The Wives of the Prophet and Recreational Fun

The Messenger of Allah was extremely keen to involve his family in recreational fun. When one does this, it would bring about a sense of love and respect among family members. A’ishah said: “The Prophet was sitting and he heard some noise from people and children outside. There was a group of people gathered around some Abyssinians who were dancing. He said, 'O A'ishah come and see!' I put my cheek on his shoulder and looked through the gap. He then asked, 'O A'ishah, have you had enough, have you had enough?' I said, 'No,' just to see how much I meant to him, and I saw him shifting his weight from one foot to the other (i.e. he was tired but he was willing to stay as long as she wanted to watch the spectacle).” (Silsilah #7/818)

In another report, A'ishah said: "By Allah, I saw the Prophet standing at the door of my room, when some Abyssinians were playing with spears in the Mosque. The Messenger of Allah screened me with his cloak so that I could watch the spear-play over his shoulder. He stayed there for my sake, until I had seen enough." (Ghayat al-Maram #385)

The Prophet would overlook certain things to please his family:

“The Messenger of Allah came to my house while two girls were singing. The Prophet lay down and turned his face to the other side. Abu Bakr came to me and said: ‘The sound of Satan near the Prophet?’ The Messenger of Allah turned his face towards him and said, ‘Leave them.’” (Ibn Hibban #2504)

The Messenger’s desire to keep his family happy:

“The Prophet returned to my home after visiting the Baqee (cemetery) and I said to him, ‘I have a headache!’ He replied, ‘O A’ishah I am suffering from this as well!’ He then said: “O A’ishah if you were to die before me, I would wash you, shroud you, pray upon you and then bury you.” Shortly after this, the Prophet fell ill for the final time (in which he died). (Ibn Hibban #6653)

“I visited the Prophet while he was at the house of Sodah (one of his wives) and I had brought with me some food that I had cooked. I said to Sodah ‘Eat!’ but she refused. I then threatened her, ‘Eat or else I will take this food and smear it on your face!’ A’ishah then dipped her hand in the sauce and smeared some on her face, with this, Soda did the same and the Prophet laughed. (Silsilah #7/363)

The Prophet’s laughter with his family:

“To smile in the face of your brother is a source of reward.” (Adab Mufrad #684)

“O Messenger of Allah if you were to go into a valley and you saw a tree that was eaten from and one that was not eaten from; which one would you choose to tie your camel to?” The Prophet responded, “I would tie my camel to the tree that was not eaten from.” A’ishah was hinting that she was the only virgin wife that the Prophet had married. (Bukhari #5077)

Issues of Intimacy and Compassion in Islam

Allah, the Exalted, says in the Quran: “And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.” (30:21) ...

The Compassion of the Prophet

The Prophet’s loyalty to his family: The Prophet commanded Muslims to approach their wives if they see a woman who stimulates their sexual desire, in order to relieve themselves from this desire in a lawful manner. By doing this a Muslim would safeguard himself from falling into evil, ...

The Human Nature of the Prophet

The Messenger of Allah was a human being who was distinguished with Prophet-hood. Allah, the Exalted, commanded him to convey the message of Islam to humankind at large, so that they would be saved from the oppression of man-made systems and be delivered to the justice of God’s system. Allah, the Exalted, says: ...