The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 407
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 407 family and a close relative of the Holy Prophet sa , while Zaid ra was merely a freed slave and not her equal. Even in his own heart, Zaid ra felt that his position was lesser than that of Zainab ra. This feeling slowly and gradually became stronger making their marital life unpleasant, making husband and wife indisposed to one another. When this upsetting situation grew out of hand, Zaid bin Ḥārithah ra presented himself before the Holy Prophet sa of his own accord, and complaining about the treatment of Zainab ra , sought permission to divorce her. 1 In another narration it is related that he complained that, “Zainab uses harsh tongue, and therefore, I wish to divorce her. ” 2 Naturally, the Holy Prophet sa was grieved upon hearing the state of affairs, and he restrained Zaid ra from giving a divorce. Perhaps feeling that Zaid ra could do more to fulfill his end, the Holy Prophet sa exhorted him saying, “Fear God, and settle your differences however you may. ” 3 These words of the Holy Prophet sa have been recorded by the Holy Qur’ān as well in the following words: “Do not divorce your wife, and fear God. ” 4 The reason for this advice of the Holy Prophet sa was that firstly, in principle, the Holy Prophet sa disliked divorce. On one occasion, the Holy Prophet sa stated: ُ اَبْغَض ُ الْحَلَال ِ اِلَی اللّٰه ِ عَز َّ وَجَل َّ الطَّلَاق “Of all lawful things, divorce is most undesirable in the sight of God. ” 5 1 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābut-Tauḥīd, Bābu Wa Kāna ‘Arshuhū ‘Alal-Mā’i, Ḥadīth No. 7420 2 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 3 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābut-Tauḥīd, Bābu Wa Kāna ‘Arshuhū ‘Alal-Mā’i, Ḥadīth No. 7420 * 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 * Lubābun-Nuqūli Fī Asbābin-Nuzūl, Imām Jalāluddīn As-Suyūṭī, p. 191, Sūratul-Aḥzāb, Under Verse 37, Dārul-Kitābul-‘Arabiyy, Beirut, Lebanon (2003) 4 Al-Aḥzāb (33:38) 5 Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābuṭ-Ṭalāq, Bābu Fī Karāhiyyatiṭ-Ṭalāq, Ḥadīth No. 2178