In the Name of Allāh
The Beneficent, The Merciful.
Peace and blessings on Mohammad.
DEDICATED TO
Allāh–the Glorious and the High,
Lord of the worlds
AND TO
Mohammad–who brought the world
to our feet and eternity to our arms.
*

                                MOHAMMAD – CROSS-DRESSER
One Christian critic claims that Prophet Mohammad was a cross-dresser. As proof he notes a hadith that “the people would present their gifts (to the prophet) when he was at Aisha’s house. The companions of Um Salamah said, “O Um Salamah! By Allah the people wait to give their gifts till it is Aisha’s day and we desire the good things just as Aisha does. So ask the prophet to command the people to give him his gifts in whatever house of his wives he may be in.” Um Salamah mentioned this to the prophet but would not respond to her. She repeated it a second time but he still would not respond to her, but on the third time he said, “O Um Salama! Do not hurt me with Aisha; for by Allah, the inspiration did not descent on me while I was in the coverings (lihaf) of any of you (women) except Aisha.”

RESPONSE:
Arguably! So what IF Mohammad was a “cross-dresser?” Are there no men in Twentieth Century that are “cross-dressers?” Have you excoriated them?
And what about the tens and even hundreds of millions of women that are “cross-dressers” (wearing pants and shirts that are traditionally a man’s garment), do you denigrate them also?
And many of these women “cross-dressers” are Christians; and the Bible says about them (as well as men):
“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God”–(Deuteronomy 22:5).
Have you denigrated your Christian sisters (and brothers) for their cross-dressing?

Even if Mohammad was a cross-dresser this would NOT change the fact that Christianity- (is) a make-believe religion.
In fact, whereas Islam is superior to all other religions Judaism, Sikhism and Hinduism also are superior to Christianity.

However:
How is it that this Christian critic reads “cross-dressing” in the above-mentioned hadith?
“Lihaf” means “cover” or “coverlet,” much like a blanket or bedsheet. Perhaps even a shawl.

The Prophet condemned cross dressing–(Abu Dawud Vol. 3, #4086-4088). If the Prophet was “cross-dressing” it is strange that no one called his attention to this “cross-dressing” and his condemnation of “cross-dressing” (which would be hypocrisy on the Prophet’s part for condemning it and yet indulging in it); and the Prophet received Divine revelation until shortly before his death.
Thus, with all the Revelations the Prophet received over his twenty-three years ministry, according to this Christian critic of Islam the Prophet must have been “cross-dressing” a good part of these twenty-three years. And perhaps in public.

Moreover, if Mohammad was a “cross-dresser” (or if cross-dressing was something that was shunned in Seventh Century Arab society) consider the impact it would have had on his highly respected followers such as Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman.
Not to mention the ammunition that Mohammad would be handing to his inveterate enemies who were ever ready to throw anything against him to cause his defeat.

That Mohammad was wearing ‘Aisha’s dress, this critic will have to prove that Mohammad and ‘Aisha were the same physical size.
Mohammad may very well have been using ‘Aisha’s blanket or bedsheet and perhaps even her shawl as a “lihaf”–coverlet.