Zaynab bint Jaḥsh (; ) was the first cousin and the seventh wife of Muhammad and therefore, considered by Muslims to be a Mother of the Believers.
Early life
Zaynab's father was Jahsh ibn Riyab, an immigrant from the Asad ibn Khuzaymah tribe who had settled in Mecca under the protection of the Umayya clan. Her mother was Umayma bint Abd al-Muttalib, a member of the Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe and a sister of Muhammad's father. Hence Zaynab and her five siblings were the first cousins of Muhammad.
She was a skilled tanner and leather-worker. She continued with this line of work throughout her life, even after she no longer needed the money. At that time Zaynab, who had become a Muslim, was among those who accompanied her brother Abdullah on the Hijrah to Medina.
Marriage to Zayd
Circumstances of the marriage
Around 625, Muhammad proposed Zaynab to marry his adopted son, Zayd ibn Harithah. Zayd had been born into the Kalb tribe but as a child he had been kidnapped by slave-traders. He had been sold to a nephew of Khadija bint Khuwaylid, who in her turn had given him as a wedding present to her husband Muhammad. After some years, Muhammad had manumitted Zayd and had adopted him as his son.</blockquote>
It has also been suggested that he wanted to establish the legitimacy and right to equal treatment of the adopted. By contrast, Montgomery Watt points out that Zayd was high in Muhammad's esteem.
<blockquote>"She can hardly have thought that he was not good enough. She was an ambitious woman, however, and may already have hoped to marry Muhammad; or she may have wanted to marry someone with whom Muhammad did not want his family to be so closely allied."</blockquote>
When Muhammad announced a new verse of the Qur'an:
After hearing this verse Zaynab gave her consent to marry Zayd. Muhammad personally paid the dower of 160 dirhams in cash, a cloak and veil, a coat of armour, 50 mudd of grain and 10 mudd of dates.
Circumstances of the divorce
The marriage lasted less than two years.
A story narrated by the 9th-century historians Ibn Sa'd and al-Tabari, but rejected by modern Muslim scholars, including those from Sunni traditions such as Ibn Kathir, al-Albani, is that Muhammad paid a visit to Zayd's house. The hairskin curtain that served as Zayd's front door was blown aside, accidentally revealing Zaynab dressed only in her shift. Zaynab arose to dress herself, advising Muhammad that Zayd was not at home but he was welcome to visit. However, he did not enter. He exclaimed to himself, “Praise be to Allah, who turns hearts around!” and then departed. When Zayd came home, Zaynab told him what had happened. Zayd went to Muhammad, saying: "Prophet, I have heard about your visit. Perhaps you admire Zaynab, so I will divorce her." Muhammad replied, "No, fear Allah and keep your wife."
The story has been rejected by Muslim scholars mainly because of its lack of having any chain of narration, its recording after 300 years and its complete absence from any authentic hadith. Some commentators have found it absurd that Muhammad would suddenly become aware of Zaynab's beauty one day after having known her all her life. Zainab was Muhammad's cousin. According to the Fatwa Department Research Committee, if her beauty had been the reason for Muhammad to marry her, he would have married her himself in the first place rather than arranging her marriage to Zayd. Some Islamic scholars state that rumours were spread by Hypocrites who disguised themselves as Muslims.
Zayd divorced Zaynab in December 626. Arab society would have viewed this union as profoundly wrong, because it was considered an adopted son was truly a "son". Therefore, for a man to marry his adopted son's wife - even if she was divorced - was considered incestuous. As a result, he "hid in his heart" the idea that he might marry her. This internal conflict is mentioned in the Qur'an :
After this verse was announced, Muhammad proceeded to reject the existing Arabian norms. Thereafter, Zayd reverted to being known by his original name of "Zayd ibn Harithah" instead of "Zayd ibn Muhammad".
The wedding
Muhammad married Zaynab as soon as her waiting-period from her divorce was complete, on 27 March 627.
Muhammad gave Zaynab a dower of 400 dirhams.
As soon as the men had departed, Muhammad announced a new ayat of the Quran.
Life in Medina
Aisha believed that Muhammad's favourite wives, after herself, were Zaynab and Umm Salama. Umm Salama said of Zaynab: "The Messenger of Allah liked her and he also used to become vexed with her." In one quarrel, Zaynab shouted insults at Aisha while Muhammad was present. Aisha retaliated with "hot words until I made her quiet." Muhammad only commented that Aisha was "really the daughter of Abu Bakr." Another time Zaynab refused to lend her spare camel to Safiyya; Muhammad was so angry that he did not speak to Zaynab for over two months.
Yet it was Zaynab who defended Aisha when the latter was accused of adultery. Muhammad asked her if she knew anything about it, and Zaynab replied: "O Allah's Messenger! I refrain to claim hearing or seeing what I have not heard or seen. By Allah, I know nothing except goodness about Aisha." Aisha conceded: "I have never seen a woman more advanced in religious piety than Zaynab, more God-conscious, more truthful, more alive to the ties of blood, more generous and having more sense of self-sacrifice in practical life and having more charitable disposition and thus more close to God, the Exalted, than she was."
Zaynab had a reputation for being prayerful.
Later life
After Muhammad's death, Zaynab never left Medina again.
She continued to work at tanning and leather-crafts, and she gave away all her profits in charity.