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9. The wives he took were all vvidows or divorced with<br />

the exception of one m<strong>in</strong>or giri, 'A'ishah. None of these wid-<br />

owed and divorced wives vvas particularly known for physi-<br />

cal charms or beauties. Some of them were senior to him <strong>in</strong><br />

age, and practically all of them sought his hand and shelter.<br />

or were presented to him as gifts but he took them as legal<br />

wives.<br />

This is the general background of the Prophet's marriag-<br />

es, and it can never give any impressions that these marriag-<br />

es were <strong>in</strong> response to physical needs or biologieal pres-<br />

sures. It is <strong>in</strong>conceivable to th<strong>in</strong>k that he ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed so large<br />

a number of wives because of personal designs or physical<br />

wants. Anyone, a friend or a foe, who doubts the moral <strong>in</strong>-<br />

tegrity or the spiritual excellence of Muhammad on account<br />

of his marriages has to f<strong>in</strong>d satisfactory explanations of<br />

questions like these: Why did he start his first marriage at<br />

the age of 25 after hav<strong>in</strong>g had no association with any fe-<br />

male? Why did he choose a twice-widowed older lady who<br />

was 15 years senior to him? Why did he rema<strong>in</strong> with her<br />

only until her death when he was over fifty? Why did he ac-<br />

cept all those helpless widows and divorcees who possessed<br />

no particular appeal<strong>in</strong>g qualities? Why did he lead such an<br />

austere and hard life, when he could have had an easy and<br />

comfortable course? Why did he contract most of his marri-<br />

ages <strong>in</strong> the busiest five years <strong>in</strong> his life, when his mission<br />

and career were at stake? How could he manaee to be what

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