Merchants of Mecca

Book excerpt: Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, had nineteen wives. This book, researched from the earliest Islamic sources, explodes many popular myths, leaving the Mothers of the Faithful UNVEILED.Merchants of Mecca maps the biographies of Muhammad's first five wives: the millionaire businesswoman Khadija, who launched the new faith; the child-bride Aïsha, who started a war then shaped Islamic law for posterity; Saowda, the humble perfume-mixer; ascetic Hafsa, custodian of the first Quraan; and Zaynab, a proactive social worker.Why did Muhammad, who was originally faithful to Khadija, later live with several women at once? How did his wives adapt to polygyny, poverty and life in the public eye? Which one served hashish to the dinner guests? Who stripped naked in front of an angel? And who committed a murder?The veils of history are lifted, allowing Muhammad and his wives to spring to life.