ISLAM places very strong emphasis on justice in all spheres of life. In a sacred, or Qudsi Hadith, God is quoted as saying: “I have forbidden Myself injustice, and I have made it forbidden to you. Therefore, do not be unjust to one another.” Numerous are the Qur’anic and Hadith statements that emphasize the requirement to maintain justice in all affairs. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was a model of fairness in all situations and with all people.
Perhaps the most difficult is to maintain fairness in the treatment of women, particularly one’s wives when a man is married to more than one wife. The Prophet had several wives, as his special position and circumstances required. Jealousy existed between them. How could it be otherwise when they realized that they were married to a man who combined every virtue people could have? This is what Ayesha expressed when she said to him: “How could a woman in my position not be jealous?”
The only way to overcome such jealousy was to maintain fairness between his wives. The Prophet was the model of fairness, even when it was not necessary. Needless to say, fairness does not apply to feelings and emotions, as these are beyond man’s control. It applies to treatment in which all his wives were equal. The Prophet stayed one night with each of his wives, going round in a strict order. He would look in every afternoon at each of his wives’ homes, to see how things were and whether they needed anything, but at night he would be with the one whose turn it was.
It should be remembered that God gave him an exemption of observing such fairness. This is mentioned in the Qur’an: “You may defer any of them you please, and take to yourself any of them you please. No blame will attach to you if you invite one whose turn you have previously set aside.” (33: 51) Yet the Prophet did not act on this exemption. He continued to maintain fairness between them to his last day. When he was with one of them on her night he would even take her permission if he needed to see another one, even very briefly. He did not need to take such permission, as it is clear in the Qur’anic verse we quoted, but his sense of fairness prompted him to do so.
Even in his final days when he was too ill, he asked his wives’ permission to stay and be nursed in Ayesha’s home. It was not a question of favoring her; rather, a question of illness that prevented him from doing what he wished to do, which was to demonstrate fairness to the last day of his life.
We need to point out that one of his wives, Sawdah, offered to give her turn to Ayesha, as she realized that the Prophet loved Ayesha most. As she herself was an old woman, she felt that she would make this gift to Ayesha and the Prophet would be pleased. Sawdah was under no pressure to do so. It was entirely her own gesture to the Prophet and the husband she dearly loved.