A Factual Explanation of the Marriage Between the Prophet ﷺ and Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها)
Claims of the Orientalists and Atheists
Orientalists and atheists have sought to portray the marriage of the Prophet ﷺ with Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها) as a “romantic story” based on certain historical narratives. They claim, God forbid, that the Prophet ﷺ developed an inclination towards Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها) while she was still married to Zayd (رضي الله عنه), and that this ultimately led to Zayd (رضي الله عنه) divorcing her.
Objections Based on Historical Narratives
✿ This assertion is primarily based on weak and unreliable narrations with dubious transmitters.
✿ These Orientalists do not concern themselves with the authenticity of the narrations or their sources.
✿ Their sole aim is to raise objections and sow suspicions.
The True Account in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith
Background of the Marriage of Zayd (رضي الله عنه) and Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها)
✔ Initiation of the Marriage
✔ Challenges After the Marriage
✔ Divorce and the Prophet’s ﷺ Marriage with Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها)
Objections of the Opponents and Their Refutation
✿ Whispers of the Hypocrites
✿ Clarification by the Qur’an
Conclusion
This event refutes the claims of Orientalists and atheists who rely on weak narrations to malign the Prophet ﷺ. The Qur’an and authentic Hadiths have provided a complete clarification of this event, proving that the objections raised against the Prophet ﷺ are baseless.
Claims of the Orientalists and Atheists
Orientalists and atheists have sought to portray the marriage of the Prophet ﷺ with Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها) as a “romantic story” based on certain historical narratives. They claim, God forbid, that the Prophet ﷺ developed an inclination towards Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها) while she was still married to Zayd (رضي الله عنه), and that this ultimately led to Zayd (رضي الله عنه) divorcing her.
Objections Based on Historical Narratives
✿ This assertion is primarily based on weak and unreliable narrations with dubious transmitters.
✿ These Orientalists do not concern themselves with the authenticity of the narrations or their sources.
✿ Their sole aim is to raise objections and sow suspicions.
The True Account in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith
Background of the Marriage of Zayd (رضي الله عنه) and Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها)
✔ Initiation of the Marriage
- Zayd (رضي الله عنه), who was a freed slave of the Prophet ﷺ, was treated like an adopted son.
- The Prophet ﷺ wished to arrange the marriage of his cousin, Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها), to Zayd (رضي الله عنه).
- Initially, Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها) was not pleased with this proposal, considering Zayd (رضي الله عنه) had been a slave, but upon the Prophet’s ﷺ instruction, she accepted the marriage.
(Reference: Fatḥ al-Bārī, Tafsīr Sūrah al-Aḥzāb, Ibn Abī Ḥātim)
✔ Challenges After the Marriage
- After the marriage, disputes and disharmony arose between Zayd (رضي الله عنه) and Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها).
- Zayd (رضي الله عنه) complained to the Prophet ﷺ about Lady Zaynab’s (رضي الله عنها) attitude and expressed his wish to divorce her.
- The Prophet ﷺ repeatedly advised him not to divorce her and to maintain the marriage, as the Qur’an states:
وَإِذْ تَقُولُ لِلَّذِي أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ
(Sūrah al-Aḥzāb: Verse 37)
Translation: “And [remember, O Muḥammad] when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, ‘Keep your wife and fear Allah.’”
✔ Divorce and the Prophet’s ﷺ Marriage with Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها)
- As the marriage could not be sustained, Zayd (رضي الله عنه) divorced Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها).
- Since Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها) was the Prophet’s ﷺ cousin and raised under his care, he intended to marry her to console and honor her.
- However, in the Arab society of the time, an adopted son was considered like a biological son, making such a marriage seem objectionable.
- Regarding this hesitation, the Qur’an clarifies:
وَتُخْفِي فِي نَفْسِكَ مَا اللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى النَّاسَ وَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَاهُ
(Sūrah al-Aḥzāb: Verse 37)
Translation: “And you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose, and you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him.” - After the revelation of these verses, the Prophet ﷺ married Lady Zaynab (رضي الله عنها), thereby abolishing the pre-Islamic custom of treating an adopted son like a real son in matters of marriage.
Objections of the Opponents and Their Refutation
✿ Whispers of the Hypocrites
- After this marriage, the hypocrites spread propaganda, claiming the Prophet ﷺ had married his daughter-in-law.
- In truth, this marriage was commanded by Allah, and it refuted the custom of treating an adopted son as a biological son.
✿ Clarification by the Qur’an
- Allah refuted these objections in Sūrah al-Aḥzāb:
مَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ
(Sūrah al-Aḥzāb: Verse 40)
Translation: “Muḥammad ﷺ is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.” - Subsequently, Zayd (رضي الله عنه) was no longer referred to as the son of the Prophet ﷺ but by his actual father’s name: Zayd ibn Ḥārithah (رضي الله عنه), as established by the verse:
ادْعُوهُمْ لِآبَائِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِندَ اللَّهِ
(Sūrah al-Aḥzāb: Verse 5)
Translation: “Call them by [the names of] their fathers; that is more just in the sight of Allah.”
Conclusion
This event refutes the claims of Orientalists and atheists who rely on weak narrations to malign the Prophet ﷺ. The Qur’an and authentic Hadiths have provided a complete clarification of this event, proving that the objections raised against the Prophet ﷺ are baseless.
