Did Allah forbid the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from marrying other women or divorcing his wives, and then abrogate this ruling and make it permissible for him?

Scholars have differed on the ruling concerning the Prophet’s marriage to more than his nine wives. The apparent view is that Allah initially prohibited him from doing so, out of honor for his wives. Then, this ruling was abrogated by another ruling that permitted him, out of honor for him. However, the Prophet (peace be upon him) honored his wives and did not marry anyone else in addition to them.

Scholars have differed on determining the abrogating verse for the prohibition, holding three opinions:

1. The first opinion: That the abrogator is Allah’s saying: (O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful for you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation...). This opinion does not consider the abrogating verse appearing before the abrogated one in the Mus'haf problematic, as what matters is the order of revelation, not compilation.

2. The second opinion: That the abrogator is Allah’s saying: (You may put off [the turn of] whom you will among them, and take to yourself whom you will...). This is the opinion of Al-Dahhak, and preferred by Al-Nawawi and Al-Jazairi.

3. The third opinion: That what abrogated the prohibition is the Sunnah of the Prophet, citing Aisha’s (may Allah be pleased with her) statement: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not die until women were made lawful for him." This opinion was preferred by Al-Nahhas and Al-Shinqiti, arguing that the statement of his wives (peace be upon him) is more weighty because they are the ones involved in the story.

In conclusion: Allah permitted His Prophet (peace be upon him) to marry whomever he wished from among women after the prohibition, but he restricted himself to his wives out of honor for them.