Prophet Muhammad

The answer above is misleading and not reflecting the true facts.

1. Islam per Quran revelation to prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) limited the number of wives that one cam marry with to four as maximum and subject to strict conditions. There was no limit of number of wives in previous religions and faiths including Judaism and Christianity. This limitation in Islam is imposed by Quran and not by prophet Sunnah.
2. Having concubines was a common practice before the prophet and was practiced by all faiths and religions all over the world. However, Islam religion imposed rules to limit having concubines. as one of these measures, if one can't afford to marry a free woman he can marry licitly a concubine after approval of her parents and after giving her a present to his capacity. The other measure was that if he gets a child from a concubine then she should be freed and announced as a licit wife to him.
3. All the marriages of prophet Muhammad were per God instructions him and for the support and benefit of religion and society and to give a practical examples of who you are entitled to marry. He married who is older than him and who is younger. he married the widow and the virgin. He married the Muslim, the Christian, and the Jew wife. etc.
4. Refer to related question below.
   

When Muhammad was twenty-five years old he married for the first time. His wife, Khadijah, was fifteen years older than him. She remained the only wife of the prophet for the next twenty-five years, until she died (may Allah be pleased with her). Only after her death did the prophet marry other women.

Now, it is obvious that if the prophet was after physical pleasure he did not have to wait until he was more than fifty years old to start marrying more wives. He lived in a society in which it was quite acceptable to have many wives. But the prophet remained devoted to his only wife for twenty-five years. When she died she was sixty-five years old. His later marriages were for various reasons.

Some marriages were with the view to help the women whose husbands had been killed while they were defending their faith. Others were with a view to cement relationships with devoted followers like Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him. Yet others were to build bridges with various tribes who were otherwise at war with the Muslims. When the prophet became their relative through marriage, their hostilities calmed down, and much bloodshed was averted. Recent non-Muslim writers who had the opportunity to study the life of the prophet first-hand reached a similar conclusion about his plural marriages.

John L. Esposito, Professor of Religion and Director of the Centre for International Studies at the College of the Holy Cross, says that most of these marriages had "political and social motives" (Islam: The Straight Path, Oxford University Press, 1988, p. 19). This he explained as follows: As was customary for Arab chiefs, many were political marriages to cement alliances. Others were marriages to the widows of his companions who had fallen in combat and were in need of protection (John L. Esposito, Islam: The Straight Path, pp. 19-20). Esposito reminds us of the following historical fact: Though less common, polygyny was also permitted in biblical and even in post-biblical Judaism. From Abraham, David, and Solomon down to the reformation period, polygyny was practiced (p. 19).

Another non-Muslim Caesar E. Farah writes as follows: In the prime of his youth and adult years Muhammad remained thoroughly devoted to Khadijah and would have none other for consort. This was an age that looked upon plural marriages with favor and in a society that in pre-biblical and post-biblical days considered polygamy an essential feature of social existence. David had six wives and numerous concubines (2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, 14:3) and Solomon was said to have had as many as 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3) Solomon?s son Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines (2 Chronicles 11:21).

The New Testament contains no specific injunction against plural marriages. It was commonplace for the nobility among the Christians and Jews to contract plural marriages. Luther spoke of it with toleration (Caesar E. Farah, Islam: Beliefs and Observances, 4th edition, Barron?s, U.S. 1987, p. 69). Caesar Farah then concluded that Muhammad?s plural marriages were due "partly to political reasons and partly to his concern for the wives of his companions who had fallen in battle defending the nascent Islamic community" (p. 69). When people hear that the prophet had many wives they conclude without much thought that the prophet was a sensuous man. However, a quick historical review of his marriages, proves otherwise.

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All the other marriages of prophet Mohammad (PBUH) were due to circumstances… either of a social reform, or a political gain. The Qur'an mentions in Surah Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse No. 3, that you can maximum have 4 wives. But there is another Verse in Surah Ahzab, Ch. 33, and Verse 52, which says that... 'O Prophet you cannot marry more women, neither can you exchange any other women for the present one, even if their beauty attracts you, except what your right hand possesses. This Verse of the Qur'an, Surah Ahzab, Ch. 33, Verse No. 52, gives the permission to the Prophet, to keep all his wives, but at the same time, cannot marry any other women, except which your right hand possesses. If you analyse why Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was not allowed to marry more wives - and besides that, he could not neither divorce them, because there is one more Verse in the Qur'an, which says that… 'As for the wives of the Prophet, whether they are divorced or whether they become widows, no person can marry them; because they are Um-ul Mominin… they are the Mothers of the believers'. So since no one could marry the wives of the Prophet, but natural …the Prophet could not divorce them also.

