The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 261
VI - Rukhsatānah of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra and an Exposition of Her Age at the Time, the Issue of Polygamy and Two Fabricated Incidents 261 Meaning, “O Messenger! When your adopted son Zaid bin Ḥārithah ra divorced his wife Zainab ra , We joined her in marriage to you, so that the ignorant custom may be removed that an adopted son becomes an actual son, and the divorced wife of such a person no longer remains lawful for the one who adopts him, so that there may be no hindrance or reluctance in the hearts of the believers with respect to this issue. ” 1 In this verse, the first purpose has been mentioned, whereby through the practical example of the Holy Prophet sa such ignorant practices be uprooted, which had become so firmly embedded in the Arab disposition, that their true eradication was impossible unless the Holy Prophet sa was to establish a practical example himself. For example, the custom of adopting a person as one’s own son was very deeply rooted and prevalent in Arabia. Prior to the revelation of divine command in this respect, the Holy Prophet sa had taken his freed slave, Zaid bin Ḥārithah ra , as his own son. Therefore, when the injunction was revealed that merely by taking someone as a son, that person does not become a real son, and later on it so happened that Zaid bin Ḥārithah ra divorced his wife Zainab bint Jaḥash ra , the Holy Prophet sa married Zainab ra under divine command. In this manner, the Holy Prophet sa uprooted this ignorant custom, the complete eradication of which was impossible without his own practical example. In addition to this, by marrying Zainab ra , the Holy Prophet sa also established by practical example that there is nothing wrong with marrying a woman who has been divorced. Then, He states:. . . . . . . 1 Al-Aḥzāb (33:38)