Sayyidah Zainab bint Jahsh

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Sayyidah Zainab bint Jahsh

Name and lineage

Zainab bint Jahsh ibn Rubab ibn Ya’mar al Asadiyyah, an ally of the Banu ‘Abd Shams. Her mother was Umaymah bint ‘Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim, the paternal aunt of the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

She was from amongst the first group of Sahabah who emigrated. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her in 3 AH. She was previously in the wedlock of Zaid bin Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhu—the freed slave of Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam—the Sahabi who was commonly referred to as Ibn Muhammad (the son of Muhammad). It was concerning Zaid ibn Harithah and Zainab bint Jahsh radiya Llahu ‘anhuma that the verses permitting marriage to the wives of one’s adopted son were revealed; as the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam adopted Zaid ibn Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhu before receiving Nubuwwah, due to which he was called Zaid ibn Muhammad. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala abrogated this association with His words:

 

ادْعُوهُمْ لِآبَائِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ۚ

Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah.^[1]

 

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala further clarified and emphasised this by instructing the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to marry Zainab bint Jahsh radiya Llahu ‘anha with the following verse:

 

فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ زَيْدٌ مِنْهَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجْنَاكَهَا لِكَيْ لَا يَكُونَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَرَجٌ فِي أَزْوَاجِ أَدْعِيَائِهِمْ إِذَا قَضَوْا مِنْهُنَّ وَطَرًا ۚ

So when Zaid had no longer any need for her, we married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need for them.^[2]

 

Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha was amongst the leading women of her time with regards to religion, piety, and generosity. She is the first of the Ummahat al Mu’minin to pass away after the demise of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; she passed away in 20 AH.

 

Merits and Status

1. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala performed her nikah (marriage ceremony) to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam above the seven heavens:

 

وَإِذْ تَقُولُ لِلَّذِي أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَتُخْفِي فِي نَفْسِكَ مَا اللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى النَّاسَ وَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَنْ تَخْشَاهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ زَيْدٌ مِنْهَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجْنَاكَهَا لِكَيْ لَا يَكُونَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَرَجٌ فِي أَزْوَاجِ أَدْعِيَائِهِمْ إِذَا قَضَوْا مِنْهُنَّ وَطَرًا ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا

And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favour and you bestowed favour, “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 had no longer any need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them. And ever is the command of Allah accomplished.^[3]

 

She would boast to her cowives saying:

 

زوجكن أهاليكن وزوجني الله تعالى من فوق سبع سموات

Your families performed your marriage ceremonies while Allah performed my marriage ceremony above the seven heavens.^[4]

 

2. Her marriage was the reason behind the revelation of the Verse of Hijab (woman’s veil). Al Bukhari reported with his chain from Sayyidina Anas bin Malik radiya Llahu ‘anhu:

 

لما أهديت زينب إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كانت معه في البيت صنع طعاما ودعا القوم فقعدوا يتحدثون فجعل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يخرج ثم يرجع وهم قعود يتحدثون فأنزل الله تعالى يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتَ النَّبِيِّ إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامٍ غَيْرَ نَاظِرِينَ إِنَاهُ وَلَٰكِنْ إِذَا دُعِيتُمْ فَادْخُلُوا فَإِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَانْتَشِرُوا وَلَا مُسْتَأْنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِي النَّبِيَّ فَيَسْتَحْيِي مِنْكُمْ ۖ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ ۚ وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَنْ تُؤْذُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَنْ تَنْكِحُوا أَزْوَاجَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ أَبَدًا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمًا  فضرب الحجاب وقام القوم

When Zainab was brought to the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, she was with him in the house. He prepared a meal and invited the people (to partake of the meal). (After finishing their meal) They sat down and engaged in conversation. So the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam left and returned several times while they continued with their conversations. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala then revealed the verse, “O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted for a meal, without awaiting its readiness. But when you are invited, then enter; and when you have eaten, disperse without seeking to remain for conversation. Indeed, that [behaviour] was troubling the Prophet, and he is shy of [dismissing] you. But Allah is not shy of the truth. And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not [conceivable or lawful] for you to harm the Messenger of Allah or to marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allah an enormity.”^[5] So the veil was raised and the people stood to leave.^[6]

 

3. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would frequently praise her from amongst his wives for her generosity and liberal spending in the Path of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala. Muslim reports from Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha:

 

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أسرعكن لحاقا بي أطولكن يدا قالت فكن يتطاولن أيتهن أطول يدا قالت فكانت أطولنا يدا زينب لأنها كانت تعمل بيدها و تصدق

The Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “The first of you to meet me [i.e. the first to pass away] will be the one with the longest hands amongst you.”

They (the wives) would measure their hands to see whose was the longest. [But] Zainab had the longest hand among us; as she used to work with her hands and spend in charity.^[7]

 

4. ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha once said when recounting her virtues:

 

لم أر امرأة قط خيرا في الدين من زينب و أتقى لله و أصدق حديثا و أوصل للرحم و أعظم صدقة و أشد ابتذالا لنفسها في العمل الذي تصدق به و تقرب به إلى الله تعالى

I have never seen a woman more superior in din, more Allah-fearing, more truthful, more conscious of maintaining family ties, more generous, having a greater sense of self-sacrifice in practical life and a more charitable disposition that draws one closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala than Zainab.^[8]

 

NEXT⇒ Sayyidah Juwayriyah bint al Harith

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^[1]  Surah al Ahzab: 5.

^[2]  Surah al Ahzab: 37.

^[3]  Surah al Ahzab: 37.

^[4]  Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 7420.

^[5]  Surah al Ahzab: 53.

^[6]  Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith 4792.

^[7]  Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2452.

^[8]  Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2442.