Hazrat Talhah رضي الله عنه was married to four wives. Each of his four wives was a sister of one of the respected wives of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. It is for this reason that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said to him, “(You are) my brother-in-law in this world and in the Hereafter (i.e. you will also be my brother-in-law in Jannah).” (Al-Ahaadithul Mukhtaarah# 847)
Allah Ta’ala had chosen all the respected wives of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم to be his wives in this world, and Allah Ta’ala had also decreed that they will be his wives in the Hereafter (in Jannah). Hence, in this Hadith, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم indicated that Hazrat Talhah’s رضي الله عنه wives will also be his wives in the Hereafter, thereby making Hazrat Talhah رضي الله عنه the brother-in-law of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم in this world and in Jannah.
Hazrat Talhah رضي الله عنه had married the following four wives who were sisters of four of the Azwaaj-e-Mutahharaat:
– Umm Kulthum bint Abi Bakr al Siddiq, who was the sister of Hazrat Aaishah رضي الله عنهما
– Hamnah bint Jahsh, who was the sister of Hazrat Zainab bint Jahsh رضي الله عنهما
– Fari’ah bint Abi Sufyan, who was the sister of Hazrat Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyan رضي الله عنهما
– Ruqayyah bint Abi Umayyah, who was the sister of Umm Salamah bint Abi Umayyah رضي الله عنهما.
(Al-Isaabah 3/432)
(Theillustrioussahaabah.com)
REFLECTIONS
Mufti Ashiq Ilahi Muhajir Madani رحمه الله writes:
“The Shari’ah of Islam permits marriage to a maximum of four women at one time. However, this permission is bound with the condition of equality. Other religions do not grant this concession to man. They, however, permit men to have mistresses whereby adultery has swept into vogue. They see no fault in perpetrating adultery, yet look down on marriage!
Many people revile Islam on the basis of the permission to marry many wives. At the outset they fail to understand that this is merely the granting of permission and not a binding obligation. Then they do not perceive the practical necessity for this permission. Firstly, it serves to increase the solace and mental well being of the person. The second great benefit is that when the numbers of men are radically decreased (for example, during the occasion of Jihad when many men are martyred), widows are offered new homes and the opportunity to protect their virtue.
There are also times (as it occurs today) that women are in the majority. During these times women are allowed to share husbands (through Nikaah) so that they are not compelled to live their lives in sin. They are afforded the opportunity to live their lives chastely as wives and mothers. Those who are too myopic to perceive the depths of matters cannot understand this wisdom, and therefore resort to raising objections. Especially when the Shari’ah stipulates the condition of justice and equality between wives, a person has no scope to object.”
(Illuminating Discourses on the Noble Quran v.1 pg.500)