In a world where domestic violence, divorce, and broken marriages are at epidemic levels, many people ask: what did Prophet Muhammad ﷺ actually teach about marriage? How did he treat his own wives? The answers — drawn from the most authentic historical sources — reveal a man whose example in marriage was nothing short of revolutionary.
His First Marriage: A Love Story That Changed History
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was 25 years old when he married Khadijah bint Khuwaylid — a 40-year-old widow and successful businesswoman who was one of the most respected people in Mecca. She had employed him to manage her trade caravans, and it was his honesty, integrity, and excellent character that made her propose marriage to him.
Their marriage lasted 25 years — until her death. During all those years, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ took no other wife. He was utterly devoted to her. When she died, he was so grief-stricken that the year of her death is known in Islamic history as “The Year of Sorrow.”
Years after her death, he still spoke of her with profound love and gratitude. When his later wife Aisha once expressed jealousy of Khadijah, the Prophet ﷺ responded: “She believed in me when no one else did. She accepted Islam when people rejected me. And she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand.”
This is not the language of a man who viewed women as objects. This is the language of a man who understood and honored love.
What He Said About Wives
The words of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on the subject of wives and marriage are among the most powerful statements about gender relations in any religious tradition:
“The best of you are those who are best to their wives — and I am the best of you to my wives.” (Tirmidhi)
“A believer must not hate a believing woman. If he dislikes one of her characteristics, he will be pleased with another.” (Muslim)
“Treat women kindly. They are like fragile vessels, and you have been entrusted with them.” (Bukhari)
These were not empty words. They were backed by consistent, documented behavior that his companions witnessed daily.
How He Behaved at Home
When Aisha ؓ was asked what Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did at home, she gave a remarkably human answer. She said he used to help with household chores — he would mend his own clothes, fix his own sandals, and milk the goat. He was not above domestic work. He did not consider it beneath him.
He played with his wives. He raced with Aisha ؓ on foot. He sat with her while she watched Abyssinian performers at the mosque. He gave her time, attention, and joy — not just provision and protection.
He never raised his hand against any of his wives. Not once. In the countless records of his life preserved by his companions, there is no account — not even from his enemies — of him striking or physically harming a woman. He explicitly condemned it:
“How does one of you beat his wife like a slave and then sleep with her at the end of the day?” (Bukhari)
Emotional Presence and Tenderness
Perhaps what is most striking about Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a husband is not the grand gestures — but the small, consistent expressions of love and care. He would drink from the same spot on a cup where Aisha ؓ had placed her lips. He gave her a special name — he called her “Aish” as a term of endearment. He would consult her on matters of community importance.
When he received the very first revelation and returned home trembling with awe and fear, it was Khadijah ؓ he ran to — and she was the one who held him, comforted him, and said the words that anchored him: “By Allah, He will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generously, and you assist those who have been afflicted by calamity.”
She knew him. And he trusted her completely.
His Final Words Were About Justice to Women
In his farewell sermon at Hajj — the last public address of his life, delivered to over 100,000 people — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ dedicated a significant portion specifically to the rights of women:
“O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission… Do treat your women well and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers.”
These were among the last words he ever publicly spoke. The rights of women — the rights of wives — were on his mind until the very end.
Conclusion: A Model for Every Husband
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a husband was patient, loving, generous, emotionally present, and just. He did not demand perfection from his wives — he offered his best self to them. He was tender without being weak, firm without being harsh, and devoted without losing his sense of self.
In a time when men owned women like property, he treated them like partners. In an age when women had no voice, he listened to his wives, consulted them, and acted on their counsel. In a world that valued sons over daughters, he said: “Whoever has three daughters and is patient with them and clothes them from his wealth — they will be a shield for him from the Fire on the Day of Judgment.”
His example in marriage is not a 7th-century artifact. It is a living, breathing model — as relevant today as it was 1,400 years ago.
Written by Hafiz Khalid Saifullah — Islamic scholar, Hafiz of the Quran, and content creator. This article is part of an ongoing series on Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as the Perfect Role Model.