The following incident concerns a lady called Sauda bint Zam’ah. She was first married to one of the early Muslims, as-Sakran ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Abd Shams, who took her and seven of his friends and emigrated to Ethiopia to escape persecution. In Ethiopia Sauda’s husband died and she returned to her home land.
At about the same time Mohammad lost his first wife Khadijah.
Not long after, Mohammad married Sauda. No doubt because of their common experience, they could understand each other's pain and were able to comfort one another.
During the course of time Mohammad married other women. And before his death, he had nine wives.
Ibn Kathir, quoting Muslim, reported that Mohammad died leaving nine wives, but he used to apportion his days to only eight of the nine. This ninth wife was Sauda who gave her day to ‘Aisha.
æÞÇá ÇáÔÇÝÚì : ÃÎÈÑäÇ ãÓáã ¡ Úä ÇÈä ÌÑíÌ ¡ Úä ÚØÇÁ ¡ Úä ÇÈä ÚÈÇÓ ¡ Ãä ÑÓæá Çááå (ÕáÚã) ÊæÝì Úä ÊÓÚ äÓæÉ ¡ æßÇä íÞÓã áËãÇä . (ÇÈä ßËíÑ)
ÞÇá ÇáÔÇÝÚì ÑÍãå Çááå : ÇáÊÇÓÚÉ ÇáÊì áã íßä íÞÓã áåÇ ÓæÏÉ ¡ æåÈÊ íæãåÇ áÚÇÆÔÉ ¡ ÃÎÈÑäÇ ÓÝíÇä ¡ Úä åÔÇã ¡ Úä ÃÈíå : Ãä ÓæÏÉ æåÈÊ íæãåÇ áÚÇÆÔÉ. (ÇÈä ßËíÑ)
In spite of the long companionship Mohammad had with Sauda, the Hadith tells us that Sauda later on missed out on her privileges as a wife and a companion to Mohammad. Mohammad did not only stop fulfilling his obligations as a husband to Sauda, but he even stopped visiting her.
The authenticity of this report is undeniable. For example Bukhari reported:
Narrated ‘Aisha that Sauda bint Zam’ah gave up her turn to ‘Aisha, and so the prophet used to give ‘Aisha both her day and the day of Sauda.[1]
Úä ÚÇÆÔÉ : Ãä ÓæÏÉ ÈäÊ ÒãÚÉ æåÈÊ íæãåÇ áÚÇÆÔÉ ¡ æßÇä ÇáäÈì (ÕáÚã) íÞÓã áÚÇÆÔÉ ÈíæãåÇ æíæã ÓæÏÉ . (ÈÎÇÑì ÚÑÈí ÇäÌáíÒì : ÇáÌÒÁ ÇáÓÇÈÚ : ßÊÇÈ ÇáäßÇÍ ¡ ÍÏíË 139)
But why would Sauda give up her privileges and the company of the only man in her life to ‘Aisha?
We find the answer in most commentaries on Q. 4:128:
"If a woman fears rebelliousness or aversion in her husband, there is no fault in them if the couple set things right between them; right settlement is better; and souls are very prone to avarice."
"æÅä ÇãÑÇÉñ ÎÇÝÊ ãä ÈÚáåÇ äÔæÒÇð Ãæ ÅÚÑÇÖÇð ÝáÇ ÌäÇÍ ÚáíåãÇ Ãä íÕáÍÇ ÈíäåãÇ ÕáÍÇð..." (ÇáäÓÇÁ : 128)
Of the above verse Ibn Kathir said:
"If the wife fears that her husband might reject her, or avoid her, she might give up all or some of her rights concerning financial support or clothing or housing or such other rights against him, and he can accept these concessions from her. There is no fault on her for giving up her rights and there is no fault on him if he accepts her concessions. This is why the Most High said: (there is no fault in them if the couple set things right between them) then He said: (right settlement is better) than separation... this is why, when Sauda bint Zam’ah became old, the Prophet of Allah decided to divorce her. She besought him to keep her in return of giving up her day to ‘Aisha. So he accepted her offer and did not divorce her.
