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==Zaynab bint Jahsh== | ==Zaynab bint Jahsh== | ||
Zaynab bint Jahsh was Muhammad’s seventh wife.<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref> | |||
Her original name had been ‘‘Barra’’ (“virtuous”) but Muhammad renamed her ‘‘Zaynab’’ (literally “father’s ornament”, but also the name of a flower).<ref>Bukhari 8:212; Abu Dawud 3:4935.</ref> | |||
Her mother was Muhammad’s aunt, so Muhammad had known her all her life. Zaynab was an early convert to Islam and she was among those who emigrated to Medina.<ref>Tabari 39:180.</ref> | |||
Zaynab and her brother Abdullah did not want her to marry Zayd.<ref>Q33:36; Tabari 39: 6-10, 180; ‘‘Tafsir Al-Jalalayn’’.</ref> | |||
Islam teaches that a woman should not be forced into marriage.<ref>Bukhari 62:67; 86:98.</ref> | |||
Zaynab was “a perfect-looking woman,” fair-skinned and shapely.<ref>Qurtubi’s Commentary on Q33:37</ref> | |||
“When Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, it is not fitting for a Believer to decide on any alternatives; anyone who disobeys Allah and His Messenger is certainly on a very wrong Path.”<ref>Q33:36.</ref> | |||
Abdullah was killed at the Battle of Uhud.<ref>Guillaume/Ibn Ishaq 607. The exact date of Zaynab’s marriage to Zayd is not recorded.</ref> | |||
Zaynab married Zayd.<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918; ‘‘Tafsir Al-Jalalayn’’.</ref> | |||
Muhammad came to visit Zayd. A gust of wind blew aside the hairskin curtain that served as his front door, giving Muhammad a full view of Zaynab dressed only in her shift. She pulled on an over-gown, advising Muhammad that Zayd was not at home but he was welcome to visit. Muhammad stood still, staring at Zaynab's movements, and repeating to himself, “Praise be to Allah, who turns around hearts!”<ref>Tabari 39:181.</ref> | |||
His secret desire for his daughter-in-law is mentioned in the Qur’an: “Thou didst hide in thy mind what Allah was about to reveal.”<ref>Q33:37; Bukhari 60:310.</ref> Ayesha said it was proof of Muhammad’s honesty that he did not delete this embarrassing verse from the Qur’an altogether.<ref>Bukhari 93:516.</ref> | |||
Zayd offered to divorce Zaynab so that Muhammad could marry her. Muhammad discouraged this<ref>Bukhari 93:516; Tabari 39:181.</ref> | |||
Zaynab became aloof and haughty to Zayd, making remarks about his lowly birth and ugly face and shutting him out of the bedroom.<ref>Tabari 8:2; Qurtubi on Q33:37-38.</ref> | |||
Zayd divorced Zaynab.<ref> Bukhari 93:516; Tabari 39:181.</ref> | |||
When men with more than four wives became Muslims, Muhammad made them divorce the extras, although they were allowed to choose which four they would keep.<ref>Abu Dawud 12:2233; Tirmizi 945.</ref> | |||
Having pledged not to divorce Sawda, Muhammad produced a new revelation from Allah that allowed him to marry as many women as he liked.<ref>Q33:50.</ref> | |||
The Arabs considered a daughter-in-law almost as taboo as a biological daughter. So Allah sent down another revelation that abolished adoption, therefore ruling that Zayd had never been his son and Zaynab had never been his daughter-in-law.<ref>Q33:37, 40; see also Ibn Kathir’s commentary.</ref> | |||
On the same day Zaynab’s waiting-period ended, Muhammad fell into a prophetic trance, then announced to Ayesha: “Someone must go to tell Zaynab the good news! Allah from above has just married her to me!” Ayesha was “distressed by both immediate and potential troubles, having heard of Zaynab’s beauty.”<ref>Tabari 39:181.</ref> | |||
Zayd was dispatched as messenger. He found Zaynab kneading bread, and her face was so radiant that he could not look at her while he delivered Allah’s message.<ref>Muslim 8:3330.</ref> | |||
Muhammad married Zaynab in late March 627 when he was 55 and she was about 37.<ref>Tabari 39:181.</ref> | |||
The Qur’an refers to her story: “So when Zayd had done as he wished in divorcing her, We married her to you.”<ref>Ibn Hisham note 918; Bukhari 93:516; Muslim 1:338 f 358.</ref> | |||
There was social criticism.<ref>Tabari 39:9</ref> | |||
Muhammad hosted for Zaynab the most lavish wedding banquet that he ever gave: he slaughtered a sheep and served a huge dish of date pudding. Seventy guests ate until they were stuffed and there was food left over.<ref>Bukhari 62:84, 92, 97, 100; Muslim 8:3331, 3328; Bewley/Ibn Saad 8:76.</ref> | |||
Two of the wedding guests sat around talking long after Muhammad gestured that the party was over. Allah sent down a revelation: “O Believers! Do not come to dinner in the Prophet’s houses without an invitation; do not arrive before the meal is ready, and do not sit around talking after you have eaten. This annoys the Prophet; he is too shy to ask you to leave, but Allah is not shy of telling the truth...”<ref> Q33:53; Bukhari 60:314, 315, 316, 317; 62:84, 92; 65:375; 74:256, 288; Muslim 8:3333, 3334, 3336.</ref> | |||
