The Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was the perfect head of family. Managing many wives with ease, being a lover of their hearts, an instructor of their minds, an educator of their souls, he never neglected the affairs of the nation nor compromised his duties. This is a clear proof of his prophethood. If this were the only proof, it would have been enough.
Such was the eminence of our blessed Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam that he managed to live a life of great happiness with wives of different ages, temperaments, family backgrounds and differing levels of intellect. All his wives but Hadhrat Aa'ishah ( R.A.) were widows, taking this into account all had very good mutual relations and endured an extremely contented life as members of his auspicious household.
The Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam treated his wives equally and they in return loved him infinitely; each wife doing her utmost to please him. This was a household who lived in happiness with the others.
The blessed Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was scrupulous in maintaining perfect equality amongst his wives as far as it was in his power. He visited them on their appointed turns, as far as possible with absolute justice and integrity. He made no distinction concerning the matters of worldly provision and needs. As far as human emotions and feelings of love and affection are concerned even the greatest man, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam had no control over them, and so the Prophet clearly loved Hadhrat Aa'ishah ( R.A.) more than his other wives. This exceeding love of one wife did not lead to the neglect or lack of love for the remaining wives. The Almighty has mentioned this weakness of man in the following words :
" It is not within your power to be perfectly equitable in your treatment with all your wives, even if you wish to be so; therefore, do not lean wholly towards one wife so as to leave the others in a state of suspense. If you behave righteously and fear Allah, you will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful." ( 4 : 129 )
From the above it is made clear that a husband cannot wholly and literally maintain his affections equally amongst his wives, even if it is his greatest wish to do so, as the wives themselves cannot be equal in respect of the qualities they possess. Thus, the Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would seek Allah's pardoning for any unintentional leanings. He would make this prayer : " I may have unintentionally shown more love to one of them than the others and this would have been injustice. So, "Oh Lord, I take refuge in your grace for those things which are beyond my power." Even so, each of his wives, because of his generosity and kindness, felt she was his most beloved.
Taken from inter-islam.org
