If the Quran says a man should have no more than 4 wives, why did Mohammed have 9 (or 11)?

Question

Sahih Bukhari Narrated Qatada: Anas bin Malik said, "The Prophet used to visit all his wives in a round, during the day and night and they were eleven in number." I asked Anas, "Had the Prophet the strength for it?" Anas replied, "We used to say that the Prophet was given the strength of thirty (men)." And Sa'id said on the authority of Qatada that Anas had told him about nine wives only (not eleven). Volume 1, Book 5, Number 268.

Answer 1

When people hear that the prophet had many wives they conclude without much thought that the prophet was a sensuous man. However, a quick historical review of his marriages, proves otherwise.

When he was twenty-five years old he married for the first time. His wife, Khadijah, was fifteen years older than he. She remained the only wife of the prophet for the next twenty-five years, until she died (may Allah be pleased with her).

Only after her death, did the prophet marry other women. Now, it is obvious that if the prophet was after physical pleasure he did not have to wait until he was more than fifty years old to start marrying more wives. He lived in a society in which it was quite acceptable to have many wives. But the prophet remained devoted to his only wife for twenty-five years. When she died she was sixty-five years old.

His later marriages were for various reasons. Some marriages were with the view to help the women whose husbands had been killed while they were defending their faith. Others were with a view to cement relationships with devoted followers like Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him. Yet others were to build bridges with various tribes who were otherwise at war with the Muslims. When the prophet became their relative through marriage, their hostilities calmed down, and much bloodshed was averted.

Recent non-Muslim writers who had the opportunity to study the life of the prophet first-hand reach a similar conclusion about his plural marriages.

John L. Esposito, Professor of Religion and Director of the Centre for International Studies at the College of the Holy Cross, says that most of these marriages had "political and social motives" (Islam: The Straight Path, Oxford University Press, 1988, p. 19). This he explained as follows: "As was customary for Arab chiefs, many were political marriages to cement alliances. Others were marriages to the widows of his companions who had fallen in combat and were in need of protection" (John L. Esposito, Islam: The Straight Path, pp. 19-20). Esposito reminds us of the following historical fact: "Though less common, polygyny was also permitted in biblical and even in postbiblical Judaism. From Abraham, David, and Solomon down to the reformation period, polygyny was practiced" (p. 19).

Another non-Muslim Caesar E. Farah writes as follows: "In the prime of his youth and adult years Muhammad remained thoroughly devoted to Khadijah and would have none other for consort. This was an age that looked upon plural marriages with favor and in a society that in pre-Biblical and post-Biblical days considered polygamy an essential feature of social existence. David had six wives and numerous concubines (2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, 14:3) and Solomon was said to have had as many as 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). Solomon's son Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines (2 Chronicles 11:21). The New Testament contains no specific injunction against plural marriages. It was commonplace for the nobility among the Christians and Jews to contract plural marriages. Luther spoke of it with toleration" (Caesar E. Farah, Islam: Beliefs and Observances, 4th edition, Barron's, U.S. 1987, p. 69). Caesar Farah then concluded that Muhammad's plural marriages were due "partly to political reasons and partly to his concern for the wives of his companions who had fallen in battle defending the nascent Islamic community" (p. 69).

Answer 2

[33:50] O prophet, we made lawful for you your wives to whom you have paid their due dowry, or what you already have, as granted to you by GOD. Also lawful for you in marriage are the daughters of your father's brothers, the daughters of your father's sisters, the daughters of your mother's brothers, the daughters of your mother's sisters, who have emigrated with you. Also, if a believing woman gave herself to the prophet - by forfeiting the dowry - the prophet may marry her without a dowry, if he so wishes. However, her forfeiting of the dowry applies only to the prophet, and not to the other believers. We have already decreed their rights in regard to their spouses or what they already have. This is to spare you any embarrassment. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

33:52] Beyond the categories described to you, you are enjoined from marrying any other women, nor can you substitute a new wife (from the prohibited categories), no matter how much you admire their beauty. You must be content with those already made lawful to you. GOD is watchful over all things

Prophet Muhammad had different laws revealed to him concerning marriage. He had a great political responsibility, like many of his wives were women from other tribes and marrying
them brought about peace treaties between different tribes.

Answer 3

It says a man can have 4 wives at the same time Muhammed (PBUH) that is what he had,His wives passed away hence he married again but never did the number exceed more then 4 at any instant.Most muslims are also quite confused about it so i wouldent blame you.

Answer 4

I totally agree wit Mr. ROCK answer, which I'll keep a link to his answer.
As he mentioned that his marriages has a meaning and a message to the all Muslims, otherwise he would marry virgin ladies???
The only virgin lady was Aisha the daughter of Abubaker the 2nd. Calif.
The other reasons, other than mentioned by Mr. Rock, that Muslims are not males only but females as well, so most of the time the message and questions which are related specifically to woman issues will be passed through his wifes.
The other point, a message came directly from ALLAH to marry that woman, like e.g his marriage from Zainab, whom she was married to his adopted son " this before Islam and they used to give there names"and they were divorced, and before Islam it is FORBIDDEN to marry your adopted son daughter. So, to make a regulation he was asked by ALLAH to marry her, to show clear and vivid regulations that what I'm doing is absolutely right.
Last thing I'll ask you if you were a king would you marry a divorced/ widow ...etc lady one with kids one being poor???
OR marry a virgin one???

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aqsj5Zalfp0_CRECAAt0_e3sy6IX?qid=20061030032627AAU3JaC

Answer 5

Notice Quran said if a man was a good Muslim and be fair to all his wives in all aspects of life the prophet for sure was to fair to all of them and keep in mind most were widows and have lost their husbands in wars or without any one to care for them and their kids

Answer 6

Islam allows FOUR WIVES at a time, means a man can keep four wives as long as they are ALIVE. In case of death/divorce, example now he lost one wife, he left with THREE WIVES then he can marry again and again and keep FOUR WIVES. May be he can marry 100 times and he only keep 4 wives, in case the remaining 96 wives either died or divorced.

Answer 7

Thank you for your question. Please view the link below to know everything about the wives of the prophet; their number, why he married each one of them, etc.

Peace

Answer 8

Because he was the first. He experienced and discovered that 4 is more than enough.

Answer 9

It was prophecy about 9/11 ( 2001 )

Answer 10

congratulations, brother.
u start reading the biography of prophet Muhammad (pbuh). keep it up going.