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Muhammad died in June 632 at age 61 with his head in Ayesha’s lap and he was buried in her house. His concubine Tukana was passed on to his uncle Abbas, but the official widows were all forbidden to remarry. Sawda was probably in her fifties; Zaynab was about 42; Maymuna was 39; Ramla was 38; Hind was 35; Hafsa was 25; Juwayriya was 24; Mariya was probably in her twenties; Safiya was 20; and Ayesha was only 18. They were all sealed behind their veils, forbidden ever again to do anything interesting.

Occasionally they defied the veil. Ayesha even started a war against her old enemy Ali, causing ten thousand Muslims to kill each other in one day. This disaster simply confirmed to the Muslim men that when women did anything important, misery followed. So the men banished their women to behind the curtains and then carried on killing each other anyway. Whenever Ayesha recited the verse, “Women, remain in your houses,” she wept until her veil was soaked.

It is easy to laugh at Muhammad, the champion adulterer who lusted after women and took as many as he could. Attempts to demonstrate that his marriages were motivated by politics or charity, or that his wives were old and ugly, collapse quickly. Nor is there much evidence that he treated his wives fairly or kindly, or that they were happy women. Of course this damages Muhammad’s credibility as the world’s greatest Prophet who was supposed to perceive realities beyond the boundaries of his own culture and whose life was the perfect example for humankind.

But there is a serious lesson to draw from this tragic story. One fifth of the world’s population nevertheless believes that Muhammad was a Prophet and the perfect example to the human race. Muhammad’s example as a husband sets the example for Muslim husbands throughout history. Muhammad set a bad example. That is why Muslim women still suffer to this day.

Muhammad died in June 632 at age 61 with his head in Aisha’s lap and he was buried in her house. His concubine Tukana was passed on to his uncle Abbas, but the official widows were all forbidden to remarry. Sawda was probably in her fifties; Zainab was about 42; Maimuna was 39; Ramla was 38; Hind was 35; Hafsa was 25; Juwairiyah was 24; Mariyah was probably in her twenties; Safiyah was 20; and Aisha was only 18. Due to being the widows of Muhammad in addition to being women, their personal freedoms were severely restricted.

Occasionally they defied expectations. Aisha started a war against Ali, causing ten thousand Muslims to kill each other in one day. This confirmed to the Muslim men that when women did anything important, misery followed. Whenever Aisha recited the verse, “Women, remain in your houses,” she wept until her veil was soaked.

Attempts by apologists to demonstrate that Muhammad's marriages were motivated by politics or charity, or that his wives were old and ugly, do not hold up to scrutiny. Nor is there much evidence that he treated his wives fairly or kindly, or that they were happy women.

One fifth of the world’s population nevertheless believes that Muhammad was a Prophet and the perfect example to the human race. Muhammad’s example as a husband has set the example for Muslim husbands throughout history.