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Kaleef K. Karim

Content:

1. Introduction

2. Honey Or In Bed

3. Mariyah And Hagar

4. Slave Or No Slave

5. Prophet Muhammed Married Mariyah

6. Conclusion

1. Introduction

Prophet Muhammed has drawn a lot of Christians to study his life. Some of them have spoken positive of him, and that he came back to bring the true monotheism that was practised by early Christians. Other times the Prophet has been from earliest of days to contemporary being smeared, degraded and have lied about him personally.

In every instance, some of these extremist critics don’t really counter the message he brought, rather, they focus on small details on his personal life. One such event that has been brought up, to show him in bad light is the story of Mariya the Copt and Muhammed’s relation with her.

It is claimed from few reports that Mariya the Copt was a slave, she was sent as a gift to Prophet Muhammed by the Byzantine King in Egypt.

2. Honey Or In Bed

The incident that has been brought to my attention from Christian missionaries is of Hafsah, Mariyah and Muhammed. The story goes something along the lines of, Muhammed (p) was sleeping with Mariyah in Hafsah’s house (the house is owned by Muhammed). Hafsah comes home to find out that they were intimate. Hafsah questions Prophet Mohammed why he had to sleep with her and pushed Muhammed to say that he will never have any sexual relations with her again. The Prophet (p) responds by saying that he will never sleep with her again. He made something forbidden for himself which was lawful. God Almighty sent down Quranic revelation stating why he (Muhammed) had forbidden something that was lawful? The Prophet (p) cannot make something unlawful which God had made lawful.

Basically Hafsah was jealous that Prophet Muhammed (p) had spent time with her, as a husband should be doing, catering the needs of all his wives.

This story in relation to Surah 66:1 is only mentioned in one report [1] and few commentaries. Other than that, every single report from the earliest of times say, and agree that Surah 66:1 was revealed in relation forbidding food for himself. Please read the following link for the dozen or more reports on the verse’s revelation: “Commentary On Quran 66:1-2”

3. Mariyah And Hagar

But let’s for a moment agree that this was the line of event that occurred with relation to Quran 66:1. Why do missionaries bring this story up? They bring this incident up to show him in bad light that he had sexual relations with her as a ‘slave’ (as claimed by them).

The argument for the ‘slave’ narrative they try to throw at readers is the one which Christian Europeans subjected Africans and Native Indians too. Where beating a slave senseless was allowed and endorsed from scripture. [2] Where continuous rape of slaves was ordained and had Divine blessing from the Bible. [3] [4]

In reality much of what they present is smoke screen to veil the truth about Islam. All of the above heinous crimes against slaves was categorically forbidden in Islam. The Prophet had forbidden slapping captives and anybody doing so had to free such people from captivity. This was a direct command from our Noble Prophet (p):

Hilal b. Yasaf reported that a person got angry and slapped his slave-girl. Thereupon Suwaid b. Muqarrin said to him: You could find no other part (to slap) but the prominent part of her face. See I was one of the seven sons of Muqarrin, and we had but only one slave-girl. The youngest of us slapped her, and ALLAH’S MESSENGER COMMANDED US TO SET HER FREE. (Sahih Muslim Book 15, Hadith 4082)

And

Narrated Suwaid bin Muqarrin Al-Muzani: “We were seven brothers without a servant except one, and ONE OF US SLAPPED her, so THE PROPHET ORDERED US TO FREE HER.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi volume 3, Book 18, Hadith 1542)

Anybody being harsh or harming such person will never enter paradise:

“Sayyidina Abu Bakr narrates from the Holy Prophet that the person who does not treat his slave well shall not enter Heaven (Jannah) . [Tirmidhi]” (Anwarul Bayan, volume 1, page 555) [5]

Raping or any heinous crime against a captive or slave person is tantamount by Allah to harming His creatures, which is the worst crime in God’s eyes. [6]

The story that is mentioned by Christian critics on Mariyah, has semblance to the story of Abraham and Hagar.

