’ She agreed to that and he kept her on that basis. Rafi’ did not think he incurred a wrong action when she remained with him on that basis…

Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah mentioned from Abu-l-Ahwas from Simak ibn Harb from Khalid ibn ‘Ar’arah that a man asked ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib about this ayah and he said, ‘It is about a man who is married to a woman and his eyes turn away from her BECAUSE OF HER UGLINESS, POVERTY, OLD AGE or bad character, but he does not want to divorce her. If she gives him any of her dower, he is allowed to take it. If she gives him some of her days, there is no harm.’ Ad-Dahhak said, ‘There is nothing wrong in lessening her due WHEN HE MARRIES A YOUNGER AND MORE ATTRACTIVE WOMAN THAN HER.’ Muqatil ibn Hayyan said that it refers to a man who is married to AN OLD WOMAN and then marries a young woman. He says to the old woman, ‘I will give you some of my wealth if you let me allot more time TO THIS YOUNG WOMAN than I give to you in the night and day.’ If she accepts, they are reconciled. If she does not accept that, then he must be fair in the division.      

Our scholars say that this means that all sorts of reconciliation are permitted in this case. It is permitted that reconciliation be based on the wife being patient, her allowing preference of another wife, or preferring and keeping the tie of marriage, or there is reconciliation based on patience and preference without a gift. All of this is permitted. It is permitted for reconciliation to be based in her giving her day to another, as the wives of the Prophet did. That was when the Messenger of Allah was angry with Safiyyah and she told ‘A’ishah, ‘Reconcile me with the Messenger of Allah and I will give my day to you.’ Ibn Khuzayzimandad mentioned it from ‘A’ishah in al-Ahkam. She said, ‘the Messenger of Allah was cross with Safiyyah about something and Safiyyah said to me, “Can you make the Messenger of Allah pleased with me and then you can have my day?” I put on a long head covering which was dyed with saffron and sprinkled it. Then I went and sat down beside the Messenger of Allah and he said to me, “Move away from me. It is not your day.” I said, “That is Allah’s favour which He gives to whomever he wishes.” She told him about it and he was pleased with her.’ This story contains the permission to NOT BE EQUAL BETWEEN WIVES AND PREFER SOME OVER OTHERS when it is with the consent of the one LESS FAVOURED.

The Kufans recite ‘yusilaha’ while MOST recite ‘yassalaha’. Al-Jahdari recited ‘yassalaha’. If someone recites ‘yassalaha’, its form is that it is known in Arabic that when there is a dispute between people, one says tasalaha for the people reconciling and not aslaha. If it had been aslaha, the verbal noun would be islah. If someone recites ‘yusilaha’, the like is used in 2:182 where aslaha is used. ‘Sulh’ is in the accusative in this reading as the object. It is a noun, like ‘ata from a’ta. So you say, ‘aslahtu sulhan’ (I made peace) as you say, ‘aslahtu amran’ (I put a matter right). It is also the object according to the reading of ‘yassalaha’ because Form VI can be transitive. It is possible that it is a verbal noun whose augments have been elided. If someone recites ‘yassalaha’, its root is yasliha which has become yastaliha and then the ta’ changed into a sad and the sad is elided into it. The sad is not changed into a ta’ because of the extension of exhalation in it… Ibn Zayd said, ‘Greed here exists in both him and in her,’ and Ibn ‘Atiyyah said, ‘This is better. Generally a woman is greedy for her share from her husband and a husband is greedy for his portion with the young woman.’… (Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr ibn Farh al-Ansari al-Khazraji al-Andalusi al-Qurtubi, Tafsir al-Qurtubi: The General Judgments of the Qur’an and Clarification of What it Contains of the Sunnah and Ayahs of Discrimination, translated by Aisha Bewley [Diwan Press Ltd., 2020], Volume 5. Surat an-Nisa’ 23-176, pp. 288-291)    

To call this treatment of females, specifically older women, reprehensible and despicable would be putting it mildly.

After all, what kind of merciful and compassionate God would permit women to be mistreated and dishonored in this manner, where older wives allow themselves to be placed in a situation to forego their marital rights and conjugal needs so that their husbands can spend more time with their younger and more attractive spouses?

Contrast Allah’s disgusting and cruel approach towards older women with what the true God of the Holy Bible teaches concerning the responsibilities that husbands have to their wives:

“May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob, for the man who does this, any to witness or answer, or to bring an offering to the Lord of hosts! And this again you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor at your hand.You ask, ‘Why does he not?’ Because the Lord was witness to the covenant between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.Has not the one God made and sustained for us the spirit of life? And what does he desire? Godly offspring. So take heed to yourselves, and let none be faithless to the wife of his youth. ‘For I hate divorce,’ says the Lord the God of Israel, and covering one’s garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless.’” Malachi 2:12-16 Revised Standard Version (RSV)

“Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman. But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does. Do not refuse one another except perhaps by agreement for a season, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control.” 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 RSV

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:25-33 RSV

“Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.” Colossians 3:19 RSV

So much for Muhammad and his deity being merciful and loving towards women.

FURTHER READING

Muhammad’s Treatment of Sauda Bint Zamah

Sauda bin Zam’ah

Did You Know That Muhammad Was A Misogynist?

Muhammad’s Multiple Marriages

Never Shall He Be Satisfied

Muhammad’s Marriage to Safiyyah: A Case Study in Allah’s Mercy and Round 2, and Round 3 (Part 1, Part 2)

The Dissatisfaction of Muhammad’s Wives: Being a Response to Zawadi’s Challenge, Round 2

• Uncategorized