The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 408
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 408 For this reason, it has only been permitted as a last resort. Secondly, as related by Imām Zainul-‘Ābidīn ‘Alī bin Ḥusain ra , the son of Imām Ḥusain ra (and Imām Zuhrī has declared this narration as being authentic), since the Holy Prophet sa knew by way of divine revelation that Zaid bin Ḥārithah ra would ultimately divorce Zainab ra , and then she would subsequently come into a matrimonial bond with the Holy Prophet sa , 1 feeling that he had a personal connection in the matter, the Holy Prophet sa wished to remain absolutely unrelated and neutral. Moreover, from his own perspective, it was the utmost desire of the Holy Prophet sa that he should have no part in the dissolution of the marriage of Zaid ra and Zainab ra , and that they should continue living together for as long as possible. It was under this consideration that the Holy Prophet sa emphatically exhorted Zaid ra not to give a divorce, fear God, and settle the differences between husband and wife in any way possible. Furthermore, the Holy Prophet sa also apprehended that if Zainab ra was to marry the Holy Prophet sa after having separated from Zaid ra , people would raise the allegation that the Holy Prophet sa had married the divorcee of his foster-son, and people would be put to trial. As such, Allāh the Exalted states in the Holy Qur’ān: “O Prophet! You had concealed in your heart what God was going to bring to light, and you were afraid on account of the people, whereas God has far greater right to be feared. ” 2 In any case, the Holy Prophet sa admonished Zaid ra to fear Allāh and held him back from giving a divorce. In light of this exhortation, Zaid ra bowed his head in submission and silently returned. However, it was difficult for these distant personalities to come together, and what was not meant to be, remained as such. After some time, Zaid ra gave a divorce. When the ‘Iddat of Zainab ra had elapsed, the Holy Prophet sa received revelation again with respect 1 * 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) * Fatḥul-Bārī Sharḥu Ṣaḥīḥil-Bukhārī, By Al-Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥajar Al-‘Asqalānī, Volume 8, p. 672, Kitābut-Tafsīr, Tafsīru Sūratil-Aḥzāb, Bābu Wa Tukhfī Fī Nafsika Mallāhu. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 4787, Qadīmī Kutub Khānah, Ārām Bāgh, Karachi 2 Al-Aḥzāb (33:38)