Zainab bint Jahsh
Name and Lineage
Her name is Zainab, and she is the daughter of Jahsh and Rabab. She was the cousin of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. Her mother was Ummi Ma'bad, the daughter of Abd al-Muttalib, who belonged to the Hashim clan, and she was also the sister of Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, may Allah be pleased with him. Zainab was among the early Muslim emigrants (Muhajirat) who embraced Islam and migrated for the sake of their faith.
Her Marriage to Zaid
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, proposed the marriage of his cousin Zainab bint Jahsh to his freed slave Zaid ibn Harithah. Zainab initially refused this proposal because she considered herself of higher lineage than Zaid.
Then Allah, the Most High, revealed the verse: "It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error." (Quran, 33:36)
Upon receiving this revelation, Zainab agreed to the marriage, and it was Allah's divine plan for this union to take place for a profound wisdom known to Him.
The Story of Her Marriage to the Prophet
Zaid ibn Harithah came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, complaining about his marital issues with Zainab, may Allah be pleased with them both. In response, the Prophet instructed him to maintain his marriage to her and advised him to reconcile their differences rather than seeking divorce.
The Prophet concealed Allah's command, which was to marry Zainab after her divorce from Zaid. He did this out of concern for what people might say, given that Zaid had adopted Zainab, and Zainab would become the wife of his adopted son in the eyes of society.
Later, Allah, the Most High, revealed the following verse: "And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, 'Keep your wife and fear Allah,' while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him. So when Zaid no longer had any need for her, we married her to you in order that there would not be any discomfort upon the believers concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer had need of them." (Quran, 33:37)
The intention behind Allah's command for this marriage was to abolish the pre-Islamic customs and rulings. The marriage of Zainab bint Jahsh to the Prophet, peace be upon him, was ordained by Allah and was based on a clear Quranic injunction revealed to His Prophet.
Zainab took pride in this marriage over the other wives of the Prophet. Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: "She used to boast to the Prophet's other wives, saying, 'Allah married me in the heavens'".
Ruling Resulting from Her Marriage to the Prophet
The ruling that emerged from Zainab bint Jahsh's marriage to the Prophet peace be upon him, was the abolishment of the custom of adoption and its prohibition, which had been practiced during the pre-Islamic era.
The Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him, had adopted Zaid ibn Harithah. Allah, the Most High, intended to nullify this custom in the most emphatic way possible and used the marriage of the Prophet, peace be upon him, to Zainab as a means of confirmation. This marriage served as a powerful example to underscore the prohibition of the adoption practices that had been prevalent before the advent of Islam.
The Prophet's Love for Zainab and His Wives' Jealousy
The Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him, held a deep and special love for Zainab, which sometimes caused jealousy among his other wives. Every day, the Prophet visited Zainab and had honey at her place.
Aisha and Hafsa, the Mothers of the Believers, once agreed to tell the Prophet, peace be upon him, that they smelled an unpleasant odor from him when he visited them. When they did so, the Prophet explained that he had only consumed honey at Zainab's place and vowed not to do so again.
When the Prophet, peace be upon him, prohibited honey for himself, Allah, the Most High, revealed the verse: "O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (Quran, 66:1) Allah, in this verse, gently admonished His noble Prophet for depriving himself of honey due to the jealousy of his wives.
Virtues of Umm al-Mu'minin Zainab
Umm al-Mu'minin Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her, possessed numerous virtues, as elaborated below:
- Generosity and Charity: Zainab was known for her frequent acts of charity and giving. The Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him, testified to her generosity. It is narrated that some of the Prophet's wives asked him, "Who among us is the most virtuous and generous?" He replied, "The one among you with the longest hand." They then measured their hands using a stick, and it was found that Zainab had the longest hand. This measurement was symbolic of her charity and giving nature.
- Earning Her Own Income: Zainab was a skilled artisan and earned her own income through her work. She was known for her craftsmanship in tanning and embroidery. Despite her financial independence, she chose to spend her earnings on charitable causes. Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, attested to this fact.
Aisha said, "Zainab was a woman who used to work with her hands, tanning leather, making handicrafts, and spending her earnings for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic."
- Good Character: Zainab was recognized for her noble character. She was truthful in her speech, maintained strong family ties, and was known for her piety and righteousness. Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, bore witness to her excellent character.
Aisha described her, saying, "I have never seen a woman better in religion than Zainab. She was very God-conscious, spoke the truth, maintained family ties, gave generously in charity, and showed the utmost humility in the way she spent her wealth for the sake of Allah".
Zainab's life was marked by her asceticism in worldly matters and her eagerness for the Hereafter. She demonstrated a sincere devotion to her faith and a strong commitment to the well-being of others.
Death of Umm al-Mu'minin Zainab
Zainab, the Mother of the Believers, passed away in the year 20 Hijri at the age of 53. She was the first of the Prophet Muhammad's wives to pass away after his own death. Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him. He was the Caliph of the Muslims at that time and led the funeral prayer for her. She was buried in the cemetery of Al-Baqi in Medina.
3 Comments
Her hands were not longer in physical sense. It was used as metaphor for her charity.
Her hands were not longer in physical sense. It was used as metaphor for her charity.
Her hands were not longer in physical sense. It was used as metaphor for her charity.