The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 406
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 406 Marriage of Zainab bint Jaḥash ra - 5 A. H. In the very same year, i. e. , in 5 A. H. , shortly before the Ghazwah of Banī Muṣṭaliq, which took place in Sha‘bān 5 A. H. , the Holy Prophet sa married Zainab bint Jaḥash ra. Some historians, such as Ibni Athīr and the author of Khamīs, etc. have placed the marriage of Zainab bint Jaḥash ra after the Ghazwah of Banī Muṣṭaliq, but this is incorrect. The reason being that it is proven from Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī 1 that when the famous calumny was levelled against Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra , the marriage of Zainab bint Jaḥash ra had already taken place; and it is accepted that the incident of slander against Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra is linked to the Ghazwah of Banī Muṣṭaliq. Ḥaḍrat Zainab ra was the daughter of the paternal aunt of the Holy Prophet sa , whose name was Umaimah bint ‘Abdil-Muṭṭalib. Although she was extremely righteous and pious, she was somewhat conscious of her family status at heart. In contrast, the disposition of the Holy Prophet sa was absolutely pure of such thoughts, and although he was considerate of family circumstances from a social perspective, the Holy Prophet sa considered innate merit and individual virtue and purity as being the true criteria for nobility. To this affect, the Holy Qur’ān states: “O Ye People! The most honourable among you is the one who is most righteous. ” 2 Hence, the Holy Prophet sa proposed the marriage of this dear one, i. e. , Zainab bint Jaḥash ra to his freed slave and foster-son Zaid bin Ḥārithah ra without any hesitation. At first, Zainab ra did not accept this match considering her family status to be greater, but ultimately, upon noticing the strong desire of the Holy Prophet sa , she agreed. 3 In any case, according to the proposal and desire of the Holy Prophet sa , the marriage of Zainab ra and Zaid ra took place. Although Zainab ra fulfilled her vows with goodness, in his own heart, Zaid ra felt that Zainab ra still harboured hidden feelings that she was from a noble 1 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābut-Tafsīr, Tafsīru Sūratin-Nūr, Bābu Lau Lā Idh Sami‘tumūhu. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 4750 2 Al-Ḥujurāt (49:14) 3 * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 4, p. 410, Zainab bint Jaḥsh Ummul-Mu’minīn, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 8, p. 295, Zainab bint Jaḥsh , Dāru Iḥyā’it- Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)