29وَإِن كُنتُنَّ تُرِدنَ اللَّهَ وَرَسولَهُ وَالدّارَ الآخِرَةَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلمُحسِناتِ مِنكُنَّ أَجرًا عَظيمًاAli UnalBut if you desire God and His Messenger, and the abode of the Hereafter, then it is a fact that God has prepared a tremendous reward for those among you who act in a good manner, aware that God is seeing them.”1The Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, personifies the roles of perfect father and husband. He was so kind and tolerant with his wives that they could not envisage their lives without him, nor did they want to live away from him. The Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, discussed matters with his wives as friends, although he did not need their advice because he was directed by Revelation. However, he wanted to teach his nation that Muslim men were to give women every consideration. This was quite a radical idea in his time, as it is today in many parts of the world. He began teaching his people through his own relationship with his wives (al-Bukhārī, “Shurūt,” 15). When the Muslim people of Madīnah began to extricate themselves from the utter poverty that they had been suffering for years, a few of his wives (who numbered four at that time) asked him: “Couldn’t we live a bit better, like other Muslims do?” The Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, reacted by going into retreat. He excused himself, saying: “I cannot afford what they want” (Muslim, “Talaq,” 34, 35). It is not easy to merit being together with the Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, in this world and the Hereafter. Others might save themselves by simply fulfilling their obligations, but those who were at the very center of Islam had to devote themselves fully to the cause of Islam, so that no weakness would appear at the center. There were advantages in being the Prophet’s wife, but these advantages brought responsibilities and potential risks. The Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, was preparing them to be exemplars for all present and future Muslim women. He was especially worried that they might enjoy the reward for their good deeds in this world, and thereby be included in: You consumed in your life of the world your (share of) pure, wholesome things, and enjoyed them fully (without considering the due of the Hereafter, and so have taken in the world the reward of all your good deeds) (46: 20). Thus, these special women were put to a great test. The Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, allowed them to choose his poor home or the world’s luxury. If they chose the world, he would give them what he could afford to, and then dissolve his marriage with them. If they chose God and His Messenger, upon him be peace, and blessings, then they had to be content with their lives. This was a peculiarity of his family. Since this family was unique, its members had to be unique. The head of the family was chosen, as were the wives and children. The Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, first called ‘Ā’isha and said: “I want to discuss something with you. You had better talk with your parents before making a decision.” Then he recited the verses mentioned above. Her decision was exactly what would be expected from the truthful daughter of a truthful father: “O Messenger of God, do I need to talk with my parents? By God, I choose God and His Messenger” (Muslim, “Talaq,” 35). ‘Ā’isha herself tells us what happened next: “The Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, received the same answer from all his wives. No one expressed a different opinion. They all said what I had said.”