The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 411
IX - Repeated Treachery of the Jews, Compilation and Sequence of the Holy Qur ’ā n, Marriage of Ḥaḍrat Zainab ra , the Great Calumny and Mischief of the Hypocrites 411 whatsoever with the question as to whether a formal ceremony of Nikāḥ took place or not. The fact of the matter is that as Ibni Hishām 1 has clearly related, despite divine command, a formal ceremony of Nikāḥ took place. Rationality also dictates that it occurred as such, because firstly, there was no reason for an exception to the general rule. Secondly, when the very objective of this marriage was to break a custom and remove its influence, it was required to an even greater degree that this marriage in particular take place with great proclamation and publicity. Revelation of Injunctions Regarding Pardah On the second or third day after the marriage, the Holy Prophet sa invited his Companions for a Walīmah at his own home. Since a public announcement was especially intended, the Walīmah of Ḥaḍrat Zainab ra was held upon a much larger scale by the Holy Prophet sa as compared to his other wives. 2 Until that time, since injunctions relevant to Pardah had not been revealed, the Companions entered the very residence of the Holy Prophet sa in a very informal manner. Many of them continued to sit here and there, engaged in discussions even after the feast had finished. However, since the disposition of the Holy Prophet sa possessed a great degree of modesty, he was unable to say anything to them, and the Companions also did not pay attention as they were busy in conversation. As a result, the hour ran late and the Holy Prophet sa lost much of his precious time. Finally, the Holy Prophet sa stood up himself, and most of the Companions stood up with him, but three people continued to sit there and carried on talking. At this, the Holy Prophet sa went to the apartment of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra , but when he returned after some time, these people were still there. In this manner, the Holy Prophet sa was compelled to come and go two or three times. At last, when these people departed from the residence of the Holy Prophet sa , he also returned. At times, motivating factors arise in the revelation of divine commandments. Although the injunction is to be instituted either way, a certain occurrence becomes the temporary catalyst for its revelation. As such, this very incident became the motivating factor in the revelation of the initial commandments on Pardah. As a result, the verses which made it obligatory upon the Azwāj-e-Muṭahharāt of the Holy 1 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 891, Dhikru Azwājihī Ummahātil-Mu’minīn. . . . . , Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) 2 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābun-Nikāḥ, Bābul-Walīmatu Ḥaqqun, Ḥadīth No. 5166