Women in Islam – Hazrat Zainub رضي الله عنها

Women in Islam – Hazrat Zainub رضي الله عنها

In this issue we begin with the life sketches of the daughters of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم. The eldest daughter of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم was Hazrat Zainab (R.À.).

Hazrat Zainab (رضي الله عنها) was born in the fifth year of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم first marriage to Hazrat Khadija (رضي الله عنها). At that time Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم was thirty years old. Hazrat Zaina (رضي الله عنها) embraced Islam and was married to her cousin Abul-Aas bin Rabi.

Abdul-Aas bin Rabi fought for the Quraish against the Muslims in the Battle of Badr. He fell captive to the Muslims and was taken as a prisoner of war.
When the Quraish were paying the ransom to secure the release of their prisoners, Hazrat Zainab gave over as ransom for the release of her husband the necklace which she had received from her mother, Hazrat Khadija (رضي الله عنها), when she was married. When Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم saw this necklace the memories of Hazrat Khadija (رضي الله عنها.) came to his mind and tears rolled from his eyes. After consultation with the Sahaabah (رضي الله عنه) the necklace was returned to Hazrat Zainab (رضي الله عنها) Her husband was released without ransom on the condition that he would send Hazrat Zainab (رضي الله عنها) to Medinah on his return to Mecca. At that time Hazrat Zainab (رضي الله عنها.) was in Mecca. Two men from Medinah were sent to wait outside Mecca to bring Hazrat Zainab(رضي الله عنها) safely to Medinah.

Addul-Aas bin Rabi asked his brother Kananah to accompany Hazrat Zainab (رضي الله عنها) outside Mecca and entrust her over to the Muslim escorts. As Hazrat Zainab and Kananah were moving towards the outskirts of the town, on came back, the Quraish sent a party of men to intercept them. On approaching them, her own cousin Habar bin Aswad flung a spear at her which wounded her and made her fall from the camel. As she was pregnant at that time, she had a miscarriage from the fall and the injuries sustained. Kanana began defending his brothers wife by shooting arrows towards the interceptors when at once Abu Sufyan approached and said: “We cannot tolerate the daughter of Muhammed صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم leaving Mecca so openly. Let her go back and you can send her back secretly after a few days.” Kanana agreed to this proposal. Hazrat Zainab (رضي الله عنها) was sent back after a few days.

She suffered for a very long time from this wound which she sustained whilst leaving Mecca the first time. After suffering a long time she passed away in
8 A.H. Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم said at thé time of her death that: “She was my best daughter for she suffered much in the path of Allah.”

Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم buried her with his own hands. As he went into the grave to lay her down he looked very anxious but when he came out of the grave he was quite composed. On the enquiry by the Sahaabah he said: “In view of the feebleness of Zainab I prayed to Allah to remove from her the tortures of the grave and this prayer has been answered by Allah.”

Just imagine even the daughter of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم who sacrificed her life for Islam needed a prayer from Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم for protection from difficulties in the grave.
What about us, who are so much soaked in sins? It is necessary that we should always seek protection from difficulties in the grave. Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم would often seek refuge in Allah from the difficulties of the grave. He would say: “0 Allah! protect us from the torments of the grave by Thy special Favour, Grace and Bounty.”

Hazrat Zainab’s husband also embraced Islam later and joined her in Medinah.
She had a son named Ali, and a daughter named Amamah. Hazrat Ali the son passed away during the lifetime of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم.
Hazrat Ali was the same person who sat with Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم on the camels.

She passed away in 50 A.H.

Women in Islam (Ar-Rashad)