Zayanb was second to Ayesha in Muhammad's affection.<ref>Bukhari 48:829, 47:755; 48:829; 59:462; 60:274, 281; Muslim 31:5984; 37:6673; Ibn Saad, ‘‘Tabaqat’’ 8:166.</ref> | |||
She was fervent in prayer. | |||
She was loyal to her family. | |||
She was generous in charity. | |||
She was quick-tempered and devastatingly honest, but she was also quick to recover her good mood.<ref>Muslim 31:5984.</ref> | |||
She had creative flair and had always earned her living as a tanner, leather-worker, bead-piercer and dressmaker.<ref>Muslim 8:3240; Ibn Saad, ‘’Tabaqat’’ 8:81-82.</ref> | |||
She sold her products and giving away all the profits to charity.<ref>Bewley/Ibn Saad 8:74, 77</ref> | |||
When Zaynab was tanning a hide, Muhammad came into her workroom and demanded sex immediately. Afterwards he explained that he had just been tempted by the sight of an attractive woman, but by using his wife, he had repelled the temptation.<ref>Muslim 8:3240. See also: Muslim 8:3241.</ref> | |||
Muhammad looked through Zaynab's workroom door and frowned with disapproval when he saw that she was dyeing her clothes with red ochre. Zaynab understood the message, so she rinsed the garments until all the redness had run out.<ref>Abu Dawud 32:4060.</ref> | |||
Zaynab used to boast in front of her co-wives: “Your marriages were contracted by your families, but mine was contracted by Allah in the seven Heavens. I am closer kin to the Prophet than any of you, and my clan is the noblest of all the Quraysh.”<ref>Bukhari 93:516, 517; Tabari 39:182.</ref> | |||
Hind’s stepmother was Zaynab’s aunt.<ref>Tabari 39:112.</ref> | |||
Ayesha, Hafsa and Sawda were a team, and so were Hind and Zaynab.<ref>Bukhari 47:755; Muslim 31:5984; Abu Dawud 41:4880.</ref> | |||
When the Muslims wanted to give a gift of luxury food to their Prophet, they would wait until Ayesha’s rostered day and bring the present to her room. In a condition of scarcity, this favouritism was resented, and the wives sent Hind to plead that such gifts be shared out equally among all of them. Muhammad told Hind not to bother him about it, and she had to apologise for offending him. The wives then sent in Fatima, to whom Muhammad frankly admitted that Ayesha was his favourite, so she ought to love Ayesha too. Next the wives sent Zaynab, who spoke bluntly and directly before launching a barrage of verbal abuse at Ayesha. Ayesha retaliated with such deadly malice that in the end Zaynab was utterly silenced. Muhammad was proud of Ayesha and declared: “She is truly the daughter of Abu Bakr!”<ref>Bukhari 47:755; Muslim 31:5984; Abu Dawud 41:4880.</ref> | |||
When Ayesha was accused of adultery, Muhammad asked Zaynab if she knew anything incriminating against Ayesha. Zaynab told Muhammad: “I will not lie. I have not heard or seen anything bad about Ayesha. By Allah, I know only good about her.” | |||
Zaynab's sister was flogged.<ref>Bukhari 59:462. See also Bukhari 48:829; 60:274; 60:281; Muslim 37:6673.</ref> | |||
Ayesha afterwards respected Zaynab.<ref>Muslim 31:5984.</ref> | |||
Muhammad's favourite wives were Ayesha, Zaynab, Hind and Hafsa, in that order.<ref>Bukhari 48:829, 47:755; 48:829; 59:462; 60:274, 281; Muslim 31:5984; 37:6673; Ibn Saad, ‘‘Tabaqat’’ 8:166; Zamakhshari’s commentary on Q33:51.</ref> | |||
When the guests at Zaynab’s wedding banquet finally left, Muhammad entered her house, but before his faithful page Anas had time to set foot across the threshold, Muhammad abruptly drew the curtain and proclaimed a revelation.<ref>Bukhari 62:95. See also Bukhari 74:255.</ref> | |||
There must always be a curtain between Muhammad’s wives and all other men. If the women left the house, they must wear veils.<ref>Q 33:55, 59.</ref> | |||
Omar went to spy on the outdoor toilets and he easily recognised Sawda because she was so tall. He shouted: “Caught you, Sawda! Anyone can recognise you – think of a new way to hide yourself when you go out.” Sawda complained to Muhammad, who produced a new revelation that gave his wives permission to go to the toilet.<ref> Bukhari 60:318; Muslim 26:5395, 5396.</ref> | |||
Only women, close relatives and slaves might penetrate the curtain.<ref>Q33:53, 55.</ref> | |||
Muhammad warned the whole congregation that Allah did not accept the prayers of an unveiled woman.<ref>Abu Dawud 2:0641.</ref> | |||
Muslim men were warned not to harass the respectable veiled women whom they might meet around town: the implication was that unveiled women were fair game.<ref>Q33:59.</ref> | |||
==Food Distribution== | |||
Muhammad did not believe that "equity" meant equal distributions of material goods. He made no attempt to distribute the food equally. | Muhammad did not believe that "equity" meant equal distributions of material goods. He made no attempt to distribute the food equally. | ||