THE PROPHET’S MARRIAGE TO ZAINAB BINT JAHSH
The Prophet’s Marriage To Zainab Bint Jahsh Ibn Ri’ab Ibn Ya‘mar Ibn Sabirah Ibn Murrah Ibn Kabeer Ibn Ghanm Ibn Doowdan Ibn Asad Ibn Khuzaimah Al-Asadiyyah
Allah, the Almighty, says: And (remember) when you said to him (Zaid Ibn Harithah, the freed-slave of the Prophet) on whom Allah has bestowed Grace (by guiding him to Islam) and you (O Muhammad too) have done favor (by manumitting him) “Keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allah.” But you did hide in yourself (i.e. what Allah has already made known to you that He will give her to you in marriage) that which Allah will make manifest, you did fear the people (i.e., Muhammad married the divorced wife of his manumitted slave) whereas Allah had a better right that you should fear Him.
So when Zaid had accomplished his desire from her (i.e. divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage, so that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the believers in respect of (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no desire to keep them (i.e. they have divorced them). And Allah’s Command must be fulfilled. There is no blame on the Prophet in that which Allah has made legal for him. That has been Allah’s Way with those who have passed away of (the Prophets of) old. And the Command of Allah is a decree determined. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:37,38)
The one on whom Allah, the Almighty, bestowed Grace here is Zaid Ibn Al-Harithah, may Allah be pleased with him, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Allah bestowed Grace on him with Islam and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, bestowed Grace on him by manumitting and marrying him to his aunt’s daughter, Zainab Bint Jahsh, may Allah be pleased with her. Maqatil Ibn Hayyan related, “The amount of dowry he paid to her was ten deenar, sixty dirham, a face veil, a blanket, a shield, fifty measures of food and ten measures of dates.”
She was married to him for close to a year or a little more than a year and then strife erupted between both of them. Her husband came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, complaining about his wife and the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, kept telling him: “Keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allah.”
Allah, the Almighty, says: You did hide in yourself (i.e. what Allah has already made known to you that He will give her to you in marriage) that which Allah will make manifest. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:37)
‘Ali Ibn Al-Husain Zainul-‘Abideen and As-Suddi said: Allah, the Almighty, had already informed him that she would be one of his wives and that is what he, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, hid in his heart. Many of the predecessors have commented on this matter relating strange narrations some of which contain some doubts. We have deliberately omitted them.
Allah says: So when Zaid had accomplished his desire from her (i.e., divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:37) meaning that when Zaid divorced his wife and after she had concluded her waiting period, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, sent a message seeking her hand in marriage for himself. Then she married him. The One Who married her [to the Prophet] was the Lord of the Worlds, the Exalted and Sublime. This is confirmed in Sahih Al-Bukhari from Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that Zainab Bint Jahsh, may Allah be pleased with her, used to boast to the other wives of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and used to say: “Your families married you, but Allah married me (to the Prophet) from above the seven Heavens.”
It is concerning her that the Verse of Al-Hijab (veil) was revealed: O you who believe! Enter not the Prophet’s houses, except when leave is given to you for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:53)
Imam Ahmad, may Allah have Mercy upon him, related from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that when Zainab’s waiting period was over, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to Zaid: “Go and mention me to her.” So he proceeded till he got to her while she was kneading her dough. He said, “The moment I saw her, she became great in my heart till I could no longer bear to look at her given that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had mentioned her.” So I turned my back to her and retreated on my heels and I said, “O Zainab, glad tidings! Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, has mentioned you (i.e., for a proposal of marriage).’ She said, “I am not going to do anything till my Lord commands me.” Then she stood in her prayer spot and then Allah, the Almighty, revealed the Qur’an and Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, came and entered upon her without seeking permission.
Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, added, “After Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, consummated his marriage with her, he fed us bread and meat. When the people left, some men remained behind in the house chatting after the meal so the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went out, and I followed him, and he went round the dwelling place of his wives saying the greeting of peace to them and they would respond, “Peace and the mercy of Allah be on you too. How did you find your wife?” I do not remember whether I was the one who informed him that the people had left or someone else informed him. Then he returned to his apartment and I wanted to enter along with him but he drew the curtain between me and him, and then the Verse of Al-Hijab was revealed and the people were admonished: Enter not the Prophet’s houses, except when leave is given to you for a meal. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33: 53)
The Revelation of the Verse of Hijab on the Morning of Her Wedding Ceremony
The verse of Hijab was appropriately revealed at the time of this wedding as a protection for her and her sisters among the Mothers of Believers. This is consistent with the opinion of Al-Umari.
Al-Bukhari related that Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: When Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, married Zainab Bint Jahsh, may Allah be pleased with her, he invited the people for a meal and they remained sitting and talking. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, pretended to be ready to get up, but the people did not get up. When he noticed that, he got up, and when he had got up, some of those people got up along with him and there remained three (who kept on sitting). Then the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, came back and found those people still sitting. Later on those people got up and went away. So I went to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and informed him that they had left. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, came and entered (his house). I wanted to enter (along with him) but he drew a curtain between me and him and then Allah, the Almighty, revealed: O you who believe! Enter not the Prophet’s houses, except when leave is given to you for a meal. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33: 53)
By: Ibn Katheer
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