Thank you for your email. In my
publication, I do not support the idea that Prophet Mohammad had four
wives. I did, however, state that Mohammad had two wives -but this too
was a mistake on my behalf at the time of publishing. As my research
continued, I realized that I had misunderstood verse 58:1-2 of the
Quran. This verse in fact refers to those individuals who faced
inequality by their counterparts within the newly established
government of Mohammad. Similarly the verse 66:3-5 is about the
unauthorized disclosure of important state affairs by key members of
the establishment. The untimely surfacing of those state interactions
caused unnecessary panic and alarm within the society and also led to
the loss of creditability of government persons.
I would like to further discuss verse 4:3 upon which Muslims have
built the edifice of religious polygamy. To assume that this verse
discusses the four wives of Mohammad is shear injustice with women and
humanity as a whole. The correct meaning of this verse in fact refers
to those individuals who were struggling towards establishing the
Quranic system in the presence of a dominant political system. This
verse actually advises that in such circumstances, collective reform
in society may not be possible and therefore, it may be feasible to
commence a kind of ‘grassroots movement’ in which individuals come
forward and take responsibility of those who have been left behind in
society both socially and economically. The Quran advises that such
individuals should be supported (socially or economically) in such a
way that they eventually learn to fend for themselves (instead of
being dependent on others)- and this in turn is progress towards
establishing a Quranic system.
The possible correct translation of the above mentioned verse would be
as under,
‘And if you feel fear[ because of perplexed political
circumstances]that you shall not be able to establish an equitable
justice system towards the insolvent members [men, women and
children]of the society then co-mingle with those members of the
society about whom you think they are the most forgotten category
from the impoverished group of the society in the form of contract.
You May provide means of sustenance or sponsor one, or two or, three,
or four male or female deprived members of the society and if you
fear that you shall not be able to do the justice among them then do
not do it. However, it will be more equitable for you that you will
not deal unjustly with those members of the society [male and female]
who are working in your houses and work places. You should deal
with them with fairness in the subject of their wages or other basic
necessities of their lives.’
Actually, the Quran is a constitution and it has no room to discuss
the personal life of Mohammad or other Apostles of Allah. However, the
Quran has informed us that the all Messengers had family life. They
[including Jesus] had fathers’ mother’s wives, children, brothers,
sisters and other kinship13:38.
‘Certainly, all Messengers of Allah were human beings, had spouses and
offspring’
In addition, not only Jesus, but also other Messengers of Allah had
dads and grand dads; the verse 6:85-87 proves that beyond doubt, which
is as under:
‘All Messengers[ including Jesus] of Allah had fathers, grand fathers,
children, brothers and some of them received the constitution, along
with civil and penal codes during their respective times, in the form
of books. This way, We favored them and they strictly followed Our
directives.’
Best
Regards
Akhtar Sherazi |