The Prophet opposed ‘Ali taking another wife

22-9-1999 | IslamWeb

Question:

Please explain why the Prophet [SAW] had so many wives and the companions did not and I heard that the Prophet [SAW] opposed Ali marrying another woman. I have heard various answers from the scholars I met but their answers do not satisfy the West or me. Please try to give as much explanation as possible.
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 ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

Dear brother, we think that you are a Muslim and that you believe in Allaah The Almighty, the Lord and Sustainer of the whole world. There is none co-equal or comparable unto Him. He begets not, nor is He begotten. There are millions of pieces of evidence proving that Allaah The Almighty alone is the true God, worthy of being worshipped. Everything in this world shows that Allaah The Almighty is Alone. You should cling to the way of Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) i.e., the Quran and Sunnah (Prophetic tradition). This is the best way to get success in this life and the Hereafter; do not seek to follow the East or the West.

There is no doubt that all the prophets were sent to preach the right way, but many people did not accept their call. This does not mean that this or that message is true or false, right or wrong, just or not. In other words, this does not challenge the rightness or legality of some issue. Since you have heard from numerous scholars, I would like to explain only two points here: 1) Most of the Companions may Allaah be pleased with him got married to more than one spouse. A few of them did not get married due to exceptional reasons.

2) As for the second marriage of ‘Ali may Allaah be pleased with him yes, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) opposed his marriage for many valid reasons:

  • He did not oppose the second marriage, but he ordered ‘Ali may Allaah be pleased with him to avoid any action which may harm Faatimah may Allaah be pleased with her; consecutively, it may disturb her father, i.e. the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) which is Haraam (impermissible) in itself.
  • The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) gave his reason for this in the following Hadeeth (narration): “By Allaah, the daughter of Allaah’s Messenger and the daughter of Allaah’s foe should not meet in one house, i.e. as two wives for the same man.” This is also one of the special attributes of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

Allaah Knows best.

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