Genealogy
She was Zaynab bint Jashsh ibn Ribal Asadiya. Her mother was Umaima bint’Abd al-Muttalib. Her family tree was as under:
Father
Jashsh bin Rakab bin Yamar bin Sabera bin Merab bin Kashseer bin Sanam bin Zaodan bin Asad bin Khazima.
Mother
Umaima bint Abu Talib bin Abdul Mutlib bin Hashim bin Abdul Munaf.
Early Life
She was born in a noble tribe of Quraish in the year 594AD and was named Barra. The Holy Prophet being her first cousin changed her name when she embraced Islam. She was a very attractive and a pretty lady of medium height with a dominating and a forceful personality, which usually annoyed others. However she was excellent in hard work and used to cure skins and tan them with her own hands. She was also good at cobbling. All things that she manufactured at home were sold and the money that accrued from there was distributed among the poor and the needy.
Brother and Sisters
Though there are some contradictory reports regarding the number of brothers and sisters she had, accordingly to most historians and various records, she had three brothers and two sisters:
Abdullah Bin Jashsh
He was one of those individuals who embraced Islam at an early stage. He on the instruction of the Holy Prophet migrated to Jashsh and subsequently to Medinah. He took part in the battle of Badr and became the martyr of the battle of Ohad. He is buried next to the grave of Hazrat Amir Humza.
Abbu Ahmed Bin Jashsh
He also migrated first to Jashsh and then to Medinah along with his brother Abdullah. He was a poet and was blind by birth. He was married to Farrah bint Abu Suffain and died after the death of his sister Hazrat Zaynab.
Abeed ullah Bin Jashsh
He migrated along with his brothers to Jashsh and decided to settle there. Beside other sinister habits he became an alcoholic and ultimately died as a Christian.
Ummah Habib bint Jashsh
She was married to Abdur Rehman bin Auf.
Humnah bint Jashsh
She was initially married to Hazrat Musab bin Umar who became a martyr of the battle of Ohad. Later she was married to Talah bin Abdullah from whom she had two sons, Muhammad and Imran.
Marriage Proposal for Zayd
Hazrat Zayd, the adopted son of the Holy Prophet was tall having a flat nose and a dark complexion. His father, Harithah belonged to a respectable family of a tribe Banu Kazah of Yemen. His mother’s name was Sadia bint Salab bin Abud Amir. When Hazrat Zayd was 8 years old he along with his mother journeyed to his grand parents. While they had camped for the night a few horse riders of Bani Alqayan attacked their camp and captured some of the individuals among whom Hazrat Zayd was also present. Later he was sold in the market of Aqaaz to Hakim bin Hazaam for 400 dirhams. Hakim later presented this slave to his maternal Aunt Hazrat Khadijah. Subsequently when the Holy Prophet married Hazrat Khadijah, she deputed Hazrat Zayd, who was at that time 15 years old to look after the Holy Prophet.
When the Holy Prophet first sent a proposal to Hazrat Zaynab from Zayd he was about 30 years old and was already married to Ummeh Ayman (Barakah). The people of her family were averse to his proposal, and were not willing to give her in marriage to a freed slave. The Holy Prophet reprehended them and said “No Zayd belongs to the noble house of Hatim al-Tai, and now he is my son, what is in family glory? We are all brethren, and indeed the noblest of us in the Sight of Allah is the most pious of us! I wish you to help me in discarding the age-old prejudices the vainglorious of descent. Allah is pleased only with your piety and righteousness, and not with these sham vanities. In spite of this, she refused and turned down the proposal. Her brother Abdullah ibn Jashsh supported her in her refusal to marry Zayd. But as the Holy Prophet loved Zayd and regarded him as his son, he insisted that there was no room for a refusal: it must be accepted. She said “Allah’s Messenger, give me time to think.” While these talks were going on, the following verse of the Qur’an was revealed in Surah Al-Ahzab (33:36). After which Hazrat Zaynab and her brother agreed on this marriage.
