yasmeen
عضو وفيّ
عدد المساهمات : 108
تاريخ التسجيل : 03/04/2012
العمر : 34
الموقع : yasmeenalhilo@aol.com
 | موضوع: Zainab bint Jahsh  السبت مارس 02, 2013 11:14 am | |
| (RA) Zainab bint Jahsh
She was the daughter of Umaimah bint ‘Abdul Muttaalib bin Hashiem, paternal aunt of the Prophet. Her brother was the distinguished general of the Muslim army, ‘Abdullaah bin Jahsh, who was married to Zainab bint Khuzaymah before she married the Prophet. She was among the first group of Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia and later to Madinah.
The Prophet decided to marry Zainab to Zaid bin Harithah , his adopted son. She was not very pleased with this decision and she told the Prophet, being from a noble family, she was neither keen nor willing to marry a freed slave. On this occasion Allaah revealed the aayah “It is not for a believer, male or female, that when Allaah and His messenger have decreed a matter, that they should have any option in their decision. And whosoever disbelieves in Allaah and His messenger has indeed strayed into manifest error”. (Alahzaab 36)
Zainab got married to Zaid, but they were never happy. Zaid complained to the Prophet that he was not getting the respect and importance a husband expects from his wife, but the Prophet advised him thus “Keep your wife to yourself and fear Allaah.” As recorded in the Quraan(Alahzaab 37).
However, things never really worked out and Zaid eventually divorced Zainab. In the latter mentioned aayah, Allaah addresses the Prophet about the issue and mentions to him that Allaah knew that he wanted to marry Zhainab, but would be fearful about what the people would say about one marrying the wife of his adopted son. Thus Allaah gave her to the Prophet in marriage, to abolish the belief that it is prohibited to marry the wife of your adopted son, and Allaah end the aayah “… and Allaah’s command must be fulfilled.
Allah said :" And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, "Keep your wife and fear Allah ," while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him. So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them. And ever is the command of Allah accomplished.
Thus when Zainab had completed her iddah, the Prophet sent her a proposal through Zaid bin Harithah, her ex-husband. Her reply was that she would first have to consult with Allaah, and she began praying to Allaah for guidance. She was still busy praying when the Prophet received revelation that the marriage had already been performed in the heavens by Allaah himself. The Prophet went over to join his new wife without informing her or observing the formalities of a stranger.
Zainab was known for her generosity and concern for the poor, devotion to prayer and regular fasting. Aishah says that in terms of values and position Zainab was her equal. When Aishah was accused by the hypocrites of infidelity, Zainab was the one who stood by her, swearing by Allaah that she found nothing but goodness in Aishah. So close were these two that when the Prophet was upset with Zainab for calling Safiyyah (one of his wives) a Jewess, she asked Aishah to speak to the Prophet on her behalfand he relented.
Zainab had made a little mosque in her house was she often secluded herself in prayer and meditation. She believed strongly in seeking Allaah’s guidance in all decisions, as is borne out in her response to the Prophet’s marriage proposal.
Zainab died during the khilaafah of Umar at the age of 53. When the poor heard of her death, they were sad at the loss of their benefactress. Aishah recalled that the prophet had said that the first of his wives to meet him in paradise, would be the one with long arms.” The wives took these literally at the time and started measuring their arms. Zainab was short and did not fit this description. But after her death Aishah realized that the Prophet used the words “longest arms” to mean most generous, and Zainab was the most generous and she was the first of the Prophet’s wives to pass away after his death.
Aishah said that Zainab used to work with her own hands and whatever she earned she spent in charity.
When she felt her end was near, Zainab prepared her own shroud and said that if the Khaleefah should send one for her, anyone of the two may be used on her and the other be given in charity. So known was she for her modesty, that a curtain was drawn to screen her body even though it was wrapped in a shroud. She was buried in Jannatul Baqi. | |
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