... on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas who said: Sauda feared that the Prophet of Allah might divorce her, so she said to him: O Prophet of Allah, do not divorce me, and my day shall belong to ‘Aisha. So he did and that verse Q. 4:128 was revealed."
ÞÇá ÇÈä ßËíÑ:
ãÇ ÅÐÇ ÎÇÝÊ ÇáãÑÃÉ ãä ÒæÌåÇ Ãä íäÝÑ ÚäåÇ ¡ Ãæ íÚÑÖ ÚäåÇ ¡ ÝáåÇ Ãä ÊÓÞØ ÍÞåÇ Ãæ ÈÚÖå ¡ ãä äÝÞÉ Ãæ ßÓæÉ ¡ Ãæ ãÈíÊ ¡ Ãæ ÛíÑ Ðáß ãä ÇáÍÞæÞ Úáíå ¡ æáå Ãä íÞÈá Ðáß ãäåÇ ÝáÇ ÌäÇÍ ÚáíåÇ Ýì ÈÐáåÇ Ðáß áå ¡ æáÇ Úáíå Ýì ÞÈæáå ãäåÇ ¡ æáåÐÇ ÞÇá ÊÚÇáì : (ÝáÇ ÌäÇÍ ÚáíåãÇ Ãä íÕÇáÍÇ Èíäåã ÕáÍÇ) . Ëã ÞÇá : (æÇáÕáÍ ÎíÑ) ¡ Ãì : ãä ÇáÝÑÇÞ ... æáåÐÇ áãÇ ßÈÑÊ ÓæÏÉ ÈäÊ ÒãÚÉ ÚÒã ÑÓæá Çááå (ÕáÚã) Úáì ÝÑÇÞåÇ . ÝÕÇáÍÊå Úáì Ãä íãÓßåÇ ¡ æÊÊÑß íæãåÇ áÚÇÆÔÉ ¡ ÝÞÈá Ðáß ãäåÇ æÃÈÞÇåÇ Úáì Ðáß .
ÐßÑ ÇáÑæÇíÉ ÈÐáß . ÞÇá ÃÈæ ÏÇæÏ ÇáØíÇáÓì : ÍÏËäÇ ÓáíãÇä Èä ãÚÇÐ ¡ Úä ÓãÇß Èä ÍÑÈ ¡ Úä ÚßÑãÉ ¡ Úä ÇÈä ÚÈÇÓ ÞÇá ÎÔíÊ ÓæÏÉ Ãä íØáÞåÇ ÑÓæá Çááå (ÕáÚã) ¡ ÝÞÇáÊ íÇ ÑÓæá Çááå ¡ áÇ ÊØáÞäì æÇÌÚá íæãì áÚÇÆÔÉ . ÝÝÚá ¡ æäÒáÊ åÐå ÇáÂíÉ . (ÇÈä ßËíÑ) (åÐÇ ÇáÍÏíË ÑæÇå ÇáÊÑãÐì æÞÇá åÐÇ ÍÏíË ÍÓä ÕÍíÍ ÛÑíÈ)
Why did the Prophet of Allah want to divorce Sauda? And if he did not want to divorce her why did she fear him divorcing her so that she gave up her day to ‘Aisha? What was her fault?
There was no fault on Sauda’s part except that she became old according to Ibn Kathir.
Some reports say that Mohammad did actually divorce Sauda but she negotiated a settlement with him which he accepted.
