SPECIAL PRIVILEDGES AND RESTRICTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PROPHET'S WIVES
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Verse 3337 permits prophet Muhammad to marry his adopted son's wife.
Marrying adopted son's wife seems abberant to me. But anyway I can accept that. My main confusion is penned below.
Verse 3353 tells us that muslims cannot marry prophet Muhammad's wife.
Thought comes to my mind that Quran is a book of wisdom for all eras and for all people. Why are there special restrictions associated with prophet Muhammad's wives? Everybody is a human and should face same priviledges and restrictions. Any thoughts?
Verses 3330, 3331 are telling us that recompense and retrubitions are doubled for prophet's wives than for a normal person.
Question come to my mind that why prophet's wives are treated differently? Everybody is a human. Having a relationship with a prophet should not change the rules of the games. Also prophet has gone from this world and so are his wives. Why are there special verses about his family in the book which is a guide for all eras and for all people.
Some people say that verse 3350 is giving prophet Muhammad permission to marry as many wives as he wishes. To me that conclusion is not very obvious. If that is the case then the question is how come prophet has special priviledges than other humans. I thought ... all are humans - prophet or non prophet.
I am confused .... Can somebody enlighten me please ...
May God give me wisdom to understand Quran.
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Asalamu Alaikum,
Here are some definitions of root words as I found them in the following dictionaries
Please see the dictionaries for a full and complete definition this is just a brief description.
According to Hans Wehr?s Arabic-English Dictionary Fourth Edition and Edward Lane?s Arabic-English Lexicon(Note that the roman numerals indicate derived stem forms of the root)
The or root is defined as to be high, raised, elevated, protruding, projecting, prominent; to overcome, over power, overwhelm(some one); to turn away, withdraw, shrink, to be repelled, repulse, sickened, disgusted, shocked (by); news tidings information, intellegence II to inform, notify, tell advise (someone of something), make knownw, announce, impart, communicate; show, indicate, manifest, bespeak, reveal, tell advise V to predict, foretell, forecast, prognosticate, presage, prophesy, toclaim to be a prophet, pose as a prophet X to ask for news or information, to inquire.
Hans Wehr page 1100; Lane Vol 8 (pages 6-7)The root is defined as to be long and flowing (hair) III to correspond, carry on a correspondence, exchange letters (with someone), to contact (someone), get in touch (with someone) IV To send out or dispatch something send, forward, ship; transmit (radio); release, let go, set free (something); discharge; to pour forth, vent; to utter words; to shed tears; to let hair hang down. V easy gentle leisurely, take one?s time; loose, slack, relaxed VI to keep up a correspondence, exchange letters X to ask to send (something) to have someone send (something)
Hans Wehr page 391-392; Lane Vol 3 (pages 247-250)The root is defined as to put off, postpone, delay, defer, procrastinate (something)
under this root means to allow someone time to pay, grant credit to someone; long life longevity.
Hans Wehr page 1125, Lane Vol 8 (pages 39-40)And just off the top of my head a can be simply defined as a pair.
I think its interesting that these root words are often translated as meaning one thing, but when you look up the root in the dictionaries they can mean something quite different. Maybe the root has evolved over the last 1400 plus years and therefore the meaning changed? I don't know. Wouldn?t it be interesting to read the Quran based on the root meanings alone? I am trying to focus on the true meaning of the words in order to get a purer understanding.
I just thought I?d give you some rough definitions to try and help out. I?m still trying to understand this as well and I will be interested to read what others have to say on the verses as well as the definitions of the words in the verses.
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Peace
The Quraan has many examples of God granting or giving what was asked from Him
by prophets and also by ordinary people. As you see some of this requests or invocations are related to this life.Supplications of Abraham and Ismael.
Requests of Moses with regards to Harun and also other supplications of Moses .
Supplication of Sulaiman for a kingdom like no other.
Supplication of Zakariah for a pious son at old age.
Supplication of pharaoh?s wife.
