The Twenty Sixth Narration: Zainab bint Jahsh would take pride over the wives of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam by saying, “Verily Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala ordained my marriage from the heavens.” And it was due to her that the verses of hijab were revealed.

The Twenty Sixth Narration

Anas ibn Malik radiya Llahu ‘anhu says:

كانت زينب بنت جحش تفخر على نساء النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم تقول إن الله عز وجل أنكحني من السماء وفيها نزلت آية الحجاب

Zainab bint Jahsh would take pride over the wives of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam by saying, “Verily Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala ordained my marriage from the heavens.” And it was due to her that the verses of hijab were revealed.[1]

Imam al Nasa’i has recorded this with a sound chain of narration. Imam al Bukhari has recorded it with the following addition:

وأطعم عليها يومئذ خبزا ولحما

The Prophet gave the walimah meal which was of bread and meat.[2]

Another narration of Sahih al Bukhari has the following detail:

جاء زيد بن حارثة يشكو فجعل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول اتق الله وأمسك عليك زوجك قال أنس لو كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كاتما شيئا لكتم هذه

Zaid ibn Harithah came to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam complaining about his wife. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam kept on saying (to him), “Be afraid of Allah and keep your wife.” Anas said, “If Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam were to conceal anything (of the Qur’an) he would have concealed this (verse).”[3]

Commentary and Lessons Learnt from this Narration:

This narration holds great virtue in favour of Umm al Mu’minin Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha as the only woman in history to have been married without a witness and any formal proceedings.

A blessing for the Ahlul Bayt as Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala himself conducted the marriage of Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha. No other family can boast of such honour.

The obligation of hijab. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala revealed this injunction in the Qur’an and the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum would refer to it outlining the time before and after the injunction was revealed as Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha says, “As he had seen me prior to [the law of] hijab.”

If the need arises, or one has knowledge of an issue it will be permissible to speak of one’s own actions.

The marriages of the Ahlul Bayt should be carried out in the eye of the public without any sort of secrets.

The walimah meal amongst the Ahlul Bayt was moderate without any extravagance. They desired blessings in their marriage by spending minimally on the wedding. The most that Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had prepared was in the case of Zainab radiya Llahu ‘anha, a sheep.

The humility of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He married the former wife of his freed slave.

Anas radiya Llahu ‘anhu says:

لما انقضت عدة زينب قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لزيد فاذكرها علي قال فانطلق زيد حتى أتاها وهي تخمر عجينها قال فلما رأيتها عظمت في صدري حتى ما أستطيع أن أنظر إليها أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ذكرها فوليتها ظهري ونكصت على عقبي فقلت يا زينب أرسل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يذكرك قالت ما أنا بصانعة شيئا حتى أوامر ربي فقامت إلى مسجدهاونزل القرآن وجاء رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فدخل عليها بغير إذن

When the ‘Iddah of Zainab was over, Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to Zaid to make a mention to her about him. Zaid went on until he came to her and she was kneading her flour. He (Zaid) said, “As I saw her I felt in my heart an idea of her greatness so much so that I could not look towards her (simply for the fact) that Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had made a mention of her. So I turned my back towards her and I turned upon my heels, and said, ‘Zainab, Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam has sent me with a message to you.’ She said, ‘I will not do anything until I solicit the will of my Lord. So she stood at her place of worship and the verses of the Qur’an (pertaining to her marriage) were revealed, and Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam came to her without permission.”[4]

Zaid ibn Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhu, amongst the other Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum had a great amount of reverence for the Ahlul Bayt.
This narration mentions the way the marriage was conducted; from the heavens.
Her first husband was the one to take the proposal to her.

This is, as Ibn Hajar has mentioned, “Whoever gives his affairs over to Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala, will be favoured with the most beneficial for him in this world and the next.”

Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam passed on every injunction received from Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala. Consider the following verse:

وَإِذْ تَقُوْلُ لِلَّذِيْ أَنْعَمَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَاتَّقِ اللّٰهَ وَتُخْفِيْ فِيْ نَفْسِكَ مَا اللّٰهُ مُبْدِيْهِ وَتَخْشَى النَّاسَ وَاللّٰهُ أَحَقُّ أَنْ تَخْشَاهُ فَلَمَّا قَضٰى زَيْدٌ مِّنْهَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجْنَاكَهَا لِكَيْ لَا يَكُوْنَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ حَرَجٌ فِيْ أَزْوَاجِ أَدْعِيَائِهِمْ إِذَا قَضَوْا مِنْهُنَّ وَطَرًا وَكَانَ أَمْرُ اللّٰهِ مَفْعُوْلًا

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.[5]

If Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was to hide anything it would have been this verse.

The verses of hijab being revealed due to her refers to the following verse:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا لَا تَدْخُلُوْا بُيُوْتَ النَّبِيِّ إِلَّا أَن يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامٍ غَيْرَ نَاظِرِيْنَ إِنَاهُ وَلَٰكِنْ إِذَا دُعِيْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوْا فَإِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَانتَشِرُوْا وَلَا مُسْتَأْنِسِيْنَ لِحَدِيْثٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِيْ النَّبِيَّ فَيَسْتَحْيِيْ مِنكُمْ ۖ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَسْتَحْيِيْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ ۚ وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوْهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوْهُنَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوْبِكُمْ وَقُلُوْبِهِنَّ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُؤْذُوْا رَسُوْلَ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَنْ تَنْكِحُوْا أَزْوَاجَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ أَبَدًا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيْمًا

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.[6]

She was the catalyst for the revelation of this verse as is understood from the narrations and Tafsir.

NEXT⇒ The Twenty Seventh Narration

[1] Sunan al Nasa’i, Hadith: 3252.

[2] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 6985.

[3] Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 6984.

[4] Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2567.

[5] Surah al Ahzab: 33-37.

[6] Surah al Ahzab: 53.

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