Al-Qasim ibn Abi Beza said the prophet sent to Sauda a message divorcing her. So she waited for the prophet on his way to ‘Aisha. When she saw him she said I implore you by Him who revealed His words to you and chose you above all his creation why did you divorce me. I have become old and have no need of men but I wish to be resurrected amongst your wives in the last day. So he changed his mind and she said I have given my day and night to [‘Aisha] the prophet’s beloved... (See Ibn Kathir on Q. 4:128)
ÍÏËäÇ ÇáÞÇÓã Èä ÃÈì ÈÒÉ ÞÇá: ÈÚË ÇáäÈì ÕáÚã Çáì ÓæÏÉ ÈäÊ ÒãÚÉ ÈØáÇÞåÇ¡ ÝáãÇ Ãä ÃÊÇåÇ ÌáÓÊ áå Úáì ØÑíÞ ÚÇÆÔÉ ÝáãÇ ÑÃÊå ÞÇáÊ áå: ÃäÔÏß ÈÇáÐì ÃäÒá Úáíß ßáÇãå æÇÕØÝÇß Úáì ÎáÞå áöãÇ ÑÇÌÚÊäì¡ ÝÅäì ÞÏ ßÈÑÊ æáÇ ÍÇÌÉ áì Ýì ÇáÑÌÇá¡ [áßä ÃÑíÏ Ãä] ÃÈÚË ãÚ äÓÇÆß íæã ÇáÞíÇãÉ. ÝÑÇÌÚåÇ ÝÞÇáÊ: Åäì ÞÏ ÌÚáÊ íæãì æáíáÊì áÍÈÉ ÑÓæá Çááå ...(ÃÈä ßËíÑ Ýì ÓæÑÉ ÇáäÓÇÁ:128¡ æØÈÞÇÊ ÇÈä ÓÚÏ ÇáÌÒÁ ÇáËÇäì Õ 36)
Others say that he did not divorce her but only wanted to.
What is certain though is that Sauda gave up her day to ‘Aisha.
But why would any woman give up her share of her only husband to another woman?
To get a fuller picture of the above incident let us look at what the commentators said about Q. 4:128.
Of Q. 4:128 Razi said:
"Some said: ‘(Feared)’ meaning ‘knew’, others said: ‘(feared)’ meaning ‘thought’. But all that is ignoring the obvious for no reason. What is meant (by feared) is fear itself. But fear does not happen unless there are signs indicating fear. These signs here are that the man says to his wife you are ugly or you are old and I want to marry a beautiful youthful woman... the (rebelliousness or aversion) of the husband against the rights of the woman is to avoid her, looks angry when looking her in the face, deserts her sexually and mistreats her."
ßÊÈ ÇáÑÇÒì : ÞÇá ÈÚÖåã : ÎÇÝÊ Ãì ÚáãÊ ¡ æÞÇá ÂÎÑæä : ÙäÊ ¡ æßá Ðáß ÊÑß ááÙÇåÑ ãä ÛíÑ ÍÇÌÉ ¡ Èá ÇáãÑÇÏ äÝÓ ÇáÎæÝ ÅáÇ Ãä ÇáÎæÝ áÇ íÍÕá ÅáÇ ÚäÏ ÙåæÑ ÇáÅãÇÑÇÊ ÇáÏÇáÉ Úáì æÞæÚ ÇáÎæÝ ¡ æÊáß ÇáÅãÇÑÇÊ åäÇ Ãä íÞæá ÇáÑÌá áÇãÑÃÊå Åäß ÏãíãÉ Ãæ ÔíÎÉ æÅäì ÃÑíÏ Ãä ÃÊÒæÌ ÔÇÈÉ ÌãíáÉ ... æäÔæÒ ÇáÑÌá Ýì ÍÞ ÇáãÑÃÉ Ãä íÚÑÖ ÚäåÇ æíÚÈÓ Ýì æÌååÇ æíÊÑß ãÌÇãÚÊåÇ æíÓÆ ÚÔÑÊåÇ . (ÇáÑÇÒì Ýì ÊÝÓíÑ ÓæÑÉ ÇáäÓÇÁ : 128)
Did Mohammad treat Sauda as Razi commented? Sauda must have seen the writing on the wall so she decided to salvage some protection from Mohammad.