And if you analyse, that all the eleven marriages which the Prophet did… all were either for social reform or for political reason - Were not to please his sex or desire. The first marriage that he did was with Khatija, (May Allah be pleased with her). She was at the age of 40, when he was only 25 - And she was a widow twice. Imagine, if he married for sex or his desire, why would he marry a woman who was fifteen years elder to him, and who was a widow twice. And if you analyse, till the time Khatija (May Allah be pleased with her)… till the time she was alive, Prophet Muhammad did not take any other wives. When he was the age of 50, Bibi Khatija (May Allah be pleased with her) died. Only between the ages of 53 to 56, did Prophet take all the other wives. Imagine… if the Prophet was hyper sexu­al, he would have married at a young age. Science tells us… 'The older the man gets, the less sexual he gets'. It is an insinuation, on the Prophet. Only 2 of his marriages were normal -with Bib Khatija (MABPWH) and Bibi Ayesha (MABPWH) All the other marriages were due to circumstances… either of a social reform, or a political gain.

If you analyse all, only 2 wives were below the age of 36 - All the other wives were between the age of 36 and 50 - You can give instances… each marriage had some reason. For example Johariya, who was from the Banu-Mustalik tribe… which very powerful tribe, was, and which was at logger heads with Islam - After a certain time, they were suppressed by the Islamic Army, and later on, the Prophet married her. And after he married her, the companions said…'How can we keep as captives, the relatives of the Prophet' - And they freed those people…and after that, both these tribes became friendly. There are examples, when he married Maimoona (May Allah be pleased with her), who was the sister of the wife of the chief of the tribe of Najad, which killed 70 Muslim, men of the Islamic deputation. After Mo­hammed (May peace be upon him)… when he married her, they accepted Medina as their leader­ship, and they accepted Prophet as their leader. All the… all the marriages which he did, had some political reason or social reform. He married Umme Habiba, who was the daughter of the Chief of Mecca, Abu-Sufiyan - but natural this marriage played a great importance in the conquest of Mecca. Other example like Safiya (May Al­lah be pleased with her), she was the daughter of a powerful Jewish leader - After this, the Jewish became very friendly to the Muslims. If you see, all the marriages had some social reforms - he married the daughter of Hazrat Ummer, Hafsa (May Allah be pleased with her), to get closer relationship between the companions. As a social reform, he married a lady who was divorced…the first cousin Zainab - After she was divorced, he married her. All the marriages have some political reason or social reform - So all his marriages were based, to improve the community and to better rela­tionships - It was not for sex.

Polygamy in the Bible: The Bible allows polygamy in both the Old Testament and the New Testament in unlimited numbers. In Exodus 21:10, a man can marry an infinite amount of women without any limits to how many he can marry. In 2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, 14:3, King David had six wives and numerous concubines. In 1 Kings 11:3, King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. In 2 Chronicles 11:21, King Solomon's son Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines. In Deuteronomy 21:15 "If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other and both bear him sons...." Qur'an permits limited polygamy As I mentioned earlier, Qur'an is the only religious book on the face of the earth that says 'marry only one'. The context of this phrase is the following verse from Surah Nisa of the Glorious Qur'an: "Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one." [Al-Qur'an 4:3] Before the Qur'an was revealed, there was no upper limit for polygamy and many men had scores of wives, some even hundreds. Islam put an upper limit of four wives. Islam gives a man permission to marry two, three or four women, only on the condition that he deals justly with them. In the same chapter i.e. Surah Nisa verse 129 says: "Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women...." [Al-Qur'an 4:129] Therefore polygamy is not a rule but an exception. Many people are under the misconception that it is compulsory for a Muslim man to have more than one wife. Broadly, Islam has five categories of Do's and Don'ts: i. 'Fard' i.e. compulsory or obligatory ii. 'Mustahab' i.e. recommended or encouraged iii. 'Mabah' i.e. permissible or allowed iv. 'Makruh' i.e. not recommended or discouraged v. 'Haraam' i.e. prohibited or forbidden Polygamy falls in the middle category of things that are permissible. It cannot be said that a Muslim who has two, three or four wives is a better Muslim as compared to a Muslim who has only one wife.

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After the death of Muhammad in 632, two faction rose: the majority Sunni and minority Shia. The Sunni wanted to elect or choose their own leader. The Shia wanted a member of the Prophet's family to lead and chose Imam Ali, the cousin of the Prophet and husband of Muhammad's daughter Fatimah.

The Sunni faction won out and elected the first caliph. Ali was eventually chosen as the fourth caliph, but two of his predecessors were murdered, and nearly endless war has brewed between Sunni and Shiites since Muhammad's passing. Ali, as the fourth caliph, fell and died in battle near the town of Kufa in 661.

Ali's son Hussein took leadership of the Shia faction after the death of his father, and continued the war with the Sunnis. He fell in battle with 71 of his family members at Karbala, his head was taken in tribute to the caliph in Damascus and his body was interred on the battlefield.

The greatest schism perhaps between Shia and Sunni is the almost divination of Shia leaders, known as Imam. Many Sunni believe that Shia place their Imam almost on a level with God, perhaps the greatest sin of all. This becomes most supportable with the story of the Hidden Imam.

In the tenth century, the Twelfth Shiite Imam rose to power. The legend goes that God took Madhi (the Messiah) and put him into hiding. This Madhi is said will return in the end days and make the Koran fully manifest (sound familiar Apocalyptic Christians?)