The wife/lady of Imraan (Mother of Mary) asking for pious offspring and also that the offspring and its offspring not to be touched by the evil one.
Allah granted all these wishes.
If Muhammad wanted something we can imagine that God would have given him too,
although we do not know what he asked from God since the Quraan does not mention that. Muhammad was special, since he was close to God, just as the others mentioned above were special. For 20 odd years he lived a life in which his slightest mistake, be it a thought, was highlighted by God and made public through the Quraan inclusive of the reprimand. Just check how many times he has stepped out side this for that many years.I guess if we are that close to God our wishes also will be granted here and in the hereafter.
Excuse me for saying this, but who are we to dictate what should God say in His book and shouldn?t. It is not only a book of wisdom for all eras and for all people
It includes all messages to Muhammad from God be they small or big or personal or public.This is my understanding of the issue.
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Peace
The Quraan has many examples of God granting or giving what was asked from Him
by prophets and also by ordinary people. As you see some of this requests or invocations are related to this life.Peace warner,
I understand the God has granted Muhammad his wishes as he had granted wishes of other prophets in the past. That is not the problem.
The problem for me is that
1- the wedding rules should be same for prophet Muhammad as for rest of the muslim men (3350).
2- the wedding rules should be same for prophet's wive as for rest of the muslim women (3353).Seems like verses 3350 and 3353 have bent the rules in favor of the prophet.
Peace
Excuse me for saying this, but who are we to dictate what should God say in His book and shouldn?t. It is not only a book of wisdom for all eras and for all people
It includes all messages to Muhammad from God be they small or big or personal or public.Agreed we are nobody to dictate God what to say.
The fact is I believe that Quran is a book of God not because my mom and dad told me so. I just cannot have blind faith on anything. I have found enough proof in Quran that makes me believe it is a book of God. If something questionable comes up then honestly my beliefs get shaken a bit. That is why it is important for me to go in details for such seemingly trivial matters. Sometimes I feel I am very unfortunate in this sense.
To me it is a big thing that prophet is allowed to do something by law which regular muslim men cannot (3350) and prophet's wives are precluded from doing something which regular muslim women can do (3353). I always thought that righteousness is the only criteria for judgement no matter if you are prophet's wife in a Saudi dessert or a farmer's wife working in a remote cuban farm.
peace
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Asalamu Alaikum,
Here are some definitions of root words as I found them in the following dictionaries
Please see the dictionaries for a full and complete definition this is just a brief description.Peace Arnab
Thanks. I will try to study the root words ...
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Peace all,
"as a privilege given only to you and not to the believers"
3350 O prophet, We have made lawful for you the wives to whom you have already given their dowry, and the one who is committed to you by oath, as granted to you by God, and the daughters of your father's brothers, and the daughters of your father's sisters, and the daughters of your mother's brothers, and the daughters of your mother's sisters, of whom they have emigrated with you. Also, the believing woman who had decreed herself to the prophet, the prophet may marry her if he wishes, as a privilege given only to you and not to the believers. We have already decreed their rights in regard to their spouses and those who are still dependant. This is to spare you any hardship. God is Forgiver, Merciful.
Any thoughts? Any one (nabi, wakkas, ahmadbaghat, enquirer... ) ?
Why prophet (peace be upon him) has been given the extra privileges when it comes down to marrying? Leader is an example for others. This is bothering me a bit.
May God give me wisdom to understand this.
Can someone refer me to any other free mind style forums where I should post this? Thanks ...
Peace
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Salam,
look at the definitions of the words in arabic....how are we to determain if one is a nabi?
If a nabi is a messenger or someone who informs (please see complete definition)
it could be applicable to many people. Whenever you give a message (I would say specifically the message of God) does that mean that one is a nabi?And a rasul is one who communicates with God as in back and forth communication (please see the complete definition). So that could be applicable to many people as well.
Food for thought...
Quran 4164
(Literal) And messengers We had narrated/relayed them to you from before, and messengers We did not narrate/relay about them on you, and God conversed/spoke (to) Moses conversationally/speechfully