What is the purpose of honoring the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in verses 50-52 of Surat Al-Ahzab by permitting him to consort with different types of women (his wives, his paternal and maternal cousins, female believers who offer themselves to him, and those whom his right hand possesses), and why was this honor specific to women and not other matters?

Allah permitted the Prophet (peace be upon him) to marry women through the well-known marriage contract and to have intercourse with his female slaves through the right of ownership. This was to affirm what was permissible for him and others, and to legislate what was exclusive to him. What was permissible for all included his wives whose dowries he had paid, and those whom his right hand possessed, as well as his paternal male cousins’ daughters, his paternal female cousins’ daughters, his maternal male cousins’ daughters, and his maternal female cousins’ daughters. As for what was exclusive to him, it was marriage to a woman who gifted herself to him without a dowry, as well as marriage to his paternal male cousins’ daughters, his maternal male cousins’ daughters, his paternal female cousins’ daughters, and his maternal female cousins’ daughters, on condition that they had emigrated with him. Allah permitted him polygyny for multiple reasons: educational, legislative, social, and political.