Why are the wives of the Prophet called the Mothers of the Believers? May Allah reward you with the best reward, and thank you.
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The questioner : Why are the wives of the Prophet called the Mothers of the Believers? May Allah reward you with the best reward, and thank you?
The Shaykh : They are called the Mothers of the Believers out of respect and honor.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This motherhood does not entail any ruling of prohibition or permissibility other than respect, because it is obligatory for Muslims to respect them, as they are their mothers. As for the prohibition of marrying them after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), that is out of honoring the sanctity of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in that his wives are not permissible for anyone after him, ever. For this reason, the Lawgiver prescribed a waiting period of four months and ten days for a woman whose husband has died, out of respect for the rights of the deceased husband. Indeed, this is undoubtedly a matter concerning the rights of the deceased.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is indicated by the fact that a woman waits four months and ten days, whether she is one who menstruates or one who has passed the age of menstruation. It is not valid to object to this by saying that a pregnant woman’s waiting period ends when she gives birth, even if it is less than four months, because we say that once the waiting period has ended, she is separated from the husband and divorced from him, so the husband no longer has any connection to her.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, the waiting period ends with the delivery of the child.
The questioner : Yes.
The questioner : This message was received from Mubarak Fahid Muhammad Ghrasan al-Bayshi from Bisha, from the Passports Department, presenting social problems.
The Shaykh : They are called the Mothers of the Believers out of respect and honor.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This motherhood does not entail any ruling of prohibition or permissibility other than respect, because it is obligatory for Muslims to respect them, as they are their mothers. As for the prohibition of marrying them after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), that is out of honoring the sanctity of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in that his wives are not permissible for anyone after him, ever. For this reason, the Lawgiver prescribed a waiting period of four months and ten days for a woman whose husband has died, out of respect for the rights of the deceased husband. Indeed, this is undoubtedly a matter concerning the rights of the deceased.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is indicated by the fact that a woman waits four months and ten days, whether she is one who menstruates or one who has passed the age of menstruation. It is not valid to object to this by saying that a pregnant woman’s waiting period ends when she gives birth, even if it is less than four months, because we say that once the waiting period has ended, she is separated from the husband and divorced from him, so the husband no longer has any connection to her.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, the waiting period ends with the delivery of the child.
The questioner : Yes.
The questioner : This message was received from Mubarak Fahid Muhammad Ghrasan al-Bayshi from Bisha, from the Passports Department, presenting social problems.