THOSE WHOM THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH PROPOSED BUT DID NOT MARRY
Umm Hani’ Fakhitah Bint Abu Talib narrated that the Messenger of Allah asked for her hand, but she mentioned that she had small children so he left her and said: “The best women among the camel riders are the righteous women of Quraish, the most kind to their young ones and the most caring of their husbands’ property.”
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah proposed to Umm Hani’ Bint Abu Talib then she said:
“O Messenger of Allah, verily, I have become old and I have children.”
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated: Laila Bint Al-Khateem went to the Messenger of Allah while he had his back to the sun so it shone on his shoulder, then he said: “Who is this whose food is the black (dates)?” And he used to say this often. Then she replied: “I am the daughter of the one who feeds the birds and the one who is like the wind [i.e. generous], I am Laila Bint Al-Khateem, I came to offer myself to you, will you marry me?” He replied: “I have done (so).” Then she returned to her people and said: “I have indeed married the Prophet ”. They said: “What a bad thing you have done, you are a selfless woman and the Messenger of Allah has women who protect him jealously so he will curse you, so ask for demission.” Thereafter she returned and said: “Demit me, O Messenger of Allah ”. He demitted her.
Then she married Mas‘ood Ibn Aws Ibn Sawad Ibn Zafar and she gave birth to a child from him, then one day when she was having a bath in one of the gardens in Madinah when suddenly a black wolf pounced on her and injured her, thereafter she died.
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated: Duba‘ah Bint Amir Ibn Qurt was married to Abdullah Ibn Jud‘an, then he divorced her. Hisham Ibn Al-Mugheerah married her after him, and she gave birth to Salamah from him and she was a big beautiful woman with plentiful hair that enveloped her body. Then the Messenger of Allah proposed to her through her son Salamah so he said: “May I ask her permission?” It was said to the Prophet: “She has become old.” Thereafter her son came to her and sought her permission. She replied: “O my son, do you ask permission with regards to the Messenger of Allah?” Her son returned and remained quiet and didn’t return an answer to the Messenger of Allah, it was as though he saw that she had become old, the Prophet too did not speak about her.
Ibn Abbas narrated: “The Messenger of Allah proposed to Safiyyah Bint Bashamah Ibn Nadlah Al‘Anbari. She had been taken prisoner, so the Messenger of Allah gave her a choice and said: “If you wish me or if you wish your husband.” So she said “Rather my husband”, then he set her free whereupon the tribe of Banu Tameem cursed her.
And from those who he proposed to and did not marry is Jamrah Bint Al-Harith Ibn ‘Awf Ibn Abu Harithah Al-Muzani. Her father said: “She has a defect”, when she didn’t have one. Then he returned to her and she was afflicted with leprosy.
He said: And he proposed to Umm Habeebah Bint Al-‘Abbas Ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib. Then he found that her father was her brother from breast-feeding, Thuwaibah, the maid of Abu Lahab.
These are his wives and they are categorized into three groups: First those he entered upon and died leaving them behind, and they are nine which was the initial mention of them and they were inviolable after his death (in marital terms) by actual consensus known from the religion by necessity and their waiting period ended with the end of their lives.
Allah, Most High, said:
“And it is not (right) for you that you should annoy Allah’s Messenger, nor that you should ever marry his wives after him (his death). Verily! With Allah that shall be an enormity. (Soorah Al-Ahzab: 53)
In the second category are those whom he entered upon and divorced in his lifetime, so is it (considered) permissible to marry them after the end of their waiting period ? There are two opinions of the scholars in its regard; one of them is no, due to the generality of the Verse which we mentioned. And the second (opinion) is yes; because of the Verse of At-Takhyeer and it is his statement: “O Prophet (Muhammad)! Say to your wives: If you desire the life of this world and its glitte, then come, I will make a provision for you and set you free in a handsome manner (divorce). But if you desire Allah and His Messenger, and the home of the Hereafter, then verily, Allah has prepared for Al-Muhsinat (good doers) among you an enormous reward.” (Soorah Al-Ahzab: 28,29)
The scholars said: If she was not permissible for anyone else to marry after his divorce of her there wouldn’t be any benefit in giving her the choice between this world and the Hereafter. This is because if his divorce of her didn’t allow anyone else to marry her there wouldn’t be any benefit for her, and this is a strong (argument). And Allah (SWT) knows best.
As for the third category, they are the ones whom he married, then divorced before entering upon them., Then it is not allowed for anyone else to marry them and I do not know of a debate in this category. As for the ones whom he proposed and didn’t marry, it is within her rights to marry. And a chapter is to come in “The Book of Particular Characteristics” (of the Prophet) in relation to this. And Allah (SWT) knows best.
By Ibn Katheer
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