Zaynab (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha), The Eldest Daughter of Allaah’s Messenger

 Zaynab (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) was born ten years before the Prophethood of her father (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). She was the first offspring of Ummul-Mu’mineen, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha). 

 

Zaynab (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) was raised in the house of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alayhi wa sallam), adopting the manners and etiquettes of the most noble parents: Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), who was sent as a mercy to the worlds, and Khadijah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha), the chief (leader) of the women of the worlds. Zaynab was an honorable example of many praiseworthy characteristics.

 

Zaynab (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) had not yet reached womanhood when she was courted by the son of her aunt – Abul-‘Aas ibn ar-Rabi’ (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) – one of the wealthiest and noble men of Makkah and a core member of the Quraish tribe. Through paternal links, his lineage met with the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) until ‘Abd Manaaf ibn Qusay; and through maternal links, his lineage met with Zaynab bint Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) until their first grandfather, Khuwaylid – because his mother Haala bint Khuwaylid was a sister of Khadijah, the wife of our Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

 

Abul-‘Aas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) knew Zaynab and became closely aware of her personality due to his visits to the house of his aunt. Likewise, the parents of Zaynab knew his beautiful upright qualities – hence, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and Khadijah agreed to the proposal, and Zaynab accepted to marry him.

 

Zaynab was married and began residing in the house of her husband. Due to her tender age, she added to the happiness and pleasure of the house. Allaah blessed the couple with two children: ‘Ali and Umama – thus, through them, the joy of the house was completed – the house was now filled with happiness and bliss.

While Abul-‘Aas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) was away on one of his travels, the great incident of Prophethood took place – Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was bestowed with Messenger-ship – Zaynab accepted the invitation of truth with which the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was sent, and she took the Deen (religion) of Allaah as her way of life and guidance.

 

When her husband returned from his travel, Zaynab informed him about what took place during his absence – the guidance of the upright new Deen – all the while expecting him to rush towards declaring his Islam. But to her surprise, he met the news with silence and coldness.

 

Zaynab tried to convince her husband through various means, and he said: “By Allaah, your father is not an imposter but I despise that it be said that I betrayed my tribe and turned away from the Deen of my fathers for the satisfaction of my wife…”

 

It was a grave shock for Zaynab that her husband would not accept the true Deen of Islam, and the environment of the house turned tense and worrisome – and blissfulness turned into abyss.

 

Zaynab stayed back in Makkah in the house of her husband, and there remained no one around her who could lighten the grief of distance from her family. Her father and his Sahabah migrated to Madinah al-Munawwara. Her mother had passed away to Ar-Rafeeq Al-A’la (the Highest Companion) and her sisters had followed their father to his place of migration.

 

When the battle of Badr took place, the disbelievers asked Abul-‘Aas to accompany them in the fight against the Muslims, and it turned out that he became one of their prisoners. When the prisoners were presented to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), he alienated Abul-‘Aas and asked his Companions to demand ransom in exchange for his release. To secure her husband, Zaynab sent the ransom, which included money and a necklace gifted to her by her mother at the time of her marriage to Abul-‘Aas.

The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saw the necklace and his noble heart filled with memories of his devoted wife Khadijah, who had given it to Zaynab. Most assuredly, Zaynab did not find it more precious than her beloved husband. The son of her aunt – and the Prophet and his Companions witnessed this scenario.

 

After a long silence, out of affection and compassion, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to his Companions: “If you agree to set him free and return her wealth to her, then do so.” They all responded positively.   

 

Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) took an oath from Abul-‘Aas to “clear the path of Zaynab” because Islam had caused a separation between them.¹See At-Tabaqaat for Ibn Sa’d (8/31) and Al-Hakim (4/44 and 45) and Adh-Dhahabi declared it authentic.

 

Abul-‘Aas returned to Makkah. Zaynab received him with happiness and gratitude. But his (Abul-‘Aas) face was gloomy with sadness – and he said hanging his head down: “I have come to you with a farewell…” Her joy and happiness turned into sadness. Tears flowed down her cheeks and she asked hesitantly, ‘…where to? and why? O My beloved husband!!’

 

Avoiding any eye contact, Abul-‘Aas replied: “It is not me who is leaving Zaynab, it is you. Your father asked me to return you to him because Islam has caused separation between us – and I have promised him to let you go to him and I am not used to breaking a promise (or I would not break a promise).”

 

Zaynab bade an emotional farewell to Abul-‘Aas and left Makkah. On her way, she was held up by the Quraish, who prevented her from leaving Makkah and frightened her (threatened her). She was pregnant at the time and suffered a miscarriage (due to the conflict).

 

She returned back to Makkah and Abul-‘Aas kept her under his protection until she had regained her strength. Then one day, when the Quraish were not being very vigilant, he seized the opportunity to send her out of Makkah in the company of his brother – Kinana ibn ar-Rabi’, who took her safely to the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in Madinah.