It is said that Hagar was a handmaid of Sarai, who gave her as a gift to Abraham. Christians have for years said that she was a slave, not married to Abraham. Whatever the reality of this, Christians surely wouldn’t argue that Abraham – who is praised in the Old and New Testament – was raping Hagar every-time he went to bed with her?

About Abraham in the New Testament: the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, came from the seed of Abraham (Matthew 1:1). The same New Testament praises Abraham as being ‘righteousness of the faith’ (Romans 4:11). [7]

Some may argue that the horrible verses on slaves and rape are only mentioned in the Old testament, as such, those are not binding on Christians today, since they follow Jesus. This may be a fair point to consider, but the reality of the matter is, those Laws were ordered by Jesus who is God of the Old Testament, as trinitarian belief goes.

4. Slave Or No Slave

Coming back to Mariya and Muhammed. Although some of the scholars in the past have said that Mariyah the Copt was a ‘slave’, the reports which predate their claims inclines us to believe that she was not.

The report says the following on Mariyah when she was sent to Prophet Muhammed (p):

“To Muhammad Ibn Abdullah fom Muqauqis, the chief of Qibt. Peace to you. I have read your letter and have noted the contents. I knew this much that a Prophet was to come. But I had expected him to appear in Syria. I have extended an honourable welcome to your messenger and I am sending two girls (jariyyatun) who are highly respected among the Qibtis (Egyptians) and I offer as a present some cloth and a mule to ride on.” (Sirat-un-nabi, volume 2, page 131) [8]

Some of the translators have wrongly translated the word ‘jariyya’ as ‘slave’. Slave in Arabic is ‘Abd’ for men or ‘amah’ (or amati) for female slave. Jariyya according to classical usage denotes young girl, or young women in this context of the report (Shaykh Allama Shibli Numani, volume 2, page 131, footnote).

The language used in the report cannot refer to slave, but rather someone who is a free woman. The particular words used by the Egyptian King about Mariah and Sirin, ‘who are highly respected among the Qibtis (or Egyptians)’, these are not the words that may possible be applied to a slave.

The Arabic word jariyya is used in many Hadith reports, and in many they refer to young girls. Jariyya (جَارِيَةً):

Sahih al-Bukhari:

Narrated Anas: The daughter of An-Nadr slapped a girl and broke her incisor tooth. They (the relatives of that girl), came to the Prophet and he gave the order of Qisas (equality in punishment).

Arabic:

حَدَّثَنَا الأَنْصَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدٌ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ ابْنَةَ النَّضْرِ، لَطَمَتْ جَارِيَةً، فَكَسَرَتْ ثَنِيَّتَهَا، فَأَتَوُا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَ بِالْقِصَاصِ‏.‏

(Sahih al-Bukhari volume 9, Book 83, Hadith 32)

Sunan an-Nasai:

“It was narrated from Anas that: a Jewish man killed a young girl for her jewellery, so the Messenger of Allah killed him in retaliation for her.

Arabic:

أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدَةُ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، رضى الله عنه أَنَّ يَهُودِيًّا، قَتَلَ جَارِيَةً عَلَى أَوْضَاحٍ لَهَا فَأَقَادَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِهَا ‏. (Sunan an-Nasa’i volume 5, Book 45, Hadith 4744, Sahih Darrusalam)

Jami at-Tirmidhi:

Jabir bin Abdullah narrated: “I married a woman and went to the Prophet, he said: ‘O Jabir! Have you married?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘A virgin or a matron?’ I said: ‘A matron.’ He said: ‘Why didn’t you marry a young girl, so that you may play with her and she with you?’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Abdullah (his father) died and left behind seven – or nine – daughter, so I have brought someone who can look after them.'” (He said:) “So he supplicated for me.”

