The second chapter of the Quran, Al-Baqara, indicates that the waiting period before marriage to a widow is four months and ten days: "If any of you die and leave widows behind, they shall wait concerning themselves four months and ten days: When they have fulfilled their term, there is no blame on you if they dispose of themselves in a just and reasonable manner. And Allah is well acquainted with what you do." (Quran 2:234).
Safiya bint Huyai was a beautiful married Jewish teenager living in Khaybar when Muhammad & his Muslim warriors invaded that city in 629. She became a widow when her husband was killed by the invading Muslims. Muhammad wanted very much to marry her and to quickly consummate this marriage -- he certainly did not want to have to wait four months and ten days.
The relevant hadiths about Muhammad mention first the marriage: "...the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtab was described to him. Her husband had been killed while she was a bride. So Allah's Apostle selected her for himself and took her along with him till we reached a place called Sad-AsSahba,' where her menses were over and he took her for his wife." (Sahih Bukhari, 4:52:143), and then the consummation of the marriage:
"Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet stayed with Safiya bint Huyai for three days on the way of Khaibar where he consummated his marriage with her. Safiya was amongst those who were ordered to use a veil." (Sahih Bukhari, 5:59:523)
The god of Muhammad declared that it is best for widows to wait 4 months and ten days before remarrying. But had Allah told this to Muhammad before his marriage to Safiya? The evidence indicates that Allah did. As mentioned before, the revelation pertaining to the waiting period was revealed in the 2nd chapter of the Quran (The Quran is not in chronological order). This chapter was revealed before the 30th chapter, which mentions Muhammad's marriage to his 7th wife, Zaynab, and Muhammad consummated his marriage to Safiya 16 months after he married Zaynab.
A few may argue that this following hadith permitted Muhammad to violate Quran 2:234: "Abu Sa’id Khudri narrated the following statement from Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) regarding the captives of Awtas: “There must be no intercourse with a pregnant woman till she gives birth, or with one who is not pregnant till she has had one menstrual period.” (Abu Dawud, Hadith 2157). This argument fails for the following reasons. First, a mere hadith cannot supersede the Quran. Second, this hadith refers to female captives, that is, people who are not free. But Safiyah was free, she was given her freedom as a dowry by Muhammad. In addition, while this hadith refers to captives, it does not address the fact that Safiyah was a widow! Being omniscient, Muhammad's Allah knew when He revealed Quran 2:234 that Muhammad would later be marrying a widow who upon marriage would be a former captive. Consequently, Allah could have decreed: "the waiting period for widows is 4 months and ten days, save for widows who are former captives, for whom merely one menstrual period must pass." But Allah deliberately chose not to do that. Thus, Allah made no exceptions, and Muhammad violated a command from his Allah.
Safiya bint Huyai was a beautiful married Jewish teenager living in Khaybar when Muhammad & his Muslim warriors invaded that city in 629. She became a widow when her husband was killed by the invading Muslims. Muhammad wanted very much to marry her and to quickly consummate this marriage -- he certainly did not want to have to wait four months and ten days.
The relevant hadiths about Muhammad mention first the marriage: "...the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtab was described to him. Her husband had been killed while she was a bride. So Allah's Apostle selected her for himself and took her along with him till we reached a place called Sad-AsSahba,' where her menses were over and he took her for his wife." (Sahih Bukhari, 4:52:143), and then the consummation of the marriage:
"Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet stayed with Safiya bint Huyai for three days on the way of Khaibar where he consummated his marriage with her. Safiya was amongst those who were ordered to use a veil." (Sahih Bukhari, 5:59:523)
The god of Muhammad declared that it is best for widows to wait 4 months and ten days before remarrying. But had Allah told this to Muhammad before his marriage to Safiya? The evidence indicates that Allah did. As mentioned before, the revelation pertaining to the waiting period was revealed in the 2nd chapter of the Quran (The Quran is not in chronological order). This chapter was revealed before the 30th chapter, which mentions Muhammad's marriage to his 7th wife, Zaynab, and Muhammad consummated his marriage to Safiya 16 months after he married Zaynab.
A few may argue that this following hadith permitted Muhammad to violate Quran 2:234: "Abu Sa’id Khudri narrated the following statement from Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) regarding the captives of Awtas: “There must be no intercourse with a pregnant woman till she gives birth, or with one who is not pregnant till she has had one menstrual period.” (Abu Dawud, Hadith 2157). This argument fails for the following reasons. First, a mere hadith cannot supersede the Quran. Second, this hadith refers to female captives, that is, people who are not free. But Safiyah was free, she was given her freedom as a dowry by Muhammad. In addition, while this hadith refers to captives, it does not address the fact that Safiyah was a widow! Being omniscient, Muhammad's Allah knew when He revealed Quran 2:234 that Muhammad would later be marrying a widow who upon marriage would be a former captive. Consequently, Allah could have decreed: "the waiting period for widows is 4 months and ten days, save for widows who are former captives, for whom merely one menstrual period must pass." But Allah deliberately chose not to do that. Thus, Allah made no exceptions, and Muhammad violated a command from his Allah.