“It is not fitting for a Believer man or woman when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Apostle to have any option about their decision: if anyone disobeys Allah and His Apostle he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path “(33:36)
Marriage with Zayd
In the year 3 A.H she was married to Zayd ibn Harithah ibn Sharahil, who was at that time 30 years old. The Holy Prophet solemnized her marriage and the mehr was set for 10 dinars and 60 dirhams. Along with the mehr few clothes and rations of daily use were also sent. Though she agreed on getting married to Zayd, but she never reconciled with the idea of marrying a slave and therefore never accepted him as her husband from the heart.
Divorce by Zayd
Within a year or so, Zayd found it difficult to maintain his marriage relation with her. He complained to the Holy Prophet of her harsh and crude behaviour and informed him of his intention to divorce her, but the Holy Prophet told him to fear Allah and restrain himself. Tirmizi transmitted this incident in these words: “Zayd came to the Holy Prophet and said that Hazrat Zaynab was insolent and abusive to him and that he wanted to divorce her.” But the Holy Prophet repeatedly asked him not to divorce her as is mentioned in the Quran in following words of Surah Al-Ahzab (33:37):
Behold! thou didst say to one who had received the grace of Allah and thy favor: “Retain thou (in wedlock) thy wife and fear Allah. (33.37).
But Zayd could not keep on his relationship with Hazrat Zaynab and divorced her. In the meantime Allah revealed in Surah Al-Ahzab (33:40):
Muhammad is not the (physical and real) father of any man among you. But he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophet. And Allah knows all things. (33.40)
Marriage Proposal by The Holy Prophet
Zayd had divorced Hazrat Zaynab. This was soon confirmed by the revelation in Surah
Al-Ahzab (33:37):
Then when Zayd had dissolved (his marriage) with her with the necessary (formality) We joined her in marriage to thee: in order that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the Believers in (the matter of) marriage with the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have dissolved with the necessary (formality) (their marriage) with them: and Allah’s command must be fulfilled. (33.37)
This verse was revealed to the Prophet in the presence of Hazrat Aiesha. The Holy Prophet sent this proposal to Hazrat Zaynab after her waiting period was completed through Zayd, but she said that she could not give any reply without consulting her Lord (i.e. istikhara). Then she prostrated and according to some reports, offered two rak’at prayer and prayed; “O Lord, if I am worthy of him, give me in marriage to him.” It is reported that then the above verse was revealed and the Holy Prophet sent a message to Hazrat Zaynab that she was given to him in marriage by his Lord. When she heard this news, she took the slave-girl, Salamah, who had brought the good news, fell prostrate and vowed to do two months fasting.
Marriage Ceremony
The Holy Prophet gave a grand feast of walimah such as he never gave for any other wife. A goat was slaughtered and about 300 men enjoyed the feast. The verses of hijab were revealed on this occasion as some people stayed unnecessarily late in his house, which caused him and his household great inconvenience for there was only one room. The Quran mentions this in following words of Surah Al-Ahzab (33:53):
O you who believe! Enter not the house of the Prophet for a meal without waiting for the proper time, unless permission is granted to you. But if you are invited, enter and when your meal is ended, then disperse, Linger not for conversation. Surely that would cause annoyance to the Prophet, and he would be shy of asking you to go; but Allah is not shy of the Truth. And when you ask of them (the wives of the Prophet) anything, ask it of them from behind a curtain. That is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. (33.53).
Significance of Hazrat Zaynab’s Marriage
Hazrat Zaynab’s marriage had certain special features, which distinguish her from other wives of the Prophet. Allah performed her marriage (nikah) and a revelation was sent to this effect to the Prophet. The guardians or fathers contracted the marriages of other wives where as the Command of Allah conducted her marriage, thus there was no dowry and Allah stood guarantee on behalf of the Prophet for Hazrat Zaynab. The marriage was solemnized through a revelation of the Quran which guaranteed security of privacy to the Prophet’s household in these words ( Surah Al-Ahzab (33:53),
O you who believe! Enter not the house of the Prophet for a meal (33.53).
