The Holy Quran states:
(Holy) Prophet! Surely, We have made lawful to you your wives
to whom you have paid their dowries; and those (captives or slaves)
whom your right hand possesses - whom Allah has given you, and
the daughters of your uncles on the father’s side, and the daughters
of your aunts from the father’s side, and the daughters of your
uncles on the mother’s side, and the daughters of your aunts on the
mother’s side who migrated (from Mecca) with you, and a believing
woman if she offers herself to the Prophet and the Prophet wishes to
marry her; - a privilege for you (Holy Prophet) only, and not for
the (rest of the) believers…” (33:50)
12. In the above Verse 33:50, the Holy Prophet
was allowed to marry any women, who came into his possession as a war captive, after her acceptance of Islam. According to this permission, two important and respectable women (Jawariah & Safiyah) came into his possession, as below, whom he married them with their consent after their acceptance of Islam and on freeing them. He, of course, paid them their dowries also.
Jawairiyah & Safiyah(Rathiyallaho anhuma')
a) Jawairiyah bint Harith (battle of Bani Al-Mustaliq) –6th Al-Hijrah
b) Safiyah bint Huyaiy (battle of Khaiber) - 7th Al-Hijrah
After freeing the above women, whose husbands were killed in the above battles, the Holy Prophet did offer them the choice of marrying him or returning to their homes as free women. They willingly accepted Islam and refused to go back. They quite willingly chose to marry the Holy Prophet, as they did not like to be married with the common Muslims, being the daughters of the tribal chiefs. The Holy Prophet(peace be upon him) married them and gave them their usual dowries (Mahr) like his other wives. Besides, as mentioned above, these respectable ladies were the daughters of chiefs of their tribes and were enjoying a very high status. In view of the custom prevailing at that time, these ladies could not be married to ordinary people. The Holy Prophet(peace be upon him) maintained their family dignity and, therefore, he himself married them.
[Seerat-un-Nabi by Ibn Iashsham, Vol II, pages 350-352,405,406)];
[Encyclopedia for Seerah, Vol II]
