A year after the Battle of the Trench, the Treaty of Hudaybiyah was signed between the Muslims and the Quraysh. Through this treaty, the Quraysh essentially accepted the Muslims’ allegiance. When the Muslims were patient in the Battle of Badr, the Battle of Uhud, and the Battle of the Trench, the infidels themselves went astray mentally. This is precisely why Abu Sufyan was never able to raise an army against Medina. Although it is said that the Muslim state was established soon after the Hijra, the initial steps in establishing this state were very difficult. As the first Muslim state, Medina was never safe, but rather was constantly under threat of attack from three directions. The attacks of the Quraish of Mecca on one side, the Jews on the other, and the Bedouins on the other. Even when sleeping at night, the companions would sleep with their weapons near their heads because the time was so unsafe.
The first five years of the Islamic state of Medina were very insecure, but the Muslims were patient and united. As a result, over time, Muslims were able to reach a strong position. After that, the Muslims never had to retreat again. After this incident, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that from now on we will attack them and they will not be able to attack us. After the Battle of the Trench, a major change in Medina’s military policy was the offensive policy. The Jewish power was eliminated through the Battle of the Trench, but only the hypocrites or traitors remained. But later today we will discuss one of the marriages of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
And that is Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her) marriage to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The reason for discussing this marriage is that the opponents of Islam want to use this marriage to smear the character of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her) was from a noble family. In terms of relationship, she was the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her) was among the very first people to migrate to Medina. She was famous for his worship, she would pray all night and She was generous in giving to people. Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her) died soon after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wished to marry her cousin to his foster son, Zayd.
One reason behind this was that Zayd was a slave and later the Prophet (peace be upon him) freed him, while Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) was from a noble family. In the Arab society of that time, it was unthinkable for someone of high birth to marry a slave, but Islam does not support this.
Therefore, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wanted people to judge others based on piety and not on lineage.
She proposed marriage to Zayed but Zayed did not agree, so Allah revealed this verse in the Quran:
It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.
(Quran 33:36)
After this verse was revealed, Zayd agreed to marry Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her). After this verse was revealed, Zayd agreed to marry Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her). The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) chose this young man, who was like his own son, for his cousin.
But unfortunately, their family was not a happy one. It is not the kind of happy family that would be had if both husband and wife were religious. But unfortunately, their family was not a happy one. It is not the kind of happy family that would be had if both husband and wife were religious. But unfortunately, their family was not a happy one. It is not the kind of happy family that would be had if both husband and wife were religious. He is the only companion whose name is mentioned by Allah in the Quran.
Before their separation, Zayd would come and complain to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that there was no love between them. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to tell her to be patient and fear Allaah, but even then their marriage did not last.
Zayd divorced Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) with the consent of both of them. Before that, we need to understand what adoption was like in the past. In the past, if someone was adopted, they would have rights over everything including the property of their adoptive parents. But in the Age of Ignorance, people considered it ignorance to marry a foster son or daughter, but Islam does not support this at all, so it is different in this regard.
Allah has not made for a man two hearts in his interior. And He has not made your wives whom you declare unlawful your mothers. And he has not made your adopted sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allah says the truth, and He guides to the [right] way. Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you do not know their fathers – then they are [still] your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you. And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
(Quran 33:4-5)
Here Islam introduced a new rule that a foster son or daughter cannot be considered as a foster son or daughter, but rather they must be considered as a brother or sister. After this was revealed, Zayd reverted to his previous name, which was Zayd Haritha.
Raising orphaned children is a great job, but it must be remembered that a foster child or child cannot be considered as one’s own child.
To break the stereotype of the Arab society regarding foster sons, Allah Almighty decided to marry Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). This custom could have been broken verbally, but Allah wanted it to be broken in practice.
This marriage was the reason Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) used to tell her other wives that you got married on earth but I got married in heaven.
Two things became clear from this incident: First, the foster children must grow up to know their own parents. And secondly: There is no problem in marrying a foster son or child. This is just a misconception of a society.
After this verse was revealed, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent a marriage proposal to Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) and it is noteworthy that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not force Zayd to divorce Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her).
Based on this marriage, the hypocrites of that time spread many slanderous accusations against the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and these are now being propagated by atheists of today.
The first propaganda is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was attracted to Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) and therefore divorced her from Zayd. The second opinion is that Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) divorced Zayd because she did not agree with him. The third opinion is that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had no weakness towards Zaynab.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) knew that Zaynab’s marriage to Zayd would end in divorce, yet he repeatedly requested Zayd to continue the marriage.
He knew that he would be uncomfortable with the policy of divorce in the future, and most scholars have ruled that this view is acceptable.
Now let’s find out what the Quran has to say about this.
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.
(Quran 33:37)
In this verse of the Quran, Allah Almighty says that what you are concealing in your hearts is a matter that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) knew would lead to divorce between them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was too shy to tell Zayd that his wife would one day be his wife.
However, one thing to note here is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to know through revelation that he would be married to Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her).
Finally, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) married Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) and 300 guests were invited to the wedding. Some people sat in the house of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and continued their conversation. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was sitting there and his wife was sitting facing the wall. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went out and returned, so that the people present could understand that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was suffering because of them.
Then this verse was revealed and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) recited this verse to the people.
O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted for a meal, without awaiting its readiness. But when you are invited, then enter; and when you have eaten, disperse without seeking to remain for conversation. Indeed, that [behavior] was troubling the Prophet, and he is shy of [dismissing] you. But Allah is not shy of the truth. And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not [conceivable or lawful] for you to harm the Messenger of Allah or to marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allah an enormity.
(Quran 33:53)
After the death of Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her), Umar (may Allah be pleased with her) led her funeral prayer and all the companions attended her funeral prayer.
