Let us see how Mohammad, the prophet and founder of Islam, got his seventh wife named Juwairiya. The Islamic evidence in this regard is very clear. I am quoting two universally accepted books of Islam.
Ibn 'Aun reported: I wrote to Nafi' inquiring from him whether it was necessary to extend (to the disbelievers) an invitation to accept (Islam) before making them in fight. He wrote (in reply) to me that it was necessary in the early days of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) made a raid upon Banu Mustaliq while they were unaware and their cattle were having a drink at the water. He killed those who fought and imprisoned others. On that very day, he captured Juwairiya bint al-Harith. Nafi' said that this tradition was related to him by Abdullah b. Umar who (himself) was among the raiding troops.
The same is also mentioned in another Hadith:
I wrote a letter to Nafi and Nafi wrote in reply to my letter that the Prophet had suddenly attacked Bani Mustaliq without warning while they were heedless and their cattle were being watered at the places of water. Their fighting men were killed and their women and children were taken as captives; the Prophet got Juwairiya on that day. Nafi said that Ibn 'Umar had told him the above narration and that Ibn 'Umar was in that army.
Bukhari - Volume 3, Book 46, No. 717
These references from the most respected Islamic books should settle the fact that Juwairiya was captured in the raid and was taken by prophet Mohammad. In the similar manner he had taken another 'wife' named Safiya.
Let us get back to the tragedy that had befallen upon Juwairiya and the raid which changed her life, forever. It had been a very productive raid on the Jews. According the Biography of Mohammad, after the raid on the hapless Jews, enormous booty was captured:
Two hundred families, 2,000 camels, and 5,000 sheep and goats, besides much household goods, formed the booty. It was divided in the usual manner.
'The life of Mahomet' by William Muir. pp 287
Some of my readers might not have understood the import of the words 'usual manner'.
It so happens that Mohammad had built around himself, a group of men, with the promise that Allah had given permission to Muslims to loot and plunder 'others'. These 'others' covered and still covers all those who are not Muslims. On top of that, Allah wanted the Muslims to plunder the 'others' and take their women, children and property for themselves.
This plunder or war booty is called 'ghanima' (the same word which is loosely used in our part of world as ग़नीमत) in Quran. This made accepting the new religion, Islam, very attractive for some men of the nearby tribes. The importance of 'ghanima' was very clear to Mohammad, that is why, there is one complete chapter dedicated to the 'war booty' or ghanima. It is also called Anfal. This chapter 8 of Quran is called 'Al Anfal'. The first verse of the chapter is:
(ऐ रसूल) तुम से लोग अनफाल (माले ग़नीमत) के बारे में पूछा करते हैं तुम कह दो कि अनफाल मख़सूस ख़ुदा और रसूल के वास्ते है तो ख़ुदा से डरो (और) अपने बाहमी (आपसी) मामलात की इसलाह करो और अगर तुम सच्चे (ईमानदार) हो तो ख़ुदा की और उसके रसूल की इताअत करो
Farooq Khan and Nadwi
They ask you O dear Prophet (Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) concerning the war booty; say, “Allah and the Noble Messenger are the owners of the war booty; so fear Allah and maintain friendship among yourselves; and obey Allah and His Noble Messenger, if you have faith."
Ahmed Raza Khan
Here, it is pertinent to mention that Ahmed Raza Khan is one of the most respected Islamic scholars. So much so that the government of India has released a postage stamp bearing his name. Now about the chapter in Quran.
Thus, the revelation of this chapter, made plundering a 'holy' deed, exclusively for Muslims. Remember Mohammad Ghauri, Gaznawi, Babar, Balban, Aurangzeb, Nadir Shah.They came here for our wealth and our women. The intent was Jihad. The attraction was women and plunder. Out of this plunder, 20% is for the Prophet. After death of Mohammad, this 20% share went to Khalifa. This is the 'usual manner' of distribution of women and property (read about Hindu women sent to Khalifa here). This is also mentioned in Quran.
And know that whatever you take as war booty, a fifth of that belongs to Allah and His Noble Messenger, and to relatives, and orphans, and the needy, and the traveller – if you have accepted faith in Allah and what We sent down to Our bondman on the decisive day – the day when two armies had met; and Allah is Able to do all things.
Ahmed Raza Khan - Chapter 8, Verse 41
The sanction of Allah is also mentioned in Quran:
Therefore benefit from the war booty that you have received, lawful and good; and fear Allah; indeed Allah is most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Quran 8:69
Do not be shocked. The Most merciful Allah has said that the Muslims can benefit from the booty because it is 'lawful and good'. Can Allah like looting of innocents, plundering and raping of women?
Here is what Quran says about captive women:
Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those (captives and slaves) whom your right hands possess.
Quran - 4:24
Anyway, I guess that gives you a fair idea of the 'usual manner' of distributing the booty by 'prophet' and 'his' men.
The Biographer of Mohammad, William Muir, tells us about the distribution of booty collected in the attack on Jewish tribe of Bani Mustaliq.
The household stuff was sold to the highest bidder. In the division a camel was reckoned equal to ten sheep or goats. Each horseman had three times the share of a footman, two being reckoned for the horse. Mahomet desired by this rule to encourage the development of cavalry in his army.
Mind you, he wrote this biography more then a century ago and has not been disputed by any Islamic scholar. The reason is that the information is authentic.
Now, try to think about a beautiful girl of twenty years, married to a young man who is the chief of the tribe. One fine morning, the tribe is raided, her husband is killed and she is wedded to the murderer of her husband.
Can any woman accept such a person as her new 'husband'?
Well, the apologists of Islam say so. They want us to believe that Juwairiyah became a very devout follower of Islam and spent a large part of her day in prayers. So much so that whenever Mohammad came to her, he found her praying.
Mohammad suggested to her a shorter way of praying. He told her to say:
subhaana allahe 'adada khalqihi, subhana allahe ridhaa nafsehe, subhana allahe zinata 'arshehe, subhana allahe zinata 'arshehe,subhana allah midadda kalimaatihi.
According to Mohammad, these words would be 'heavier in the scale than what she had done'. It means - Praise Allah as many times as number of his creatures, and as much as pleases him, and as much as the weight of his throne, and as much as the ink for his words.
Some who do not believe in Islam say that continous praying was a tactic adopted by the young woman to avoid having sex with Mohammad. Mohammad being the wiser suggested her a shortcut to decrease her time of prayers. If these words are so miraculous then why Muslims all over the world have to spend so much time, five times a day.
If it is true, we will never know.
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