Arabic:

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ تَزَوَّجْتُ امْرَأَةً فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏”‏ أَتَزَوَّجْتَ يَا جَابِرُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ بِكْرًا أَمْ ثَيِّبًا ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ لاَ بَلْ ثَيِّبًا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ هَلاَّ جَارِيَةً تُلاَعِبُهَا وَتُلاَعِبُكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ مَاتَ وَتَرَكَ سَبْعَ بَنَاتٍ أَوْ تِسْعًا فَجِئْتُ بِمَنْ يَقُومُ عَلَيْهِنَّ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَدَعَا لِي ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ وَكَعْبِ بْنِ عُجْرَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

(Jami` at-Tirmidhi Volume 2, Book 6, Hadith 110, Sahih Darussalam)

Sahih al-Bukhari:

“Narrated Jabir: “Allah’s Messenger said to me, “Have you got married O Jabir?” I replied, “Yes.” He asked “What, a virgin or a matron?” I replied, “Not a virgin but a matron.” He said, “Why did you not marry a young girl who would have played with you?” I replied, “O Allah’s Messenger! My father was martyred on the day of Uhud and left nine (orphan) daughters who are my nine sisters; so I disliked to have another young girl of their age, but (I sought) an (elderly) woman who could comb their hair and look after them.” The Prophet said, “You have done the right thing.”

Arabic:

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرٌو، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ هَلْ نَكَحْتَ يَا جَابِرُ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ مَاذَا أَبِكْرًا أَمْ ثَيِّبًا ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ لاَ بَلْ ثَيِّبًا‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ فَهَلاَّ جَارِيَةً تُلاَعِبُكَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ أَبِي قُتِلَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ وَتَرَكَ تِسْعَ بَنَاتٍ كُنَّ لِي تِسْعَ أَخَوَاتٍ، فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَجْمَعَ إِلَيْهِنَّ جَارِيَةً خَرْقَاءَ مِثْلَهُنَّ، وَلَكِنِ امْرَأَةً تَمْشُطُهُنَّ وَتَقُومُ عَلَيْهِنَّ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ أَصَبْتَ ‏”‏‏.‏

(Sahih al-Bukhari volume 5, Book 59, Hadith 382)

Sunan Ibn Majah:

“It was narrated from Ibn Umar that: when Uthman bin Mazun died, he left behind a daughter. Ibn Umar said: “My maternal uncle Qudamah, who was her paternal uncle, married me to her, but he did not consult her. That was after her father had died. She did not like this marriage, and the girl wanted to marry Mughirah bin Shubah, so she married him.”

Arabic:

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نَافِعٍ الصَّائِغُ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، ‏.‏ أَنَّهُ حِينَ هَلَكَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ مَظْعُونٍ تَرَكَ ابْنَةً لَهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ فَزَوَّجَنِيهَا خَالِي قُدَامَةُ وَهُوَ عَمُّهَا وَلَمْ يُشَاوِرْهَا وَذَلِكَ بَعْدَ مَا هَلَكَ أَبُوهَا فَكَرِهَتْ نِكَاحَهُ وَأَحَبَّتِ الْجَارِيَةُ أَنْ يُزَوِّجَهَا الْمُغِيرَةَ بْنَ شُعْبَةَ فَزَوَّجَهَا إِيَّاهُ ‏.

(Sunan Ibn Majah, volume 3, Book 9, Hadith 1878, Sahih Darussalam)

Adab al-Mufrad:

Kathir ibn ‘Ubayd said, “When someone in the family of ‘A’isha had a child, she did not ask, ‘Boy or girl?’ She asked, ‘Was he created well-formed?’ If the answer was ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.'”

Arabic:

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ دُكَيْنٍ، سَمِعَ كَثِيرَ بْنَ عُبَيْدٍ قَالَ‏:‏ كَانَتْ عَائِشَةُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا إِذَا وُلِدَ فِيهِمْ مَوْلُودٌ، يَعْنِي‏:‏ فِي أَهْلِهَا، لاَ تَسْأَلُ‏:‏ غُلاَمًا وَلاَ جَارِيَةً، تَقُولُ‏:‏ خُلِقَ سَوِيًّا‏؟‏ فَإِذَا قِيلَ‏:‏ نَعَمْ، قَالَتِ‏:‏ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ‏.‏ (Adab al-Mufrad Book 53, Hadith 1256)