Ibn Kathir also said:
"Concerning Q. 4:128 ‘Aisha said: ‘It concerns the man who has two wives. One of them has become old or is ugly and he does not like her company much, so she says: "Do not divorce me, and you are free from your obligations towards me."’" This Hadith is established in the Two Sahihs. What the verse seems to say that their reconciliation, on the condition that she gives up some of her rights, and the acceptance of the husband of that is better than complete separation, just as the Prophet kept Sauda on the condition that she gave her day to ‘Aisha and did not divorce her but kept her amongst his wives and this was done in order that his nation might take him as their example and that this act is lawful and permissible."
Úä ÚÇÆÔÉ Ýí Þæáå : "æÅä ÇãÑÃÉ ÎÇÝÊ ãä ÈÚáåÇ äÔæÒÇð Ãæ ÅÚÑÇÖÇð ÝáÇ ÌäÇÍ ÚáíåãÇ Ãä íÕáÍÇ ÈíäåãÇ ÕáÍÇð..." (ÇáäÓÇÁ : 128) ÞÇáÊ åæ ÇáÑÌá íßæä áå ÇáãÑÃÊÇä ÅÍÏÇåãÇ ÞÏ ßÈÑÊ Ãæ åí ÏãíãÉ ¡ æåæ áÇ íÓÊßËÑ ãäåÇ ¡ ÝÊÞæá áÇ ÊØáÞäí ¡ æÃäÊ Ýì Íá ãä ÔÃäì . æåÐÇ ÇáÍÏíË ËÇÈÊ Ýì ÇáÕÍíÍíä .
æÇáÙÇåÑ ãä ÇáÂíÉ Ãä ÕáÍåãÇ Úáì ÊÑß ÈÚÖ ÍÞåÇ ááÒæÌ ¡ æÞÈæá ÇáÒæÌ Ðáß ¡ ÎíÑ ãä ÇáãÝÇÑÞÉ ÈÇáßáíÉ¡ ßãÇ ÃãÓß ÇáäÈì (ÕáÚã) ÓæÏÉ ÈäÊ ÒãÚÉ Úáì Ãä ÊÑßÊ íæãåÇ áÚÇÆÔÉ ÑÖì Çááå ÚäåÇ ¡ æáã íÝÇÑÞåÇ Èá ÊÑßåÇ ãä ÌãáÉ äÓÇÆå ¡ æÝÚáå Ðáß áÊÊÃÓì Èå ÇãÊå Ýì ãÔÑæÚíÉ Ðáß æÌæÇÒå . (ÇÈä ßËíÑ)
Indeed the nation of Mohammad has imitated him. Razi informs us:
This verse was revealed first in Ibn abi as-Sa’ib who had a wife and children from her and she became old so he was about to divorce her, but she said: Do not divorce me, and let me look after my children and apportion a few nights for me every month. The husband said: If this is so, it is better for me. The second was that the Prophet wanted to divorce Sauda bint Zam’ah but she besought him to keep her on the condition that she would give up her day to ‘Aisha, and he allowed that and did not divorce her. The third is reported on ‘Aisha that it concerns the man who has a wife but he wants to replace her, so she says: Keep me and marry someone else and you are free from supporting me and apportioning your nights to me.
