The Choice Offered to the Prophet's Wives

The Prophet's wives once asked for an easier life amid the austerity of the Prophet's household; the verse of choice came down in Sura al-Ahzab — and they all chose God and His Messenger, not one of them inclining to the world ¹.

The Prophet lived an austerity no one could bear; Anas said he never saw a fine loaf until he met God, and A'isha said they would watch for three crescents across two months without a fire being lit in his houses — their living was the "two blacks", dates and water ². Amid this austerity nothing requiring reproach issued from his wives except once, as human nature requires, so God sent down the verse of choice, al-Ahzab 28 and al-Ahzab 29: "if you desire the life of this world and its adornment, come — I will provide for you and release you in a fair release; but if you desire God and His Messenger and the Abode of the Hereafter, God has prepared for the good-doers among you a great reward" ³. Of their honour and nobility, they all preferred God and His Messenger and not one inclined to choose the world ¹. Nothing of what passes between co-wives occurred among them despite their number but a small thing — God rebuked them at the opening of Sura al-Tahrim and they did not repeat it ¹.