Chief of the Prophets — Page 151
Chapter Seven 151 Zainab ra enjoyed a special lofty status with respect to her righteousness and piety. ‘Ᾱ’ishah ra said: I have not seen a more pious lady than Zainab ra. She was very righteous and truthful, she was very kind towards relatives, she would give a great amount of charity and alms, and worked tirelessly for goodness and to attain Divine nearness. 1 ‘Ᾱ’ishah ra narrates that once Muḥammad sa said: The one among you with the longest hands will be the first one to join me (after my death). 2 ‘Ᾱ’ishah ra said, “We, thinking (Muḥammad sa meant) our physical hands, compared the length of our hands, but Zainab ra was the first one to pass away after the death of Muḥammad sa. Then, the secret dawned on us that the hands meant the hands of charity and alms, not the physical hands. ” Ghazwah of Banū Muṣṭaliq, Sha‘bān, 5 A. H. In the Sha‘bān of the 5 A. H. , Muḥammad sa found out that the Banū Muṣṭaliq were making preparations with great zeal to attack Madīnah. Muḥammad sa took a large force of Companions with him and very swiftly arrived at a place called Al-Muraisī‘, 3 which was close to where Banū Muṣṭaliq were present. Muḥammad sa instructed his companions to stop and camp there. He sent a messenger to Banū Muṣṭaliq with the message that if they would stop the hostilities against Islam, the Muslims would still return back. But the 1 Muslim, Bāb Fa. l Zainab (Virtues of Zainab ra ). 2 Bukhārī and Muslim. 3 Al-Muraisī‘ is a place close to the shore between Makkah and Madīnah.