Biography of ZAYNAB BINT JAHSH BIN RIYAB رضي الله عنها

ZAYNAB BINT JAHSH BIN RIYAB رضي الله عنها

She is the cousin of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Her mother is Umaymah bint Abdul-Muttalib bin Hashim.

She is the sister of Hamnah bint Jahsh, and Abu Ahmad bin Jahsh, who were from those who partook in the first migration. 

She was previously married to Zayd, the freed slave of the Prophet ﷺ She is the one intended in the statement of Allah the Exalted: 

وَإِذْ تَقُولُ لِلَّذِي أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَتُخْفِي فِي نَفْسِكَ مَا اللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى النَّاسَ وَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَاهُ فَلَمَّا قَضَى زَيْدٌ مِّنْهَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجْنَاكَهَا لِكَيْ لَا يَكُونَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَرَجٌ فِي أَزْوَاجِ أَدْعِيَائِهِمْ إِذَا قَضَوْا مِنْهُنَّ وَطَرًا ﴾ 

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.

[Surah al-Ahzab 33:37]

Thus, Allah married her to His Prophet ﷺ with this text from the Qur'an, without a guardian or a witness.

Anas narrated: 

كَانَتْ زَيْنَبُ تَفْخَرُ عَلَى أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَقُولُ زَوَّجَكُنَّ أَهَالِيكُنَّ، وَزَوَّجَنِي اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مِنْ فَوْقِ سَبْع سَمَوَاتٍ . 

say, Zaynab used to boast to the wives of the Prophet ﷺ and

"You were given in marriage by your families, while I was married (to the Prophet) by Allah from over seven heavens." 

She was from the noblest women regarding her religiosity, piety, and knowledge.

Her narrations are collected in the six books of hadith.

Some of those who narrated from her were her nephew Muhammad bin Abdillah bin Jahsh, the Mother of the Believers Umm Habibah, and Zaynab bint Abi Salamah. 

Zaynab narrated 11 ahadith.

The Generosity of Zaynab bint Jahsh: 

'A'ishah said:

Some of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ asked him, "Who amongst us will be the first to follow you (die after you)?"

He said, "Whoever has the longest hand."

So they started measuring their hands with a stick, and Sawdah had the longest hand.

(When Zaynab bint Jahsh died first), we came to know that the long hand was a symbol of practicing charity, so she was the first to follow the Prophet ﷺ and she used to love to practice charity. 

The Piety of Zaynab bint Jahsh: 

A'ishah said:

Zaynab bint Jahsh used to compete with me in the home with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

I have never seen a woman who was better in religious commitment than Zaynab, more fearing of Allah, more truthful in speech, more keen to uphold family ties, more generous in giving charity. 

The Honor Given to Zaynab bint Jahsh: 

'A'ishah said,

"May Allah have mercy upon Zaynab, she achieved unattainable honor in this world.

Verily, Allah conducted her marriage and mentioned it in the Qur'an.

And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ informed us that the first of his wives to reunite with him would be the one with the longest hand thus, he gave her glad tidings that she would reunite with him first.

And she is his wife in Paradise."

The Story of the Honey: 

'A'ishah said,

"The Prophet ﷺ used to stay with Zaynab bint Jahsh and drink honey at her house.

Hafsah and I agreed that if the Prophet ﷺ came to either of us, we would say, 'I detect the smell of maghafir (a nasty-smelling gum) on you, have you eaten maghafir?"

He came to one of them and she said that to him.

He said, "No rather, I drank honey at the house of Zaynab bint Jahsh, but I will never do it again."

Then the following was revealed: 

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكَ.

 مَرْضَاتَ أَزْوَاجِكَ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ) 

O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives?

And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

[Surah at-Tahrim 66:1] 

The statement of Allah:

If you two turn in repentance to Allah, (it will be better for you).

[Surah at-Tahrim 66:4]

This statement is directed to 'A'ishah and Hafsah. 

The statement of Allah:

And (remember) when the Prophet disclosed a matter in confidence to one of his wives.

[Surah at-Tahrim 66:3] 

This refers to the statement of the Prophet, "No rather, I drank honey."

Her sister: 

Her sister Hamnah bint Jahsh spoke during the slander of 'A'ishah, and she began to speak to Zaynab about it.

But Allah protected Zaynab from any involvement in this matter due to her piety.

Her sister Hamnah was married to Mus'ab bin 'Umayr, and he was killed in the Battle of Uhud.

Then she married Talhah bin 'Ubaydillah and gave birth to Muhammad and 'Imran. 

Zaynab's sister Hamnah is likewise mentioned in the hadith concerning istihadah (non-menstrual vaginal bleeding). 

Hamnah said,

"I had a case of blood flow that was severe and excessive.

So I went to the Prophet ﷺ to inform him and ask him about it.

I found him in the house of my sister, Zaynab bint Jahsh.

I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, I bleed a great deal all the time.

What do you think should I stop praying and fasting?'

He said, 'I suggest you use a piece of cotton, for it will absorb the blood.'

I said, 'It is more than that.'

He said, "That is a kick from the Shaytan, so count your menses as six or seven days which is something between you and Allah then wash yourself, and when become pure and you see that you you are certain of it, then pray for 24 or 23 days, have and fast.'"

[ this hadith was narrated by Ahmad and Abu Dawud, and narrated by and classed as sahih by Tirmidhi, al Bukhari classed it as hasan.] 

Their mother, Umaymah bint Abdul Muttalib, was the aunt of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Her Death: 

Narrated from al-Qasim:

"Zaynab bint Jahsh said when death approached her,

'I have prepared my shroud, if 'Umar sends a shroud for me, give one of them away in charity.

And if you are able to give my possessions away in charity, then do so." 

She died in 21 AH during 'Umar's caliphate, and he led the Janazah prayer over her. 

Ibn 'Umar said,

"When Zaynab bint Jahsh died, 'Umar ordered a caller to announce that no one should carry her except a relative.

Bint 'Umays said, 'O Leader of the Believers, shall I not show you how the Ethiopians shroud their women?'

So she placed her in a coffin and shrouded the coffin with a garment.

He said, 'How is this covering!'

He then ordered a caller to announce, 'Come out great to pray over your mother.'" 

The Prophet ﷺ married Zaynab in the month of Dhul-Qa'dah in 5 AH.

She was 25 years old at the time.

She was a righteous, pious woman dedicated to fasting and standing the night in prayer.

She was known as "the Mother of the Poor" due to her love of giving charity.

End.

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