Sayyidah Zainab bint Jahsh (R.A)
Sayyidah Zainab’s Name and lineage
Zainab bint Jahsh ibn Rubab ibn Ya’mar al Asadi, an ally of Banu ‘Abd al Shams.
She was from amongst the first group of Sahabah who migrated. Her mother was Umayah bint ‘Abd al Muttalib ibn Hashim, who was the paternal aunt of the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her in the third or fifth year after hijrah, she was before that in the wedlock of Zayd 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 sons was revealed; as the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had adopted Zaid ibn Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhu before receiving Nubuwwah and was thus called Zaid ibn Muhammad. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala abrogated this association with His words:
اُدْعُوْهُمْ لِآبَائِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ
Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah. [Surah al Ahzab: 5]
Then 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 قَضٰى زَيْدٌ مِّنْهَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجْنَاكَهَا لِكَيْ لَا يَكُوْنَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ حَرَجٌ فِيْ 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 of them.[Surah al Ahzab: 37]
Thus 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 Ummhat al Mu’minin (Mother of the Believers) to pass away after the demise of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. As she passed away in the year 20 A.H.
Sayyidah Zainab’s Virtues and Status
Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala performed her nikah (marriage ceremony) to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam above the seven heavens:
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.[Surah al Ahzab: 33-37] She would boast to her co-wives from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying:
It was your families who performed your marriage to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and Allah married me to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam above the seven heavens.[Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith 7420.]
It was on account of her that the verses of Hijab (veiling oneself) were revealed.
Al Bukhari reported with his chain of transmission from Sayyidina Anas bin Malik radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
When Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married Zainab bint Jahsh 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…” until the verse, ask them from behind a screen.”[Surah al Ahzab: 53] So a veil was erected and the people stood to leave.[Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith 4792.]
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. Al Muslim reports from Sayyidah Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha:
The Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “The one who has the longest hands amongst you will be the first to meet me (in Jannat).”
She then said, “The wives of Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to measure their hands to see whose was the longest, and it was the hand of Zainab that was the longest amongst them; as she used to work with her hands and spend (that income) on charity.”[Sahih al Muslim, Hadith 2452.]
Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha once said when recounting her virtues:
I have never seen a woman more superior in din, more Allah fearing, more truthful, more conscious of maintaining family relations, more generous, having a greater sense of self-sacrifice in practical life, and a charitable disposition that draws one closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala than Zainab.[Sahih al Muslim, Hadith 2422.]
Zainab bint Jahsh ibn Rubab ibn Ya’mar al Asadi, an ally of Banu ‘Abd al Shams.
She was from amongst the first group of Sahabah who migrated. Her mother was Umayah bint ‘Abd al Muttalib ibn Hashim, who was the paternal aunt of the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her in the third or fifth year after hijrah, she was before that in the wedlock of Zayd 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 sons was revealed; as the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had adopted Zaid ibn Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhu before receiving Nubuwwah and was thus called Zaid ibn Muhammad. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala abrogated this association with His words:
اُدْعُوْهُمْ لِآبَائِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ
Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah. [Surah al Ahzab: 5]
Then 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 قَضٰى زَيْدٌ مِّنْهَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجْنَاكَهَا لِكَيْ لَا يَكُوْنَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ حَرَجٌ فِيْ 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 of them.[Surah al Ahzab: 37]
Thus 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 Ummhat al Mu’minin (Mother of the Believers) to pass away after the demise of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. As she passed away in the year 20 A.H.
Sayyidah Zainab’s Virtues and Status
Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala performed her nikah (marriage ceremony) to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam above the seven heavens:
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.[Surah al Ahzab: 33-37] She would boast to her co-wives from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying:
It was your families who performed your marriage to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and Allah married me to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam above the seven heavens.[Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith 7420.]
It was on account of her that the verses of Hijab (veiling oneself) were revealed.
Al Bukhari reported with his chain of transmission from Sayyidina Anas bin Malik radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
When Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married Zainab bint Jahsh 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…” until the verse, ask them from behind a screen.”[Surah al Ahzab: 53] So a veil was erected and the people stood to leave.[Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith 4792.]
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. Al Muslim reports from Sayyidah Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha:
The Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “The one who has the longest hands amongst you will be the first to meet me (in Jannat).”
She then said, “The wives of Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to measure their hands to see whose was the longest, and it was the hand of Zainab that was the longest amongst them; as she used to work with her hands and spend (that income) on charity.”[Sahih al Muslim, Hadith 2452.]
Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha once said when recounting her virtues:
I have never seen a woman more superior in din, more Allah fearing, more truthful, more conscious of maintaining family relations, more generous, having a greater sense of self-sacrifice in practical life, and a charitable disposition that draws one closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala than Zainab.[Sahih al Muslim, Hadith 2422.]