Even Aisha describes herself as being a ‘girl of tender age’, everyone knows that she was never a ‘slave’:

“A’isha reported: We entered into the state of. Ihram for Hajj till we were at Sarif and I was in menses. The Messenger of Allah came to me and I was weeping. The rest of the hadith is the same but (with this portion) that there were sacrificial animals with Allah’s Apostle and with Abu Bakr, Umar and with rich persons. And they pronounced Talbiya as they proceeded on. And there is no mention of this (too):” I was a girl of tender age and I dozed off and my face touched the bind part of the Haudaj.”

Arabic:

وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو أَيُّوبَ الْغَيْلاَنِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا بَهْزٌ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، – رضى الله عنها – قَالَتْ لَبَّيْنَا بِالْحَجِّ حَتَّى إِذَا كُنَّا بِسَرِفَ حِضْتُ فَدَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا أَبْكِي ‏.‏ وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِنَحْوِ حَدِيثِ الْمَاجِشُونِ ‏.‏ غَيْرَ أَنَّ حَمَّادًا لَيْسَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ فَكَانَ الْهَدْىُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَذَوِي الْيَسَارَةِ ثُمَّ أَهَلُّوا حِينَ رَاحُوا وَلاَ قَوْلُهَا وَأَنَا جَارِيَةٌ حَدِيثَةُ السِّنِّ أَنْعُسُ فَتُصِيبُ وَجْهِي مُؤْخِرَةُ الرَّحْلِ ‏.‏

(Sahih Muslim Book 7, Hadith 2774)

Reading from the above reports on the word ‘Jariyya’ and the context of the letter in relation to Mariah shows that she was not a slave.

5. Prophet Muhammed Married Mariyah

The following historical reports tell us that Prophet Muhammed (p) married Mariyah:

“It is reported from ‘Abdullah al-Zubairi who said: that after this the Noble Prophet married (tazawwaju) Mariah daughter of Sham’un. This is the same Mariyah who was sent by Maqauqis, the ruler of Alexandria to the Prophet as a gift” (Sahih al-Mustadarak Hakim [Published Hyderabad, Deccan], volume 4, page 36).

Tabari (838 – 923 AD):

“God granted Rayhanah bt. Zayd of the Banu Qurayzah to his Messenger. Mariyah the Copt was presented to the Messenger of God, given to him by al-Muqawqis, the ruler of Alexandria, and she gave birth to the Messenger of God’s son Ibrahim. THESE WERE THE MESSENGER OF GOD’S WIVES, six of them were from the Quraysh.” (Tabari volume 9, page 137) [9] [10]

Professor of Law Khaled Abou El Fadl also has a report from the Companion of Prophet Muhammed that he had freed her and then married Mariyah:

“MARIYAH (D.16/637)

Known as Umm Ibrahim. Anas reported that she was among the closest to the Prophet. She was a Coptic maiden given to the Prophet Muhammad as a gift from the Egyptian governor of Alexandria, al-Muqawqis, in 6-7/627-629. Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet freed her and THEN MARRIED HER. Mariyah bore the Prophet his son, Ibrahim, who died as an infant shortly before the Prophet’s own death. Reportedly, the Companion Hatib Ibn Abi Balta’a played a major role in Mariyah’s conversion to Islam. After the Prophet’s death, Mariyah continued to live in Medina until she died during Umar’s Caliphate.” [11]

Besides the above, classical to contemporary scholars also were of the view that Muhammed (p) married Mariyah.