Then her walimah feast was celebrated as a great occasion such as no other wife of the Prophet had the honour of at her marriage. Hazrat Zaynab used to boast of this over the other wives of the Prophet.
Hazrat Zaynab- in The Eyes of The Holy Prophet
There are many reports about her piety and excellence in many respects. Hazrat Aiesha said “In the eyes of Allah’s Messenger, only Hazrat Zaynab competes with me in honour and dignity” (Muslim). The Holy Prophet always met her with loving affection and great cordiality. Umm Salamah spoke highly of the virtues and good qualities of her, She said, “Hazrat Zaynab is a beautiful woman and the Prophet comes to her very often. She is a pious woman, keeps fast, engages in prayer at night and spends all her wealth on the needy and the poor”. Hazrat Zaynab herself said, “When I received the message of marriage from the Prophet, I vowed to fast for two months, When the Prophet was with me, at home or on a journey, I could not fast, but when I was alone I fasted.” (Tabaqat). Hazrat Aiesha said, “I have not seen any woman more religious, pious, truthful, generous, charitable or engaged in the Pleasure of Allah than Hazrat Zaynab.” “She was slightly hot-tempered but quickly repented for it” (Muslim). In piety and taqwa (fear of Allah), she was at a very high level. When slanderous rumours were heard about Hazrat Aiesha and Hazrat Zaynab’s sister Hamnah was involved, the Prophet asked her about Aiesha’s morals and she said, ” I know nothing but good of Aiesha.” Aiesha recognized her truthfulness and righteousness.
She was often engaged in ibadah (worship) with great devotion and fear. Once the Prophet was distributing some wealth among the muhajirin and Hazrat Zaynab said something harsh to the Holy Prophet. Thereupon ‘Umar severely rebuked her but the Prophet said, “Umar, do not say anything, for she is very Allah-fearing (addaha).” Some one present said, “What is addaha?” The Holy Prophet said, “Humility in prayer and supplication and entreaty in the Presence of Allah.” Then he recited this verse from Surah Hud (11:75).
For Ibrahim was tenderhearted and merciful and always turned to Us. (11:75).
Thus the Prophet compared her to the Prophet Ibrahim in regard to this quality. (Madarij al Nubuwa).
Holy Prophets Love for Hazrat Zaynab
The Prophet had great compassion and love for her. As she had to suffer the afflictions of an in harmonious tie and unhappy marriage with Zayd, for which the Prophet felt, was partly due to his insistence and being a cousin, he considered it to be a duty to repair that suffering. He therefore sometimes devoted more time and more attention to her in the afternoons than to others. She always acknowledged and appreciated his special attention.
Hazrat Zaynab was temperamentally sharp and at times she would not hesitate to talk boldly even in the presence of the Prophet. This she could do only because she had the advantage of being closely related to him and she also had the privilege of having been given to him by Allah. On one occasion, Hazrat Aiesha wanted to refute Hazrat Zaynab, but the Prophet bade her to keep silent for otherwise this would have generated heart burning and the attention of these noble ladies would have been diverted to things other than devotion to Allah and they would have lost serenity and peace of mind.
Once when it was the turn of Hazrat Aiesha with the Prophet, a lamb was slaughtered and he asked her to distribute it among the other wives as well. She did it and sent a share to each one of them. When the share of Hazrat Zaynab was offered to her she declined to accept it to which The Holy Prophet asked Hazrat Aiesha to add a few more pieces and to send it again to her. Hazrat Zaynab again refused to accept it. On this Hazrat Aiesha felt annoyed and exclaimed: “May Allah curse your face! You refuse the gift!” The Prophet was very angry at seeing the reaction of Hazrat Aiesha and it is related that he did not visit her for a month.