ÐßÑ ÇáãÝÓÑæä Ýì ÓÈÈ äÒæá ÇáÂíÉ æÌæåÇ : ÇáÇæá : Úä ÇÈä ÚÈÇÓ Ãä ÇáÂíÉ äÒáÊ Ýì ÇÈä ÃÈì ÇáÓÇÆÈ ßÇäÊ áå ÒæÌÉ æáå ãäåÇ ÃæáÇÏ æßÇäÊ ÔíÎÉ Ýåã ÈØáÇÞåÇ ¡ ÝÞÇáÊ áÇ ÊØáÞäì æÏÚäì ÃÔÊÛá ÈãÕÇáÍ ÃæáÇÏì æÇÞÓã Ýì ßá ÔåÑ áíÇáì ÞáíáÉ¡ ÝÞÇá ÇáÒæÌ: Çä ßÇä ÇáÃãÑ ßÐáß Ýåæ ÃÕáÍ áì. æÇáËÇäì ÃäåÇ äÒáÊ Ýì ÞÕÉ ÓæÏÉ ÈäÊ ÒãÚÉ ÃÑÇÏ ÇáäÈì Úáíå ÇáÕáÇÉ æÇáÓáÇã Ãä íØáÞåÇ¡ ÝÇáÊãÓÊ Ãä íãÓßåÇ æíÌÚá äæÈÊåÇ áÚÇÆÔÉ¡ ÝÃÌÇÒ ÇáäÈì Úáíå ÇáÕáÇÉ æÇáÓáÇã Ðáß æáã íØáÞåÇ. æÇáËÇáË: Ñæí Úä ÚÇÆÔÉ ÇäåÇ ÞÇáÊ: äÒáÊ Ýì ÇáãÑÃÉ Êßæä ÚäÏ ÇáÑÌá æíÑíÏ Ãä íÓÊÈÏá ÈåÇ ÛíÑåÇ ÝÊÞæá: ÃãÓßäì æÊÒæÌ ÈÛíÑì¡ æÃäÊ Ýì Íá ãä ÇáäÝÞÉ æÇáÞÓã. (ÇáÑÇÒì)
And here is what Ibn al-’Arabi, a great Muslim scholar has said:
"... when Sauda bint Zam’ah became old, the Prophet of Allah wanted to divorce her. However, she preferred to remain amongst his wives, so she said, ‘Keep me, and my day shall belong to ‘Aisha’, and he did, and thus she died as one of his wives. Ibn Abi Malikah declared that this verse was revealed regarding ‘Aisha. And in this verse is the answer to those light headed fools who say that if a man took the youth of a woman and she became old he cannot replace her. So praise be to Allah who lifted such burden and made an escape from such dilemma.[2]
"...ÓæÏÉ ÈäÊ ÒãÚÉ áãÇ ÃÓäøÊ ÃÑÇÏ ÇáäÈì (ÕáÚã) Ãä íØáÞåÇ ÝÂËÑÊ ÇáÓßæä ãÚ ÒæÌÇÊå . ÝÞÇáÊ áå : ÇãÓßäì æÇÌÚá íæãì áÚÇÆÔÉ ¡ ÝÝÚá Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã æãÇÊÊ æåì ãä ÃÒæÇÌå . æÞÏ ÕÑÍ ÇÈä ÃÈì ãáíßÉ ÈÐáß ÝÞÇá : äÒáÊ åÐå ÇáÂíÉ Ýì ÚÇÆÔÉ . æÝì åÐå ÇáÂíÉ ÑÏñ Úáì ÇáÑøÚä [ÇáÇÛÈíÇÁ] ÇáÐíä íÑæä ÇáÑÌá ÅÐÇ ÃÎÐ ÔÈÇÈ ÇáãÑÃÉ æÃÓäÊ áÇ íäÈÛì áå Ãä íÊÈÏá ÈåÇ ¡ ÝÇáÍãÏ ááå ÇáÐì ÑÝÚ ÍÑóÌÇ æÌÚá ãä åÐå ÇáÖíÞÉ ãÎÑóÌÇ . (ÃÍßÇã ÇáÞÑÂä áÇÈì ÈßÑ ãÍãÏ Èä ÚÈÏ Çááå ÇáãÚÑæÝ ÈÇÈä ÇáÚÑÈì ¡ Ýì ÊÝÓíÑ ÓæÑÉ ÇáäÓÇÁ : 128 ¡ ÏÇÑ ÇáßÊÈ ÇáÚáãíÉ)
So the nation of Mohammad innocently and completely has imitated his action, and did not forget to give Allah the praise.
