Zaynab bint Jaḥsh (Arabic: زينب بنت جحش; c. 590–641), was the first cousin[1] and the seventh wife of Muhammad and therefore, considered by Muslims to be a Mother of the Believers.
Her mother was Umayma bint Abd al-Muttalib, a member of the Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe and a sister of Muhammad's father.
[5] Around 625, Muhammad proposed Zaynab to marry his adopted son, Zayd ibn Harithah.
He had been sold to a nephew of Khadija bint Khuwaylid, who in her turn had given him as a wedding present to her husband Muhammad.
[4]: 6–10 Zaynab, supported by her brother Abdullah, at first refused the proposal on the grounds that, "I am a widow of the Quraysh.
It has been asserted that these social differences were precisely the reason why Muhammad wanted to arrange the marriage: "The Prophet was well aware that it is a person’s standing in the eyes of Allah that is important, rather than his or her status in the eyes of the people... their marriage would demonstrate that it was not who their ancestors were, but rather their standing in the sight of Allah, that mattered.
And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error,[9]Zaynab acquiesced and married Zayd.
[12] A story rejected by Muslim scholars but was inaccurately proposed by the 9th-century historians Ibn Sa'd and al-Tabari, was that Muhammad paid a visit to Zayd's house.
The hairskin curtain that served as Zayd's front door was blown aside, accidentally revealing Zaynab dressed only in her shift.
The story has been rejected by Muslim scholars[13][14][15] mainly because of its lack of having any chain of narration and its complete absence from any authentic hadith.
Some commentators[16] have found it absurd that Muhammad would suddenly become aware of Zaynab's beauty one day after having known her all her life.
[17] Historiographic assessments suggest that the "lovestruck" narrative itself was a fabrication that developed over a century after the death of Muhammad.
And Allah's command must be fulfilled.After this verse was announced, Muhammad proceeded to reject the existing Arabian norms.
[26] Some Muslim historians have understood the discrepancy between Muhammad's private thoughts and his expressed words to refer, not to a desire to marry Zaynab, but only to a prophetic foreknowledge that the marriage was going to happen.
Anas ibn Malik said there were over seventy guests, and that none of Muhammad's other wives was given such a large banquet.
"Anas narrates: "The Prophet offered a wedding banquet on the occasion of his marriage to Zainab, and provided a good meal for the Muslims.
"[3]: 74 On two occasions, when Muhammad divided a gift of food among all his wives, Zaynab was displeased with her portion and sent it back to him.
"[37] Aisha conceded: "I have never seen a woman more advanced in religious piety than Zaynab, more God-conscious, more truthful, more alive to the ties of blood, more generous and having more sense of self-sacrifice in practical life and having more charitable disposition and thus more close to God, the Exalted, than she was.
[3]: 74 She prayed so much by night that she hung a rope between two pillars in the mosque and held onto it when she became too tired to stand.
When Muhammad discovered the rope, he removed it and told her that when she became tired, she should stop praying and sit down.
[3]: 74, 77 Even when Caliph Umar sent her the pension of 12,000 dirhams that he allowed to all of Muhammad's widows, Zaynab gave it all away to various poor families in Medina.