Ibn Kathir (1301 – 1373 AD):

“MARIA al-Qibtiyya

Maria al-Qibtiyya (may Allah be pleased with her) is said to have married the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and certainly everyone gave her the same title of respect as the Prophet’s wives, ‘Umm al Muminin’ ‘Mother of the Believers‘. Maria was born in upper Egypt of a Coptic father and Greek mother and moved to the court of the Muqawqis when she was still very young. She arrived in Medina to join the Prophet’s household just after the Prophet returned from the treaty with Quraish which was contracted at al-Hudaybiyya. Maria gave birth to a healthy son in 9 AH, the same year that his daughter Zaynab died, and the Prophet named his new son Ibrahim, after the ancestor of both the Jews and the Christians, the Prophet from whom all the Prophets who came after him were descended. Unfortunately, when he was only eighteen months old, Ibrahim became seriously ill and died. Even though he knew that his small son would go to the Garden, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) could not help shedding some tears. When some of his Companions asked him why he was weeping, he replied, “It is my humanness.”

As Ibrahim’s body was being buried, the sun was eclipsed and it grew dark and gloomy. Some people thought this was connected with Ibrahim’s death, but the Prophet soon clarified this. “The sun and the moon are two of Allah’s signs,” he said, “they are not eclipsed because of anyone’s birth or death. When you see these signs, make haste to remember Allah in prayer.” Although the kafirun used to mock the Prophet Muhammad because he had no sons, and say that he was ‘cut off’ , Allah made it clear in the following surah that the station of the Prophet Muhammad was far above that of any other man; In the name of Allah, The Merciful, the Compassionate: Surely We have given you AL Khawthar, so pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice. Surely he who mocks you is the one cut off. (Quran 108:1-3)

Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets, and Allah has knowledge of all things. (Quran 33:40)

Maria was honored and respected by the Prophet and his family and Companions. She spent three years of her life with the Prophet, until his death, and died five years later in 16 AH, (may Allah be pleased with her) For the last five years of her life, she remained a recluse and almost never went out except to visit the grave of the Prophet or her son’s grave. After her death, Umar ibn al Khattab led the prayer over her and she was buried in al Baqi. [12]

Dr. Hammudah `Abdul-`Ati in his book Islam in Focus. He states:

“4. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) contracted some of his marriages for sociopolitical reasons. His principal concern was the future of Islam. He was interested in strengthening the Muslims by all bonds. That is why he married the young daughter of Abu Bakr, his First Successor, and the daughter of `Umar, his Second Successor. It was by his marriage to Juwayriyyah that he gained the support for Islam of the whole clan of Bani Al-Mustaliq and their allied tribes. It was through marriage to Safiyyah that he neutralized a great section of the hostile Jews of Arabia. By accepting Mariyah, the Copt from Egypt, as his wife, he formed a political alliance with a king of great magnitude. It was also a gesture of friendship with a neighboring king that Muhammad married Zaynab who was presented to him by the Negus of Abyssinia in whose territory the early Muslims found safe refuge.

5. By contracting most of these marriages, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) meant to eliminate the caste or class system, racial and national pride and superiority, and religious prejudices. He married some of the humblest and poorest women. There was his marriage to Mariyah from Egypt, a Jewish woman of a different religion and race, and a girl from Abyssinia. He was not satisfied with merely teaching brotherhood and equality: actions speak louder than words.” (Islam In Focus, by Dr. Hammudah `Abdul-`Ati – Online source)

Dr. Shawqi Abu Khalil:

“The Messenger of Allah married Mariyah al-Qibtiyyah, who became the mother of his son Ibrahim, and Hassan Ibn thabit married Shireen. The rest of the gifts of Al-Muqawqis included the grey mule Duldul who lived until the time of Mu’awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan. He also sent some honey from Binha, some perfume, twenty garments of the fine Egyptian linen and a glass cup which the Prophet used to drink from. He also sent to him a doctor, but the Prophet said to him: ‘Go back to your people, for we are a people who do not eat until we get hungry and when we eat we do not our fill. (al-Tabaqat Al-Kubra, volume 1, page 260) [13]

Al-Fawz al-Kabir fi Usul al-Tafsir – Shah Waliyullah (1703 – 1762 AD) [Footnote 11]:

“11. Mariyah was a Copt girl, presented to the Holy Prophet by al-Muqawqis, a Roman governor of Egypt (629). The Holy Prophet married her and from her was blessed with his son Ibrahim who died in infancy.” [14]