Dr bint ash-Shati’ the author of the book The Wives of the Prophet (nisaa’ an-Nabi) described Sauda as an unattractive old widow and over weight.[3] (Bukhari tells us that Sauda was a tall,[4] fat and very slow lady.[5])
Dr bint ash-Shati’ described the matrimonial relationship between Mohammad and Sauda in the following words: "Sauda realised from the experience of her age that there is an insurmountable barrier between her and the heart of Mohammad ... and she realised without a doubt that her share of the prophet is one of mercy and kindness, not love, harmony and oneness."[6]
ÊÕÝ ÇáÏßÊæÑÉ ÈäÊ ÇáÔÇØÆ ãæáÝÉ ßÊÇÈ "äÓÇÁ ÇáäÈì" ÓæÏÉ ÃäåÇ ßÇäÊ ÃÑãáÉ¡ ãÓäÉ¡ ÛíÑ ÐÇÊ ÌãÇá ËÞíáÉ ÇáÌÓã. æíÎÈÑäÇ ÇáÍÏíË ÃäåÇ ßÇäÊ ÖÎãÉ¿¿...
æÊÕÝ ÇáÏßÊæÑÉ ÈäÊ ÇáÔÇØÆ ØÈíÚÉ ÇáÚáÇÞÉ ÇáÒæÌíÉ Èíä ãÍãÏ æÓæÏÉ Ýì åÐå ÇáßáãÇÊ: "ÃÏÑßÊ ÓæÏÉ ÈÊÌÑÈÉ ÓäåÇ Ãä ÈíäåÇ æÈíä ÞáÈ ãÍãÏ-Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáã- ÍÇÌÒÇ áÇ ÓÈíá Åáì ÇÞÊÍÇãå...æÃíÞäÊ Ïæä ÑíÈ¡ Ãä ÍÙåÇ ãä ÇáÑÓæá ÈÑ æÑÍãÉ¡ áÇ ÍÈ æÊÂáÝ æÇãÊÒÇÌ...
If there was no love, harmony and oneness why did Mohammad marry Sauda in the first place?
And if there was no love, harmony and oneness, where is the mercy?
Dr bint ash-Shati’said that Khola bint Hakim was the one who suggested to Mohammad marring Sauda and ‘Aisha who was seven years old at the time. After mentioning ‘Aisha, "Mohammad commented at her suggestion saying: ‘but who will look after the house and who will serve the daughters of the prophet?’" At this Khola suggested the marriage of Sauda... and the prophet agreed. "And Sauda was completely satisfied to take her place in the house of the prophet and to serve his daughters."[7]
ÊÞæá ÇáÏßÊæÑÉ ÈäÊ ÇáÔÇØÆ Ãä ÎæáÉ ÈäÊ Íßíã ÇáÓáãíÉ åí ÇáÊì ÇÞÊÑÍÊ ÒæÇÌ ÇáÑÓæá áÚÇÆÔÉ æÓæÏÉ ÈÚÏ æÝÇÉ ÎÏíÌÉ. ÝÈÚÏ Ãä ÝÇÊÍÊ ÎæáÉ ÇáÑÓæá Ýì ÒæÇÌ ÚÇÆÔÉ ÇáÊí ßÇä ÚãÑåÇ Ýì Ðáß ÇáæÞÊ ÓÈÚ Óäíä ÞÇá áåÇ ÇáÑÓæá: "áßä ãä ááÈíÊ íÑÚí ÔÄäå æãä áÈäÇÊ ÇáÑÓæá íÎÏãåä¿" æåäÇ ÇÞÊÑÍÊ ÎæáÉ ÓæÏÉ ÈäÊ ÒãÚÉ Èä ÞíÓ Èä ÚÈÏ ÔãÓ ÇÈä ÚÈÏ æÏ ÇáÚÇãÑíÉ ÝÃÐä áåÇ ÇáÑÓæá Ýí ÎØÈÊåãÇ...
æÃÑÖí ÓæÏÉ ßá ÇáÑÖí Ãä ÊÃÎÐ ãßÇäåÇ Ýí ÈíÊ ÑÓæá Çááå¡ æÃä ÊÎÏã ÈäÇÊå...
Now the picture is clear; ‘Aisha became the love of Mohammad, and Sauda became the servant of the daughters of the prophet. And after so many years where Sauda cooked, washed, mended, served the prophet and his daughters and comforted the prophet in his sorrows after the death of his first wife, when Sauda became old Mohammad wanted to divorce her for no reason except that she became old and unattractive.
