Did the Messenger, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, not love his other wives besides Khadijah and Aisha? Was his preference for Aisha based solely on beauty? Were his marriages to the others for consolation? And is his choice of Aisha to be nursed in her home and Sawda’s relinquishing her day to Aisha evidence of discrimination and lack of love?

A Muslim must believe that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was the most just of all people. The Prophet’s love for Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, was due to her virtue and faith, and not because of her beauty and youth, as stated in the hadith: “The superiority of Aisha over other women is like the superiority of Tharid over all other dishes.”

Among the proofs of her virtue are: 1. The Prophet seeing her in a dream before their marriage. 2. Revelation descending upon him while he was in her blanket, unlike his other wives. 3. Gabriel, peace be upon him, conveying greetings to her. 4. The Prophet instructing his daughter Fatimah to love her.

This love did not prevent the Prophet from being just among his wives. He would divide his time equally among them and would travel with the one whose name was drawn by lot. The Prophet did not command to be nursed in Aisha’s house; rather, he sought permission from his wives, and they granted it to him. Sawda’s relinquishing of her day to Aisha was not due to fear of divorce, but out of her contentment and her preference for the Prophet’s love, peace and blessings be upon him. A Muslim must believe that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was the most perfect and just of all creation.