168 Tn fbe f:ootSlps if the Prophet
MariyahThe Prophet continued to lead a private life that required him to be par-
ticularly attentive to his wives, for sharp and troublesome tensions some-
times occurred between the women o r with their respective families. He
himself remained most conciliating, and he hated to cross onc or anoth-
er of his wives. Aishah reported that the Prophet was very present and
engaged in his household, that he was very thoughtful, helped with the
housework, "sewed his clothes, [and] repaired his shoes," stopping only
when he heard the call to prayer and had to leave for the mosque.s In all
circumstances, even during the month of Ramadan, he was gentle, tender,
and particularly affectionate. Many accounts, narrated especially by
Aishah, stress this aspect of his character, which his wives greatly appre-
ciated and praised.
Life in Medina, where women were far more present and spirited than
in lvlecca, and the improving economic situation resulted in many changes
in the behavior of the Prophet's wives. Umar was concerned by this; he
himself, as we have seen, had to face the reproaches of his wife, who did
not hesitate to answer back to him, in contrast with thc habits of i'vlcccan
women. \X'hen Umar remonstrated with his wife, she replied that their o\vn
daughter, Hafsah, answered in the same way to the P rophet, her husband,
who acccptcd it, and that Umar would have to accept a similar attitude.
Umar was shocked and went to inquire of his daughter, who confirmed
that she and the other wives never hesitated to express their opinions and
argue with the Prophct, that they answered him freely, and that he accept-
ed the situation. Umar went to the Prophet to advise him to set his pri-
vate affairs right immediately. The Prophet listened to him and smiled but
did not react.
Muhammad had accustomed his wives to attcntion and dialogue; he lis-
tened to thcir advice, and throughout his life he kept the same respectful
attitude he had already displayed with Khadijah. His wives could differen-
tiate between :Muhammad's role as a prophet and his life as an ordinary
husband and human being. Even Aishah, after the calumny affair, had
resented the Prophet and his doubts, and when hcr mother told her to
thank the Prophet for obtaining God's forgiveness, she refused and said
that she would thank God bm not the Prophet, who after all had doubt-
ed her. Muhammad had never demanded to be treated in any specific way,