Even the greatest Islamist apologist of all time, Maulana Yusuf Ali admits that Muhammad did indeed transgress the stipulation of the Qur'an.
Yusuf Ali (commentary number 3754, p.1123) writes: "This was revealed in A.H. 7. After that the Prophet did not marry again, except the handmaiden Mary the Copt, who was sent as a present by the Christians Muaqauqas of Egypt. She became the mother of Ibrahim, who died in his infancy."
Muhammad violated the Qur'anic law on the punishment of sex offenders
Fornication and adultery are two most serious offences in Islamic societies. The punitive measures, as enacted in the Qur'an are truly extremely harsh and barbaric. Let us read the verse which deals with such grave crimes:
Punishment for adultery or fornication (both man and woman) is one hundred lashes in front of the believers -24:2
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YUSUFALI: The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment.
Strangely though, when it came to a friend of Muhammad, who admitted having committed a punishable offence (illegal sex, perhaps), Muhammad did not apply this Qur'anic rule. Here is a hadis from Sahih Bukhari on this violation of the Qur'an:
Muhammad did not punish a person for illegal sexual intercourse because the person prayed with him...(Sahih Bukhari, 8.82.812)
Sahih Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 82, Number 812:
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
While I was with the Prophet a man came and said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have committed a legally punishable sin; please inflict the legal punishment on me'.' The Prophet did not ask him what he had done. Then the time for the prayer became due and the man offered prayer along with the Prophet , and when the Prophet had finished his prayer, the man again got up and said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have committed a legally punishable sin; please inflict the punishment on me according to Allah's Laws." The Prophet said, "Haven't you prayed with us?' He said, "Yes." The Prophet said, "Allah has forgiven your sin." or said, "....your legally punishable sin."
Muhammad violated the Qur'anic code of conduct between marriageable couples
Please note that a man and a woman who are not close relatives (that is, those men and women who could be married to each other, those who are not in the prohibited class for marriage purposes) cannot, under any circumstances, be alone together. This moral guardianship is endorsed in these verses of the Qur'an:
Believing men are to lower their gaze and guard modesty-24:30
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YUSUFALI: Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.
Now, let us see what Muhammad did with some single women, who could be married to him.
The first such woman was none but his first cousin-sister, Umm Hani bt Abu Talib. Muhammad passionately fell in love with her, but for some unknown reason his beloved uncle, Abu Talib did not give her hand to Muhammad when Muhammad requested. Instead, she was married to a pagan, Hibayrah. But Muhammad's adulterous relation with Umm Hani (real name Fakitah, also known as Hind) continued. He used to sleep in her house, when no one was around. Such an incidence took place when Muhammad returned from his failed mission at Taif, after the deaths of his first wife, Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib. Returning from Taif, he took shelter in Ka'ba.
But at nightfall, when all were asleep, he stealthily went to Umm Hani's house and spent the night with her. When the people did not find him at Ka'ba, they went looking for him and when he was discovered in the house of Umm Hani, he was embarrassed, so was Umm Hani. To hide the truth, he concocted the story of his night journey to Jerusalem and Paradise from Umm Hani's house (more precisely, from her bed), which many converted Muslims found too incredible to believe and left Islam. This made him sad and withdrawn. Soon, after such an adulterous affair was leaked out, he left Mecca and settled in Medina. But his undying love for Umm Hani remained aflame.
Later, when Muhammad became militarily strong and conquered Mecca, he went to Umm Hani's house and stayed there overnight, praying and chit-chatting with her. Hubayrah, Umm Hani's husband had foreseen the fall of Mecca and had fled to Najran. So, Umm Hani was living in her house, separated from her pagan husband, and Muhammad was there comforting her, in open transgression of the Qur'anic code. (Please consult: Martin Lings, p.33, 101, 103-104, 299; Ibn Ishaq, p.184, Tabari, vol.viii, p.186)
Here is a hadis from Sahih Bukhari which demonstrates Muhammad's way with single women, divorced or widowed, rich or poor, for sex, which clearly violates the Qur'an.
