Famine in Makkah and Compassion of the Holy Prophet (sa) Towards the Quraish — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 2
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Famine in Makkah and Compassion of the Holy Prophet (sa) Towards the Quraish.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: IX – Repeated Treachery of the Jews, Compilation and Sequence of the Holy Qur’an, Marriage of Hadrat Zainab (ra), the Great Calumny and Mischief of the Hypocrites
Pages: Book pp. 405–406 (PDF pp. 429–430)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Lunar Eclipse in Madinah and Salat-e-Khusuf] | Next: [Marriage of Zainab bint Jahash (ra) – 5 A.H.] »
Historical Account
Marriage of Zainab bint Jaḥashra – 5 A.H.
In the very same year, i.e., in 5 A.H., shortly before the Ghazwah of Banī Muṣṭaliq, which took place in Sha‘bān 5 A.H., the Holy Prophetsa married Zainab bint Jaḥashra. Some historians, such as Ibni Athīr and the author of Khamīs, etc. have placed the marriage of Zainab bint Jaḥashra after the Ghazwah of Banī Muṣṭaliq, but this is incorrect. The reason being that it is proven from Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī1 that when the famous calumny was levelled against Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishahra, the marriage of Zainab bint Jaḥashra had already taken place; and it is accepted that the incident of slander against Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishahra is linked to the Ghazwah of Banī Muṣṭaliq. Ḥaḍrat Zainabra was the daughter of the paternal aunt of the Holy Prophetsa, whose name was Umaimah bint ‘Abdil-Muṭṭalib. Although she was extremely righteous and pious, she was somewhat conscious of her family status at heart. In contrast, the disposition of the Holy Prophetsa was absolutely pure of such thoughts, and although he was considerate of family circumstances from a social perspective, the Holy Prophetsa considered innate merit and individual virtue and purity as being the true criteria for nobility. To this affect, the Holy Qur’ān states:
“O Ye People! The most honourable among you is the one who is most righteous.”
[Al-Ḥujurāt (49:14)]
Hence, the Holy Prophetsa proposed the marriage of this dear one, i.e., Zainab bint Jaḥashra to his freed slave and foster-son Zaid bin Ḥārithahra without any hesitation. At first, Zainabra did not accept this match considering her family status to be greater, but ultimately, upon noticing the strong desire of the Holy Prophetsa, she agreed. In any case, according to the proposal and desire of the Holy Prophetsa, the marriage of Zainabra and Zaidra took place. Although Zainabra fulfilled her vows with goodness, in his own heart, Zaidra felt that Zainabra still harboured hidden feelings that she was from a noble
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 4, p. 410, Zainab bint Jaḥsh Ummul-Mu’minīn, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 8, p. 295, Zainab bint Jaḥsh, Dāru Iḥyā’it- Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Section: IX – Repeated Treachery of the Jews, Compilation and Sequence of the Holy Qur’an, Marriage of Hadrat Zainab (ra), the Great Calumny and Mischief of the Hypocrites | Navigation: « Previous: [Lunar Eclipse in Madinah and Salat-e-Khusuf] | Next: [Marriage of Zainab bint Jahash (ra) – 5 A.H.] »