The Holy Prophet loved her intensely and often stayed with her. Once she got some honey and gave it as a drink to the Prophet. It was the usual practice of the Prophet to go round to see all his wises after salat al-Asr (i.e. after-noon prayer). Hazrat Aiesha reported that the Holy Prophet began to stay more with Hazrat Zaynab to enjoy a drink of honey. So Hafsah, Saudah and Aiesha agreed that when the Prophet visited them afterwards, they should say, “I smell an odour of Maghafir” (a kind of mimosa with an unpleasant small). “Have you eaten some?” they all said the same thing. To this the Prophet said, “Don’t worry: I drank some honey at the house of Zaynab bint Jahsh, but I swear that I shall not do it again. Do not tell anyone of this”. (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasai and Ahmed). This act itself was not of any importance, but because it happened to the Prophet, Allah took notice of it and rectified the slight mistake on the part of the Prophet in the following verse of surah Al Tahrim (66:1).
O Prophet! why holdest thou to be forbidden that which Allah has made lawful to thee? Thou seekest to please thy consorts. But Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. (66:1)
Hazrat Zaynab a Generous Lady
Hazrat Aiesha narrates that when Hazrat Zaynab died the poor and the orphans of Medinah were very upset and worried. (Ibn Said). It is reported that she was very contented and generous by temperament. She made her living by her own hand and spent it all in the Way of Allah. Hazrat Umra reported. “I heard Hazrat Aiesha saying (after the death of Hazrat Zaynab) that a praise worthy and a unique lady had gone, who was a protection for orphans and widows.” (Tabaqat). Hazrat Umar had fixed an annual allowance of twelve thousand dirhams for her, but when she received it for the first time she distributed it all among the poor, the needy and some of her needy relatives. When she received this allowance, she said, “O Allah! Umar’s allowance shall not find me after this year.” When Umar found that she had distributed it all, he said, “She is such a lady that she should be treated more liberally.” Then he went to her and sent his compliments to her while standing at the door and said, ” I am told that you have distributed all your wealth.” He gave her one thousand dirhams for her personal expenses but she distributed that as well. She died in the same year and did not live to see the second allowance.
When Hazrat Aiesha heard the news of her death she said, “A good-natured, benefit-giving women who was the guardian of orphans and widows has gone from the world,” Umm Salamah said, “Hazrat Zaynab was pious, fasted often and regularly offered prayer”. When she died, Aiesha began to weep and talk about her and pray for her. Some body asked her, “Tell us any quality of Hazrat Zaynab”. She replied, “Hazrat Zaynab was a virtuous woman.” Once the narrator of the hadith, said, “tell us who was the most beloved of the Holy Prophet?” She said, “I had not thought about it, but Zaynab and Umm Salamah had a place in my thinking after me those two were the most beloved to him.”(Tabaqat).
According to Hazrat Aiesha when some of the Prophets wives asked him which of them would join him the soonest: “he replied that it would be the one with the longest arm. So they took a rod and measured, and Suddha was the one among them who had the longest arm. They later came to know that charity (sadaqa) was the meaning of the length of the arm, for Zaynab bint Jashsh was the one who joined him the soonest and she was fond of giving charity.”(Bukhari and Muslim. (Sauda died later in the caliphate of Muhawiya).
Joining The Life Hereafter
When Hazrat Zaynab fell ill only the wives of the Holy Prophet were allowed to nurse her and when she died in the year 20 A.H they alone were required to wash her dead body. Hazrat Zaynab had kept a shroud ready. But when Umar sent a shroud, the one that Hazrat Zaynab had kept was given away in alms and he led the funeral prayers as well. Only her near relatives, such as Usama ibn Zayd and Muhammad ibn Ubaid ullah ibn Jashsh were allowed to lift her body and place it in the grave to repose. When she died it was a hot summer day and the sun shone scorching in the sky. She was buried in the Janat-ul-Baqi.