A dignified woman, Jauniyaa (a princess) was brought to Muhammad to have sex with him but she was reluctant to give herself to him; Muhammad was angry and raised his hand to beat her...(Sahih Bukhari, 7.63.182)
Sahih Bukhari: Volume 7, Book 63, Number 182:
Narrated Abu Usaid:
We went out with the Prophet to a garden called Ash-Shaut till we reached two walls between which we sat down. The Prophet said, "Sit here," and went in (the garden). The Jauniyya (a lady from Bani Jaun) had been brought and lodged in a house in a date-palm garden in the home of Umaima bint An-Nu'man bin Sharahil, and her wet nurse was with her. When the Prophet entered upon her, he said to her, "Give me yourself (in marriage) as a gift." She said, "Can a princess give herself in marriage to an ordinary man?" The Prophet raised his hand to pat her so that she might become tranquil. She said, "I seek refuge with Allah from you." He said, "You have sought refuge with One Who gives refuge. Then the Prophet came out to us and said, "O Abu Usaid! Give her two white linen dresses to wear and let her go back to her family." Narrated Sahl and Abu Usaid: The Prophet married Umaima bint Sharahil, and when she was brought to him, he stretched his hand towards her. It seemed that she disliked that, whereupon the Prophet ordered Abu Usaid to prepare her and to provide her with two white linen dresses. (See Hadith No. 541).
Muhammad violated the Qur'anic rule on sex with menstruating women
The Holy Qur'an, on menstruating women says:
Menstruation is a disease; can't have sex during a woman's period; after the period is over have sex in any manner, at any time and at any place...2:222
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YUSUFALI: They ask thee concerning women's courses. Say: They are a hurt and a pollution: So keep away from women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean. But when they have purified themselves, ye may approach them in any manner, time, or place ordained for you by Allah. For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean.
Let us examine what Muhammad did to his wives when they were in heavy menstruation:
During her period Muhammad used to fondle Aisha in bath-(Sahih Bukhari, 1.6.298)
Sahih Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 6, Number 298:
Narrated 'Aisha:
The Prophet and I used to take a bath from a single pot while we were Junub. During the menses, he used to order me to put on an Izar (dress worn below the waist) and used to fondle me. While in Itikaf, he used to bring his head near me and I would wash it while I used to be in my periods (menses).
Muhammad put his cheek and chest in between the naked thighs of a menstruating Aisha...(Sunaan Abu Dawud, 1.0270)
Sunaan Abu Dawud: Book 1, Number 0270:
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
Umarah ibn Ghurab said that his paternal aunt narrated to him that she asked Aisha: What if one of us menstruates and she and her husband have no bed except one? She replied: I relate to you what the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) had done.
One night he entered (upon me) while I was menstruating. He went to the place of his prayer, that is, to the place of prayer reserved (for this purpose) in his house. He did not return until I felt asleep heavily, and he felt pain from cold. And he said: Come near me. I said: I am menstruating. He said: Uncover your thighs. I, therefore, uncovered both of my thighs. Then he put his cheek and chest on my thighs and I lent upon he until he became warm and slept.
It could be that caressing and foreplay do not necessarily constitute actual coition. But bear in mind that these lustful activities are just prelude to other form of sexual gratification
Muhammad violated the Qura'nic rule of not to have sex with women when in ihram (purity state spent inside a mosque) or when performing Hajj
Here is the Qur'anic verse on the purity state in a mosque:
Observe Hajj in the prescribed month; no sexual intercourse, misconduct and argument during the Hajj session-2:197
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YUSUFALI: For Hajj are the months well known. If any one undertakes that duty therein, Let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the Hajj. And whatever good ye do, (be sure) Allah knoweth it. And take a provision (With you) for the journey, but the best of provisions is right conduct. So fear Me, o ye that are wise.
You can have sex with wives only at nights of fasting time; wives are garments; do not approach wife while in retreat (ihram) in a mosque...2:187
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YUSUFALI: Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them, and seek what Allah Hath ordained for you, and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast Till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah: Approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint.
