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(→Muhammad judges personal disputes: Added another convenient verse (with poor reasoning) on why performing a miracle allegedly cannot be done by Muhammad.) |
(→Permission to have relations with concubine despite promising otherwise: Added further verses implicitly threatening his wives toward the end of the surah with analogies of other good/bad wives going to heaven/hell, with academic quote provided.) |
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Allah then proceeded to chastise Aisha and Hafsa for getting upset with Muhammad for having sex with Mary, and seems to subtly threaten them with divorce and the opportunity of Muhammad to marry better wives should they gossip again: | Allah then proceeded to chastise Aisha and Hafsa for getting upset with Muhammad for having sex with Mary, and seems to subtly threaten them with divorce and the opportunity of Muhammad to marry better wives should they gossip again: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|66|3-5}}|And (remember) when the Prophet disclosed a matter in confidence to one of his wives (Hafsah), so when she told it (to another i.e. 'Aishah), and God made it known to him, he informed part thereof and left a part. Then when he told her (Hafsah) thereof, she said: "Who told you this?" He said: "The All-Knower, the All-Aware (God) has told me". If you two (wives of the Prophet , namely 'Aishah and Hafsah) turn in repentance to God, (it will be better for you), your hearts are indeed so inclined (to oppose what the Prophet likes), but if you help one another against him (Muhammad), then verily, God is his Maula (Lord, or Master, or Protector, etc.), and Jibrael (Gabriel), and the righteous among the believers, and furthermore, the angels are his helpers. It may be if he divorced you (all) that his Lord will give him instead of you, wives better than you, Muslims (who submit to God), believers, obedient to God, turning to God in repentance, worshipping God sincerely, fasting or emigrants (for God's sake), previously married and virgins."}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|66|3-5}}|And (remember) when the Prophet disclosed a matter in confidence to one of his wives (Hafsah), so when she told it (to another i.e. 'Aishah), and God made it known to him, he informed part thereof and left a part. Then when he told her (Hafsah) thereof, she said: "Who told you this?" He said: "The All-Knower, the All-Aware (God) has told me". If you two (wives of the Prophet , namely 'Aishah and Hafsah) turn in repentance to God, (it will be better for you), your hearts are indeed so inclined (to oppose what the Prophet likes), but if you help one another against him (Muhammad), then verily, God is his Maula (Lord, or Master, or Protector, etc.), and Jibrael (Gabriel), and the righteous among the believers, and furthermore, the angels are his helpers. It may be if he divorced you (all) that his Lord will give him instead of you, wives better than you, Muslims (who submit to God), believers, obedient to God, turning to God in repentance, worshipping God sincerely, fasting or emigrants (for God's sake), previously married and virgins."}}Stewart (2024) notes the further threatening analogies to his wives at the end of the surah ({{Quran|66|10-12}}). | ||
{{Quote|Stewart, Devin. (2024). <i>[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382862079_Signs_for_Those_Who_Can_Decipher_Them_Ancient_Ruins_in_the_Quran“ Signs for Those Who Can Decipher Them”: Ancient Ruins in the Qurʾān.] pp. 58-59. </i>10.1163/9789004683167_004.|The history of prophets in the Qur'an is presented within a typological frame-work of interpretation. The examples of the past salvation history are not just of antiquarian interest but have immediate relevance to the contemporary situation of the Prophet Muhammad and his immediate audience. The various situations earlier prophets faced in the past are seen to mirror, prefigure, and provide insight into the situations faced by the Prophet Muhammad and his community. The regular pattern of prophetic missions in history makes it possible to predict the contours of the Prophet Muhammad's mission, or, to put it somewhat differently, fulfill predictions embodied in those earlier examples from salvation history. | |||
A clear instance of this type of analogical reasoning is seen in surat al-Tahrim (Q66) which blames the wives of the prophet for divulging confidence and for committing some other unnamed infraction. Examples of commendable women are presented: Mary the mother of Jesus and the wife of Pharaoh. Examples of blameworthy women are presented: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. | |||
The point is not just historical, for an analogical argument is being made about the present. Just as Muhammad is parallel to messengers of the past, so too are his wives parallel to the wives of past messengers. If his wives persist in their bad behavior, they will meet the fate met by the wives of Noah and Lot. No immunity is granted to wives of prophets on account of their close ties to God's chosen messengers: they will not escape punishment just because they are married to or revered and spiritually outstanding figures. This type of analogical, typological argument is made in dozens of Qur'anic suras but is often not stated directly. In some passages, an analogical argument is made explicit though specific hints and comparative statements, but in others, it remains implicit. This typological framework remains in the background of all Qur'anic passages that present narratives of prophets of the past.<sup>7</sup>}} | |||
(The few verses inbetween ({{Quran|66|6-9}}) talk about obedience to Allah to get to heaven and avoid hell). | |||
===Excusing the Satanic Verses=== | ===Excusing the Satanic Verses=== |
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