 

Six years passed by, and Zaynab stayed under the protection of her father in Madinah – all the while hanging onto the hope that did not let her fall into despair – she hoped that Allaah would open the heart of Abul-‘Aas to Islam.

 

In Jumadhil-Ula, the 6th year after Hijrah – Abul-‘Aas knocked at the door of Zaynab. She opened the door and could barely believe her eyes. She wanted to get close to him and greet him but suddenly, she refrained – because Aqeedah must come first.

 

Abul-‘Aas explained: “I have not come armed to Yathrib (Madinah). I came out as a trader along with few men from Quraish. We met with one of your father’s cavalry in which were 70 men along with Zayd ibn Harithah. They seized what was with me, but I escaped – and here I am – I have come to you as a fugitive asking for refuge.

 

She said: “Welcome to the son of my aunt, and welcome to the father of ‘Ali and Umama (her children).” 

 

The next day, after the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) prayed Fajr, Zaynab stood up and announced in a loud voice: “O people! I have given refuge to Abul-‘Aas ibn ar-Rabi.”²As-Seerah An-Nabawiya by Ibn Hisham (2/315), Isabah (8/91), Al-Istiyaab (4/702), At-Tabaqaat of Ibn Sa’d (2/63).– Hearing this, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) emerged from the Masjid and asked: “O people! Did you hear what I heard?” – and they replied in the affirmative….

 

The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “By the One, in Whose Hands is the soul of Muhammad – I did not know anything about this until you heard what I heard. The Muslims are like one hand against those who are outside their community and the lowest of the Muslims is entitled to give protection on behalf of the rest of his co-Muslims. So, we give protection to the one whom she has given protection.“³Mentioned by Ibn Hisham in As-Seerah (2/313), and Ibn Saad in At-Tabaqaat (2/63), At-Tabari in his Tareekh (2/292) and Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak (4/45) and the narrators are Thiqa (trustworthy)

 

The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then visited his daughter and said: “Honor him with a resting place, prepare for him a place of rest but let him know that you are not lawful for him.“

 

Zaynab requested her father to return the wealth that was taken from Abul-‘Aas. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) came out to where the Sahabah were sitting and said: “You know where this man is from, and you have captured him with his wealth – if you do good and return what was his, then we will like that, and if you want to keep it, then it is a bounty of Allaah which he has bestowed upon you and you have the right to keep it.” The Sahabah replied: “We will return it, O Messenger of Allaah!” and they returned everything of his wealth such that nothing was missing from it.⁴As-Seerah An-Nabawiya of Ibn Hisham (2/313) and At-Tabari (2/292)

 

Zaynab bade farewell to Abul-‘Aas and he returned back to Makkah with a hidden resolve in his heart. When the Quraish saw him return with the profits of their trade, they were overjoyed. Abul-‘Aas began returning each one of them with their right. (After he had returned everything,) he stood there and asked: “O people of Quraish! Is there anyone amongst you who had given me his wealth which I have not returned back to him?” They replied: “No… and may Allaah reward you. We have found you very trustworthy (and generous).”

 

Upon this, Abul-‘Aas said: “I declare that there is no deity worthy of worship and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. By Allaah, nothing stopped me from accepting Islam except the fear that you would think I intended to eat up your wealth. And now when Allaah has returned it back to you and I am done with it – I now declare my Islam.”⁵Same as previous footnote and Al-Istiyaab (4/1703)

 

Abul-‘Aas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) returned to Madinah as a migrant to Allaah and His Messenger, and there he met with the most beloved Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his Sahabah. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) returned Zaynab back to him and they were reunited. The house was once again filled with delight and happiness, and this time what united them was the impeccable Aqeedah.

 

Only a year had passed, and then came a separation after which there is no meeting in this fleeting perishable world again – when Zaynab (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) passed away in the early eighth year of Hijrah – due to the effects of a bleeding wound which she had suffered from since her migration.

 

Abul-‘Aas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) cried over her so profusely that the eyes of the people around him began to tear up as well – until the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), saddened by her death, came out and took her away. He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) told the women: “Wash her an odd number of times, thrice or five times, and put camphor, or some camphor in the fifth wash. And when you have finished washing her, inform me.” She (the narrator) said: “We informed him, and he gave us his waist-wrap and said: “Shroud her in it.“⁶Saheeh Al-Bukhaari, Book of Burials, Chapter: Washing the dead (153) Saheeh Muslim, Book of Burials, Chapter: Washing the dead (939) – and the wordings are of Muslim.

 

May Allaah bestow mercy upon Zaynab al-Kubra, daughter of the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) – the woman who stayed patient. She strived, and she struggled – and may Allaah reward her for it with good.

Sources:

Women around the Messenger and replying to the Slanders of the Orientalists by Mahmood Mahdi al-Istambuli and Mustafa Abu An-Nasr Shibli