When Muhammad separated from his wives?

Answer 1

Muhammad divorced four of his wives.

(1) Mulayka bint Kaab, in mid-630, at her request, when she discovered that Muhammad had killed her father.

(2) Fatima bint Al-Dahhak, also in mid-630, by mutual agreement, because Fatima refused to live behind the hijab.

(3) Asma bint Al-Numan, in July 630, because Ayesha tricked her into speaking the divorce formula. Muhammad took this formula very seriously, but it is no longer available to modern Muslims.

(4) Amra bint Yazid, at an unknown date but later than this, because he saw that she had a skin-disease.

He also began to divorce two of his other wives. He gave each a single "I divorce thee" but proceeded no further before reconciling with them.

(5) Sawda bint Zamaa, in early 627, because he wanted to marry a fifth woman and there was a legal limit of four. Sawda had reached menopause and Muhamamd no longer found her attractive. However, she begged him not to discard her and bargained that she would give up her rostered night with him to Ayesha. Muhammad therefore kept Sawda in his house, still legally his wife, and announced a revelation that, as a prophet, he was allowed more than four wives.

(6) Hafsa bint Omar, because she was angry with him for taking Mariya the Copt as his concubine. However, he was fond of Hafsa, and in the end he regretted their quarrel, so after impressing on her that he he was entitled to as many concubines as he liked and his wives had no right to protest, he took her back.

Hafsa complained to Ayesha about Mariya, and Ayesha told all the other wives. They all protested to Muhammad who was so angry that he did not speak to any of his wives for 29 days, but spent the whole time only with Mariya. At the end of the month, he offered the wives a choice between living with him in a pious, uncomplaining fashion or being divorced with a handsome settlement. They all chose to remain with him. Ayesha is careful to explain that Muhammad did not actually speak the divorce words to any of them except Hafsa; he only discussed the possibility and gave them a choice.

The month with Mariya was probably July 629 as her son Ibrahim was born in April 630.