Shaykh Allama Shibli Nomani:

“in reply to the Prophet’s letter, the Potiphar or the Aziz of Egypt (also known as Mqauqis) addressed the following in Arabic:

To Muhammad Ibn Abdullah fom Muqauqis, the chief of Qibt. Peace to you. I have read your letter and have noted the contents. I knew this much that a Prophet was to come. But I had expected him to appear in Syria. I have extended an honourable welcome to your messenger and I am sending two girls (jariyyatun) who are highly respected among the Qibtis (Egyptians) and I offer as a present some cloth and a mule to ride on. Notwithstanding all that, the Potiphar of Egypt did not embrace Islam. Of the two girls sent by him, one was Mariya Qibtiya, who was married to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and the other Sirin, who was married to Hasan the mule was named Duldul, frequently mentioned in books on traditions. In the battle of Hunain, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was on the back of this very animal. Tabari says that Mariya Qibtiya and Sirin were real sisters, and through the teachings of hatib Ibn Abi Balta’a, who had been sent as messenger to the Potiphar of Egypt, both had embraced Islam before reaching the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

What one has to note here is that these ladies were not slave girls and that they had already accepted Islam. We should hence conclude that Mariya Qibtiya entered the Prophet’s household as a duly wedded wife, and not as a slave girl.” [15]

Robert Henry Charles who an was an Irish biblical scholar and theologian, he states the following on Mariyah:

“Muhammad must have come in contact with many of these Copts and listened to their stories. Muhammad’s friendship to Christians of Coptic faith is reflected in many aspects of his life. He is known to have had cordial relations with the Negus of Abyssinia, as indicated by the fact that he advised his followers at a time of persecution to flee there. He married a Coptic wife named Mariya, and he is reported to have advised his followers to be especially kind to the Copts of Egypt, considering them his in-laws.” [16]

6. Conclusion

From the evidences we have seen, one thing that can be drawn is that Prophet Muhammed (p) married Mariyah.

The shallow and deceptive history missionaries try to present on ‘slavery’ [17] [18] and connecting it to Mariyah is alien to the Islam, Muhammed (p) brought 1400 years ago. [19]

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References:

[1] “It was narrated from Anas, that the Messenger of Allah had a female slave with whom he had intercourse, but ‘Aishah and Hafsah would not leave him alone until he said that she was forbidden for him. Then Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed:

“O Prophet! Why do you forbid (for yourself) that which Allah has allowed to you.’ until the end of the Verse.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i volume 4, Book 36, Hadith 3411, Sahih Darussalam)

[2] Exodus 21:20,

20 “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, 21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.”

[3] Deuteronomy 21:10-14 Good News Translation (GNT)

10 “When the Lord your God gives you victory in battle and you take prisoners, 11 you may see among them a beautiful woman that you like and want to marry. 12 TAKE HER to your home, where she will shave her head, cut her fingernails, 13 and change her clothes. She is to stay in your home and mourn for her parents for a month; after that, you may marry her. 14 Later, if you no longer want her, you are to let her go free. Since YOU FORCED HER TO HAVE INTERCOURSE WITH YOU, you cannot treat her as a slave and sell her.”

https://discover-the-truth.com/2013/11/12/does-deuteronomy-2110-14-condemn-rape-or-does-it-sanction-rape-forced-marriage/

[4] Rape victims are commanded to be married to their rapists. Deuteronomy 22:28-29,

“If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and RAPES HER and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl’s father fifty shekels of silver. HE MUST MARRY THE GIRL, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.” (New International Version)

http://unveiling-christianity.net/2012/08/07/bible-demands-rape-victims-marries-rapist-life/ and http://unveiling-christianity.net/2009/08/22/treatment-of-women-in-the-bible/

[5] Illuminating Discourses on the Noble Quran – Tafseer Anwarul Bayan – By Shaykh Muhammed Ashiq Ilahi Muhajir Madni (r.a), volume 1, page 555

[6] A narration reported by Abu Dharr tells us that:

“The Prophet (p) said: “Feed those of your captives who please you from what you eat and clothe them with what you clothe yourselves, but sell those who do not please you and DO NOT punish Allah’s creatures.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 5142. Albani classified it as Sahih)

This report tells us if a captive-woman were to refuse to please her master, by making food or getting intimate, he was NOT allowed to force her. God orders Muslims to sell her and move away from her. The Prophet also recommended to set free captives. They were NOT to punish. From leaving each other, maybe the second person she goes to may have a better relationship. The idea about ‘raping’ captive-women is described by God to be “punishing Allah’s creatures”, which is the most heinous crime to do.