æåßÐÇ ÕÇÑÊ ÚÇÆÔÉ ÍÈíÈÉ ÑÓæá Çááå¡ æÕÇÑÊ ÓæÏÉ ÎÇÏãÉ ÈäÇÊ ÑÓæá Çááå.
æÈÚÏ Ãä ØÈÎÊ æÛÓáÊ æÑÊÞÊ æ ÎÏãÊ ÑÓæá Çááå æÈäÇÊå ¡ ææÇÓÊå Ýì ÃÍÒÇäå ÈÚÏ Ãä ÝÞÏ ÎÏíÌÉ¡ ÚäÏãÇ ÃÓäøÊ ÓæÏÉ ÈäÊ ÒãÚÉ ÃÑÇÏ ãÍãÏ ÑÓæá Çááå Ãä íØáÞåÇ áÇ áÓÈÈ ãÇ ÅáÇ ÃäåÇ ÞÏ ÔÇÎÊ.
The Qur’an speaks of love and tenderness between husbands and wives in the following words:
Of His signs it is that He has created mates for you of your own kind that you may find peace of mind through them, and He has put love and tenderness between you. (Q. 30:21)
The above incident gives us an idea about the meaning and the limitations of this love and tenderness spoken of by the Qur’an.
Where is the love and the mercy spoken of by the Qur’an in the incident of Sauda? Should Mohammad be judged by the Qur’an or is Mohammad above the Quran?
The author of a standard text book on Islamic law wrote:
What some men of lust who have no moral values do, in divorcing their wives without a reason, is a thing that is not stated nor approved by Islam. And Allah must take vengeance on such men in this life and the next.[8]
ÝãÇ íÝÚáå ÈÚÖ ÇáÔåæííä ÇáÐíä áÇ ÎáÇÞ áåã ãä ÊØáíÞ ÒæÌÇÊåã ÈÏæä ÓÈÈ áÇ íÞÑå ÇáÏíä ÇáÇÓáÇãì æáÇ íÑÖÇå¡ æáÇÈÏ Ãä íäÊÞã Çááå ãä åÄáÇÁ Ýì ÇáÏäíÇ æÝì ÇáÂÎÑÉ. (ÇáÝÞå Úáì ÇáãÐÇåÈ ÇáÃÑÈÚÉ¡ ÚÈÏ ÇáÑÍãä ÇáÌÒíÑì¡ ÇáÌÒÁ ÇáÑÇÈÚ¡ Õ 278)
The above statement sounds beautiful and reasonable until we read a few pages later the following words by the same author: "[Divorce is permissible] if the reason was the unsuitability of the woman for enjoyment due to certain defects in her or due to old age or such things."[9]
...ÅÐÇ ßÇä ÇáÓÈÈ ÚÏã ÕáÇÍíÉ ÇáãÑÃÉ ááÇÓÊãÊÇÚ¡ ÈÓÈÈ ÚíæÈ ÞÇÆãÉ ÈåÇ Ãæ ßÈÑ Ãæ äÍæ Ðáß. (ÇáÝÞå Úáì ÇáãÐÇåÈ ÇáÃÑÈÚÉ¡ ÚÈÏ ÇáÑÍãä ÇáÌÒíÑì¡ ÇáÌÒÁ ÇáÑÇÈÚ¡ Õ 281)
Divorcing one’s wife because of old age is permissible and acceptable within the scope of being good to one’s wife; even considered to be the best standard, for Mohammad described himself as the best husband and the Qur’an says of Mohammad "Thou dost most surely posses high moral excellence. Q. 68:4.
"æÅäß áÚáì ÎõáõÞò ÚÙíã." (ÓæÑÉ ÇáÞáã:4)
And on the other hand the "Qur’an was Mohammad’s character" as one Hadith says.
But Dr bint ash-Shati’s excuse for Mohammad’s behavior is that he was a mere human being. So the Qur’an was his character and he also was a mere human being. The equation is clear enough for all to see.
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