A Critical Exposition of the Popular 'Jihád'/Appendix B/13

[Sidenote: The story of Haphsa and Maria a spurious one.]

13. (5) Lastly, I have to notice the infamous calumny against Mohammad concocted up by his enemies, that Haphsa surprized the Prophet in her own private room with Maria. "She reproached her lord bitterly, and threatened to make the occurrence known to all his wives. Afraid of the exposure and anxious to appease his offended wife, he begged of her to keep the matter quiet, and promised to forego the society of Maria altogether." But he afterwards released himself from it by a special revelation&mdash;(Sura LXVI, 1). Sir W. Muir remarks:&mdash;


 * "As in the case of Zeinab, Mahomet produced a message from Heaven, which disallowed his promise of separation from Mary...."

The passage in the Koran relating to the affair is as follows:&mdash;


 * "O Prophet! Why hast thou forbidden thyself that which God hath made lawful unto thee, out of desire to please thy wives; for God is forgiving and merciful?"