Islam is the way of life and a code of conduct for all mankind given by God Almighty through all His great prophets (peace be upon them all) including the last prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to whom was revealed the literal Word of God – the Quran itself. The Almighty says in the Quran:

“Alif. Lam. Ra. (This is) a Scripture which We have revealed unto you (Muhammad) that thereby you may bring forth mankind from darkness unto light, by the permission of their Lord, unto the path of the Mighty, the Owner of Praise.” (Quran 14:1)

Not only did Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) conveyed the Divine Message of God, but he became a walking Quran himself and a role model to follow for all of mankind in every aspect of life whether it be education, relationships, trade/ business etc. In this article, I will briefly present Muhammad’s (PBUH) role model as a husband, the love and romance in his life towards his wives indicating how God wants the relationship between a husband and wife to be. God has purposefully created this beautiful relationship that must be nurtured with kindness, love and mercy, as the Almighty Himself says in the Quran:

“And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.” (Quran 30:21)

The paramount importance of the husband-wife relationship can be visualized from the fact that Muhammad (PBUH) affixed the completeness of one’s faith, not with prayers, not with charity, but with ones behavior with his wife, as he (PBUH) said:

“Among the Muslims the most perfect, as regards his faith, is the one whose character is excellent, and the best among you are those who treat their wives well.” (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 628)

Muhammad (PBUH) himself did not shy away from expressing his love for his wife. Here is an adorable event that took place between him and his wife Aisha (RA): Once Muhammad (PBUH) was sitting in a room with Aisha (RA), and fixing his shoes. It was very warm, and Aisha looked to his forehead and noticed that there were beads of sweat on it. She became overwhelmed by the majesty of that sight and stared at him long enough for him to notice. He said, “What’s the matter?” She replied, “If Abu Bukair Al-Huthali, the poet, saw you, he would know that his poem was written for you.” The Prophet (PBUH) asked, “What did he say?” She replied, “Abu Bukair said that if you looked to the majesty of the moon, it twinkles and lights up the world for everybody to see.” So the Prophet (PBUH) got up, walked to Aisha, kissed her between the eyes, and said, “By God, Aisha you are like that to me and more.”

The love, affection, kindness, and respect a husband should have for his wife is also evident from the multitude of romantic gestures by Muhammad’s (PBUH) towards his wives. A few of them are presented below.

• Muhammad (PBUH) would kiss his wife regularly, even at times when he would be fasting. More so, he would drink from a vessel by placing his lips on the rim exactly where his wife Aisha’s (RA) lips touched it when she drank from it before him.
• Muhammad (PBUH) would recline in the lap of his beloved wife Aisha (RA) even in the state when she would be menstruating.
• He (PBUH) would also enjoy and play with his wife. On one journey, he (PBUH) told all other people to travel ahead while he remained back with his wife Aisha (RA). He then asked her to race with him. They had a race and Aisha (RA) won.
• On one occasion, Muhammad (PBUH) had other jobs to do, yet he stayed with her wife Aisha (RA) just because she wanted to watch Ethiopians practice target shooting. Not only did he stand there with his wife, but he also put his cloak around her. He left only when her wife wanted to go.
• Muhammad (PBUH) would also keep clean, wear clean clothes and use perfume constantly to look good and smell nice for his wife all the time.
• He (PBUH) would console his wives when they were in trouble or sad. Once he was on a journey with his wife Safiya (RA) and received her while she was crying as she was late. He wiped her tears with his own hands and tried his utmost to calm her down.
• On one occasion while on journey with his wife Safiya (RA), Muhammad (PBUH) sat beside his camel and put his knee forward for her to put her foot on, in order for her to mount the camel.
• He (PBUH) said, “You never spend anything but you will be rewarded for it, even the morsel of food that you lift to your wife’s mouth.”

Muhammad (PBUH) also showed much love and respect towards the family of his wife. Once he (PBUH) was asked whom he loved the most.  He replied, “Aisha.”  When the questioner rephrased his question and asked from amongst the men, he replied, “Her father”. Also, whenever something (as gift) was brought to Muhammad (PBUH), he would say, “Take it to so-and-so because she was a friend of Khadijah (his deceased wife)…”.

Muhammad (PBUH) was also a loving and responsible family man who would help his wives in the housework, and he used to fix his clothes and personal belongings himself. One of his wives Aisha (RA) was asked what Muhammad (PBUH) used to do at home. She said that at home he used to work for his family, and when he heard the call for prayers, he would go out for prayers.

By looking attentively at the biography of Muhammad (PBUH), you will find that he was the most romantic person to walk this Earth. His conduct, behavior, and way of life are the best examples not only for Muslims but for all mankind to follow. The Almighty Himself says in the Quran:

“Indeed in the Messenger of God (i.e. Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) God and the Last Day and remembers God much.” Quran (33:21)