The Qur'an states that you shall marry only up to four women: "If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with orphans, marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or that which your right hands possess..." (4:3).
Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad's_marriages
Many of Muhammad's detractors have criticized his conduct in having more wives than his followers. During the Medina period, he received a new revelation telling Muslim men to marry no more than four wives, and that only if they could treat them all equally. A flurry of divorces followed, as Muslim men gave the extra wives their liberty. Muhammad, however, kept all his wives. He had nine or ten wives at his death. Is this unfair? Did Muhammad selfishly exempt himself from rules imposed on others?
Muslim scholars note that the Qur'an exempts Muhammad from the general decree.
Those who regard him as the inventor of these Qur'anic rules see this as a case of a leader enjoying privileges he denied to his followers. However, it may be noted that other traditions show him as content with a humble, almost ascetic lifestyle. In most things he lived as simply as the poorest of his followers.
For more details visit the following links
The Quran is eternal in its existence, but not in its implementations. The core teachings of it, such as worshipping one God alone has always been there. But for Sharia law practices such as marrying up to four wives, praying 5 times a day at specific times, fasting Ramadan might not have always been there. The Quran was meant to be the last revelation to mankind. Therefore, God did not send it down till he did. It was God's divine plan.
As for the Prophet's multiple marriages. The Prophet had privileges and limitations set by God for him. For example, the use of Miswak, Witr prayer and Qiyam Al Layl (prayer in two thirds of the night) were made obligatory on the Prophet but not on us Muslims. Similarly, the marrying up to 4 wives were made obligatory on us Muslims but not on the Prophet.
But you have to realize that with this privilege came a limitation for the Prophet. According to Surah 33:52, the Prophet was not allowed to marry anymore women or to divorce his current wives. But us Muslims could marry and divorce. So the Prophet's privilege is now balanced out with a limitation.
http://www.wefound.org/texts/Muhammad_files/Muhammad2.htm
- If the Qur'an is eternal, having been written on the table in heaven, then the four wife limit was an eternal decree.
- Question: Why did Muhammad have 12 wives if the Qur'an says to have only four? Khadija, sawda, Aesah (8 years old), Omm Salama, Hafsa, Zaynab (originally the wife of Muhammad's adopted son), Jowayriya, Omm Habiba, Safiya, Maymuna, Fatima, Hend, Asma (of Saba), Zaynab, Habla, Asma?
Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad's_marriages
Many of Muhammad's detractors have criticized his conduct in having more wives than his followers. During the Medina period, he received a new revelation telling Muslim men to marry no more than four wives, and that only if they could treat them all equally. A flurry of divorces followed, as Muslim men gave the extra wives their liberty. Muhammad, however, kept all his wives. He had nine or ten wives at his death. Is this unfair? Did Muhammad selfishly exempt himself from rules imposed on others?
Muslim scholars note that the Qur'an exempts Muhammad from the general decree.
- O Prophet! We have made lawful to thee thy wives to whom thou hast paid their dowers. (Al-Ahzab 33: 50)
- Nor is it right for you that ye should annoy God's Apostle, or that ye should marry his widows after him at any time. Truly such a thing is in God's sight an enormity. (Al-Ahzab 33: 53)
Those who regard him as the inventor of these Qur'anic rules see this as a case of a leader enjoying privileges he denied to his followers. However, it may be noted that other traditions show him as content with a humble, almost ascetic lifestyle. In most things he lived as simply as the poorest of his followers.
For more details visit the following links
The Quran is eternal in its existence, but not in its implementations. The core teachings of it, such as worshipping one God alone has always been there. But for Sharia law practices such as marrying up to four wives, praying 5 times a day at specific times, fasting Ramadan might not have always been there. The Quran was meant to be the last revelation to mankind. Therefore, God did not send it down till he did. It was God's divine plan.
As for the Prophet's multiple marriages. The Prophet had privileges and limitations set by God for him. For example, the use of Miswak, Witr prayer and Qiyam Al Layl (prayer in two thirds of the night) were made obligatory on the Prophet but not on us Muslims. Similarly, the marrying up to 4 wives were made obligatory on us Muslims but not on the Prophet.
But you have to realize that with this privilege came a limitation for the Prophet. According to Surah 33:52, the Prophet was not allowed to marry anymore women or to divorce his current wives. But us Muslims could marry and divorce. So the Prophet's privilege is now balanced out with a limitation.
http://www.wefound.org/texts/Muhammad_files/Muhammad2.htm