Even a hadis in Sunaan Abu Dawud confirms the stipulation of the Qur'an. This hadis says:
A pilgrim must not marry and give someone in marriage in the sacred state (while wearing ihram)-(Sunaan Abu Dawud, 2.10.1837)
Sunaan Abu Dawud: vol.ii, Book 10, Number 1837
Nubaih b. Wahb, brother of Banu "Abd al-Dar said: 'Umar b. 'Ubaid Allah sent someone to Aban b. 'Uthman b. 'Affan, asking him (to participate in the marriage ceremony). Aban in those days was the chief of pilgrims, and both were in the sacred state (wearing ihram). I want to give the daughter of Shaibah b. Jubair to Talhah b. 'Umar in marriage. I wish that you may attend it. Aban refused and said: I heard my father 'Uthman b. 'Affan narrating a tradition from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: A pilgrim may not marry and give someone in marriage in the sacred state (while wearing ihram).
But Muhammad did not have much regard for the Qur'an or even to his own words when it came to marrying women and having sex with them. So, when he went to Mecca, to perform the Hajj, and a proposal of marriage was offered to him, he quickly accepted the offer and married the woman even though he was in sacred state wearing irham.
Here is the hadis from Sunaan Abu Dawud:
Muhammad married Maimunah while he was in the sacred state wearing ihram-(Sunaan Abu Dawud, 2.10.1840)
Sunaan Abu Dawud: vol.ii, Book 10, Number 1840:
Ibn 'Abbas said: The Prophet (may peace be upon him) married Maimunah while he was in the sacred state (wearing ihram).
Conclusion:
I am certain the Islamist apologists will employ many twisted tricks, convoluted logic and strange reasoning to disprove all those historical records which I enumerated above.
The fact is, no matter what they say, the truth remains-the intelligent readers will have no difficulty in separating the corn from the chaff. Muhammad, had on many occasions did violate the Qur'an.
Bibliography
The Holy Qur'an. The internet version of three English translations can be read at:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/reference.htmlAli, Abdullah, Yusuf, The Holy Qur'an: Translation and Commentary. Amana Corp., Brentwood, Maryland, 1983.
Abu Dawud, Sulayman b. al-Ash'ath. Al-Sunaan, a collection of Hadith Translated in English by Prof. Ahmad Hasan: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/abudawud/
Abu Dawud, Sulayman b. al-Ash'ath, Al-Sunaan, a collection of Hadith,vol.ii. Translated in English by Prof. Ahmad Hasan, Kitab Bhavan, 1784 Kalan Mahal, Daraya Ganj, New Delhi-110002 (India), 2001
al-Bukhari, Muhammad b. Ismail. Sahi Bukhari. Ttranslated in English by Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan: [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/ ]
Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad b. Yasr, Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated in English by A. Guillaume. First published by Oxford University Press, London in 1955. Fifteenth reprint by Oxford University Press, Karachi, Pakistan, 2001.
Lings, Martin, Muhammad his life based on the earliest sources. Inner Traditions International, One Park Street, Rochester, Vermont 05767, USA, 1983.
Ibn Sa'd, Abu Abd Allah Muhammad, Kitab al-Tabaqat, vol ii. Translated in English by S. Moinul Haq, Kitab Bhavan, 1784, Kalam Mahal, Daraya Ganj, New Delhi, India, 1972.
al-Tabari, Abu Ja'far Muhammad b. Jarir, The Victory of Islam, vol. viii. Translated by
Michael Fishbein, State University of New York Press, Albany, 1997. ISBN 0-7914-3150-9
al-Tabari, Abu Ja'far Muhammad b. Jarir, The Last Years of the Prophet, vol. ix. Translated by Ismail K. Poonwala, State University of New York Press, Albany, 1990. ISBN 0-88706-692-5
Abul Kasem is an Bengali ex-Muslim and academic. He has contributed in Leaving Islam - Apostates Speak Out and Beyond Jihad - Critical Voices from Inside and Why We Left Islam.. He has also written extensively on Islam in various websites and is the author of five e-Books: A Complete Guide to Allah, Root of Terrorism ala Islamic Style, Sex and Sexuality in Islam, Who Authored the Quran? and Women in Islam. Mr. Kasem leaves in Sydney, Australia. He can be contacted at abul88@hotmail.com.
