Biographies - Hazrat Zainab bint Jahsh (R.A)

She was the Prophet Mohammad's (صلى اللهعليه وسلم) cousin. She was
first given in marriageby the Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to
his adopted son Hadhrat Zaid bin Harithah (Radhiyallaho anho). When
Hadhrat Zaid (Radhiyallaho anho) divorced her, she was married to the
Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) by command of Allah, as
mentioned in Surah Al Ahzab. This took place in 5 A.H., at that time
she was 35. She was therefore born 17 years before Nubuwwat. She was
always proud of the fact that, the other wives while all the other
wives were given in marriageto the Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه
وسلم) by their guardians, it was Allah Himself Who did this for her.
When Hadhrat Zaid (Radhiyallaho anho) divorced her and she
hadcompleted her Iddat, the Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)sent
the proposal to her. She said: "I cannot say anything until I have
consulted my Allah." She performed Wudhu, said two rakaat of Salaat,
andprayed to Allah: "O, Allah! Thy Prophet proposes to marry me. If I
am fit for the honor, then give me in his marriage." Allah answered
her prayerby revealing the following verse to the Prophet Mohammad
(صلى الله عليه وسلم) :
"So when Zaid had performed the necessary formality (of divorce) from
her, we gave her unto thee in marriage, sothat (henceforth) there may
be no sin for believers in respect of the wives of their adopted sons,
when the latter have performed the necessary formality (of release)
from them. The Commandment of Allah must be fulfilled." (XXXIII:37)
When she received the good news about this revelation, she prostrated
before Allah in thanksgiving. Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)
arranged a big feast of Walimah for this marriage. A goat
wasslaughtered and mutton-curry with bread was served to the guests.
People came in groups, and were served till all ofthem were fed.
Hadhrat Zainab (Radhiyallaho anha) had a very large heart for spending
in the way of Allah. She earned by working with her hands and spent
all "her earnings in charity. It was about her that the Prophet
Mohammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)prophesied:
"My wife with long handswill be the first to meet me after my death."
The wives took this to mean the physical length of arms and began to
measure their hands with a stick. The hands ofHadhrat Saudah
(Radhiyallaho anha) came out to be the longest by measurement.But when
Hadhrat Zainab(Radhiyallaho anha) diedfirst, the meaning of the
metaphor used by the Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)dawned upon
them. She fasted very often. She died in 20 and 'Umar (Radhiyallaho
anho) led the funeral service. She fifty at the time of her death.