عفت رسولﷺ اور تعدد ازواج : سرسید کی کتاب ازواج مطہرات کے حوالے سے

The Chastity of the Prophet Muhammad and his wives with Reference to Sir Syed’s last book ‘Azwaj-e-Mut̤ahharāt

Abstract

During the British colonial era, some Orientalists and priests raised doubts on the character, chastity and good conduct of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ due to his many wives. In particular, a Christian priest, Ahmad Shah Shaik, wrote a book entitled "Ummahat al-Muminīn" and claimed that it contains the complete answer to the answers and excuses of Islamic scholars on the topic. In this, the priest acted with ill-manners and bad language regarding the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and the married couples. First, he made general objections to polygamy, polygamous marriage of the Prophet Muhammad with the mothers of the believers, and then he targeted the married couples one by one. Sir Syed (1817-1898) was a Muslim writer with a rational, objective, scientific and logical thought of the colonial period, he wrote the book entitle Azwaj-e-Mut̤ahharat, Jawab Ummahat al-Muminīn in response to the priest. He answered the doubts about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. First, he wrote about the general objections, and gave the reasoned answers. Secondly, he gave a brief introduction to the pious couples and then he provided answers to the doubters in their own style and methodology of academic writing. In this study, the chastity of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in polygamous marriage has been discussed. The analysis of Quranic verses, narrations, answers and investigations of Sir Syed on the topic is presented. This paper explores Sir Syed’s solutions to problems and doubts about the chastity of the Prophet due to his multiple pious wives with reference to Azwaj-e-Mut̤ahharat, Jawab Ummahat al-Muminīn.