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‘Aa’ishah Was Most Beloved to Prophet: Will This Cause Enmity with His Other Wives?

Question

prophet muhammad saw said in a hadith that the most beloved to him was aisha, wouldnt this cause enmity with his other wives? I understand that was what he felt on the inside which he can't control, but why is it shown explicitly in other instances as well, such as people sending him gifts on the days he was with her. wasn't this sad for the other wives? Jazakumullahukhayran

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, the Hadith to which you referred to in the question was reported by Muslim in his Sahih, and it was mentioned in the context of an answer to a question from 'Amr ibn al-'As  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him and he [the Prophet] did not initiate to inform about it in the first place [he was asked and he answered the question].

Secondly, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) loved all his wives, but he loved ‘Aa’ishah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  her more than others, and they [his wives] know that he is not held accountable for this love and he does not have to feel the same thing with all his other wives because this is a matter of the heart and no one can control it except Allah, but he is ordered to do justice between them in actions, and this is a matter of consensus among scholars, as An-Nawawi  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said in his commentary on Sahih Muslim.

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) used to be just between them in these actions, to the extent that if he wanted to travel, he would draw lots among them, and whoever the lot was on her name, she would go out with him in travel.

Secondly, in general, it may be wise for the husband not to mention that one of his wives is more beloved to him lest he provokes their feelings, but when it comes to the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) then this is another matter, as he is the example, he may tell that so that people can follow his example and love the one he loves, and this is one of the greatest acts of getting closer to Allah. In the same Hadith, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) informed that Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him was the most beloved to him among men. In some other Hadiths, he mentioned his love for the Ansar, so it cannot be said that this may bring sadness to the rest of his companions.

With regard to what you referred to at the end of the question regarding the Companions choosing the day when ‘Aa’ishah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  her is with the Prophet to gift him, then this is confirmed in a Hadith reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. This is an action by the Companions and it was not his choice; this is clear and the scholars have pointed out to this fact.

Allah knows best.

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