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Fatwa CenterThe divorces of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
Question
askm......I read on some website that the Prophet divorced one of his wives named Ghaziyah bint Jabir (Umm Sharik) because she was old ....is this true? ...as far as i know he s.a.w was sympathetic to widows
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.
This woman was Umm Shareek (Ghaziyyah bint Jaabir). Ibn Al-Jawzi 
underlined in his book Sifat As-Safwah that most of the scholars held that she had offered herself in marriage to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, but he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not accept the proposal. She did not get married until she passed away. Based on this opinion, there is no room for the opinion that he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, divorced her.
However, Ibn Al-Jawzi further stated that he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, married her and divorced her after the marriage consummation. Other scholars adopted the same opinion. We could not find the reason for the divorce. However, there would have to have been a (sound) reason for it; the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would not have divorced any of his wives unjustly for no reason.
Among the wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, whom he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had divorced and the reason for their divorce was known was Bint Al-Jawn. When she was brought to him (as his bride) and he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, approached her, she said, "I seek refuge with Allaah from you." The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "You have sought refuge in a [great] refuge; return to your family." He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, divorced her, sent her back to her family with generous gifts.
He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also got married to Layla Al-Khatmiyyah and she requested marriage annulment because she was extremely jealous. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, considered her feelings and fulfilled her request.
Scholars also highlighted that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, divorced Hafsah bint ‘Umar 
because he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had entrusted her with a secret about having intimacy with his slave girl Maariyah Al-Qibtiyyah 
and asked her not to inform ‘Aa’ishah given her jealousy. However, Hafsah told ‘Aa’ishah and this was why he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, divorced her. Allaah, The Exalted, sent down Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) 
commanding the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to revoke the divorce and take her back in marriage because she was known for her diligence in fasting and performing night prayers. So, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took her back in marriage.
Allaah Knows best.
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