(Ummul Mumineen Sayyidah Zainab bintu Jahsh [radhiyallahu ‘anha] – Part Three)
After migrating to Madeenah Munawwarah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) sent a marriage proposal to Sayyidah Zainab bintu Jahsh (radhiyallahu ‘anha) on behalf of his freed-slave and adopted son, Sayyiduna Zaid bin Haarithah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
Initially Sayyidah Zainab (radhiyallahu ‘anha) thought that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was proposing for himself (and was thus happy to accept it). However, when she learnt that the proposal was actually on behalf of Sayyiduna Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), whose social standing was lower than hers due to him previously being a slave, whereas she was from the Quraish, she was reluctant to accept. Likewise, her brother, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), was not keen on this marriage as well.
It was on this occasion that Allah Ta‘ala revealed the following verse:
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُّبِينًا
It does not behove a believing men nor a woman female that when Allah and His Messenger issue an order, for them to have a choice of their own. Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly gone clearly astray. (Surah Ahzaab v36)
When this verse was revealed, Sayyidah Zainab (radhiyallahu ‘anha) wholeheartedly accepted and was pleased with the suggestion of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). The nikaah thus took place.
After some time, Sayyiduna Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) complaining of challenges that he was facing in the marriage and expressing his intention to divorce his wife. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) encouraged him to keep the marriage and fear Allah Ta‘ala in this regard. However, (as a result of incompatibility between them,) the marriage did not work out and Sayyiduna Zaid bin Haarithah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) eventually divorced Sayyidah Zainab bintu Jahsh (radhiyallahu ‘anha).
(Tabaqaat Ibni Sa’d vol. 8, pg. 101, Al-Mu’jamul Kabeer vol. 16, pg. 5631, Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaa-id #11324, and Tafseer Qurtubi vol. 17, pg. 151)
Lessons:
1. Sayyidah Zainab (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was initially hesitant to accept the marriage proposal due to Sayyiduna Zaid’s (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) social standing, but when Allah Ta‘ala revealed the verse emphasizing the importance of obeying Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) command, she wholeheartedly accepted the proposal. This was a salient feature in the lives of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum); as soon as they were corrected, they wholeheartedly accepted and submitted. Therefore, in our lives as well, even though something may not apparently make sense to us, we should wholeheartedly accept and obey the commandments of Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
2. While every effort should be made in maintaining a marriage and saving it, at times it is not meant to work out. This is despite there being no fault of either spouse but merely because there is no compatibility, as was in the case of Sayyidah Zainab and Sayyiduna Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma). If a person finds himself/herself in such a situation, he/she should be pleased with the decree of Allah Ta‘ala.