Fighting between the factions continued for centuries after the passing of Muhammad, as well as with Christian Crusaders, and the Mongols. Ottoman Turkey spread it further, but by 1500 Sunni power was set in Persia where it was met by the Azeri conquerors, shifting Persia (modern day Iran and Iraq) to Shia control. The Safavid Dynasty established Persia as its center of power and distinguished itself from Sunni controlled Ottoman Turkey and Mughal India.

The fighting continues today, nearly unabated since 632.

Shiite Perspective

Hazrat Muhammad have learned from Gabriel (an angel who serves to God as a messenger) that Imam Ali must his successor. After Muhammad's death, when his family was entombing him, some groups that were Muhammads helpers (also know as 'Ansar Group' and 'Mohajer Group') were ready to choose the successor! But somebodies told them "the successor is Imam Ali!" but they didn't recognize to their words.

So, they chose 'Abu Bakr' as their king and leader while it belonged to Imam Ali.

As what Imam Ali said in 'Nahj Al-balaghe' (a book about his own quotes and mails) that have told "I thought hard, but I understand if I want to get what belongs to me, Islam will destroy under the War will happen" so he wait and wait a long time ago...

So, after 25 years, three leaders come and go until people were under the sin and oppression, so people, who want a good leader, came to Imam Ali and wanted him to be their leader. Imam Ali didn't accept so people wanted more. At last, Imam Ali accept it but he said to all of them 'If I be your leader I will do the right work and will never help to the ones that want to command people and bother people '

In the end, Those who wanted that Imam Ali be their leader, killed him while Imam Ali knew.

So why he didn't do anything to survive? Cause that was his time to go to God and this accident MUST happened.

The Islamic religion started in Saudi Arabia.

Prophet Muhammad is the final Messenger of God, and Qur'an confirms the revelations that came before it. The Qur'an is the Divine Speech of God (Allah) revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) through Angel Jibril (Gabriel). Thus, Muslims believe in all the Prophets from Abraham, Solomon, David, Moses to Jesus and finally Muhammad.

The earlier Scriptures have the word of man mixed with the word of God, but the Qur'an is preserved in its original form, hence Muslims obey it in letter and spirit.
Origin of Islam:

The origin of Islam can be traced back to 7th century Saudi Arabia.

Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (A.S) & Imam Hussein al-shaheed (A.S)

Answer 2

Muhammad had a total of seven grandchildren.

His eldest daughter Zaynab had two children: Ali ibn Abi'l-Aas, who died in childhood, and Umama bint Abi'l-Aas, who later married Caliph Ali, and later still married Al-Mughira ibn Nawfal. Umama had a son, Muhammad ibn Ali, but it is thought that he had no issue.

His second daughter, Ruqayya, had one son, Abdullah ibn Uthman. He died in childhood after a tragic accident in which a rooster pecked out his eye.

His fourth daughter, Fatima, had four children: Hassan ibn Ali, Hussayn ibn Ali, Zaynab bint Ali and Umm Kulthum bint Ali. (It is sometimes also said that she had a son called Muhsin, but others say that her fifth pregnancy ended in miscarriage.) Zaynab married her cousin, Abdallah ibn Jaafar, and they had five children. Umm Kulthum married Caliph Umar and had two children. She then married her three cousins (Awn, Muhammad and Abdallah, the sons of Jaafar) one after the other, but she had no children by them. The descendants of Zaynab and Umm Kulthum have died out. All of Muhammad's present-day descendants ("the Fatimids") are through Hassan and Hussayn, who were multiply married and had large families.

Sources: see Ibn Saad's Tabaqat, volume 8. The information is on pp. 18, 21, 25, 28, 299-300 in Aisha Bewley's translation.

Father's father's father = Hashim ibn Abdmanaf, progenitor of the Hashim clan.

Father's mother's father = Amr ibn Aayiz, member of the Makhzum clan.

Mother's father's father = Abdmanaf ibn Zuhra, whose family became the Zuhra clan.

Mother's mother's father = Abduluzza ibn Uthman, member of the Abduldar clan.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the central prophet of the Islamic faith. Born into a noble Quraish (Quraysh) clan, he was orphaned at an early age. He grew up to be a successful merchant, then turned contemplative. It is said that when he was 40, Muhammad was commanded by Allah (God) to recite the words that would later become Islam's holy book, the Qur'an (or Koran) in the year 610 AD. This was the begining of his prophethood.

As the revelations continued, Muhammad pbuh preached publicly of the duty to submit to the one true God, gaining followers whilst earning the enmity of the polytheistic authorities. To escape persecution, Muhammad was forced to flee in 622 AD to Yathrib (later called Medina). His poetic recitations and pleas for social justice continued to win converts, and Muhammad was repeatedly called into battle in his efforts to unite Arabia behind the faith known as Islam (meaning "submission"). After finally conquering Mecca in 630 AD, Muhammad returned to Medina, where he died in 633 AD.

So, as can be seen, Islam has been practiced as a religion (brought on by prophet Muhammad) for around 1,438 years until now after Prophet Muhammad pbuh was elevated by God as a prophet in the year 610 AD.