[7] Romans 4:11

“and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them.”

[8] Sirat-Un-Nabi (The Life Of The Prophet) [Rendered into English by M. Tayyib Bakhsh Budayuni, Idarah-I Adabiyat-I Delli, 2009 Qasimjan St. Delhi (India)] by Shaykh Allama Shibli Nu’mani, volume 2, page 153

[9] History of al-Tabari: The: The Last Years of the Prophet, volume 9, page 137

[10] Some critics have pointed out that Tabari further down FROM volume 9, does say that Mariyah was a ‘concubine’, what they deceptively leave out is the fact that volume 39, page 193-194 is not Tabari’s own words, but rather the translators for the English translations of al-Tabari.

[11] The Search for Beauty in Islam: A Conference of the Books [Copyright 2006, by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.], by Khaled Abou El Fadl, page 384

[12] Muhammad’s Life – The Wives of the Prophet Muhammad, By: Ibn Kathir, [translated by: sheikh Muhammad Gemeiah, Office of the Grand Imam, Sheikh Al Azhar, Edited by: Aelfwine Acelas Mischler], Online source http://web.archive.org/web/20030728195220/http://www.islamic-paths.org/Home/English/Muhammad/Book/Wives/Chapter_12.htm

[13] Atlas on the Prophet’s Biography – Places, Nations, Landmarks (Al-sirah Al-Nabawiyah) [Darussalam, 2004] by Dr. Shawqi Abu Khalil, page 191

[14] Al-Fawz al-Kabir fi Usul al-Tafsir (Being a translation of Shah Waliyullah’s treatise on Principles of Quranic Exegesis) [Islamic Books Trust, 2013], by Shah Waliyullah, page 31, footnote 11.

Please bear in mind, we cannot confirm whether this was the opinion of Shah Waliyullah or the translator of the Book, who made this statement in regards to Mariya.

[15] Sirat-Un-Nabi (The Life Of The Prophet) [Rendered into English by M. Tayyib Bakhsh Budayuni, Idarah-I Adabiyat-I Delli, 2009 Qasimjan St. Delhi (India)] by Shaykh Allama Shibli Nu’mani, volume 2, page 153

[16] R.H. Charles, “Vitae Adae et Evae,” The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha [Oxford, 1963] Volume 2, page 294, quote retrieved from one of br. Bassam’s article, http://www.answering-christianity.com/bassam_zawadi/rebuttaltoalisina9.htm

[17] LRA rebels step up attacks, abduct children in C.Africa: UN. Brief statement on what the LRA do by Radio Vaticana: “The Lord’s Resistance Army rebels, who mutilate civilians and kidnap children to use as fighters and SEX SLAVES, stepped-up attacks and abductions in the Central African Republic during the first three months of this year, the United Nations said on Wednesday.” – 13th June 2016

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/06/16/lra_rebels_step-up_attacks_in_the_central_african_republic/1237585

[18] Christian Militia Rape And Kill Muslim Children In Central African Republic,

http://web.archive.org/web/20151016193058/https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/22/central-african-republic-muslims-held-captive-raped

[19] “When you conquer Egypt, take good care of the Copts, and treat them well as they have a pledge (dhimmtan) and kinship (rahman).” (Ibn ‘Abd al-Hakam, Abu al-Qasim ‘Abd al-Rahman. 1996. Futuh Misr wa Akhbaruha. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, page 49–50. See also Al-Baladhuri, Futuh al-Buldan page 307)