Zainab Bent Gahsh [AAH]

Mother of Believers:



Zainab Bent Gahsh [AAH]





She is the mother of believers, Zainab, her father is Gahsh ibn Reyab ibn Ya'mor al-Asady. Her mother is Ommaya, the Prophet’s aunt [PPBUH] and the daughter of Abdul-Mottalib. Her brother is Abdullah ibn Gahsh, the first prince in Islam. She was born 33 years before Hijra.



Her name was Barrah, but the Prophet [PPBUH] named her Zainab, which means a beautiful and good scented tree. She was called Om-el-Hakam, and she was one of the first immigrants.



She converted to Islam with her family and they tolerated the harm for the sake of Allah, until the Prophet [PPBUH] gave them permission to emigrate to Medina. Their house in Mecca was taken by Abo-Sofyan after they left it. Abdullah ibn Gahsh told the Prophet [PPBUH] about it, so he [PPBUH] said to him (O, Abdullah, will you be satisfied if Allah compensated you with a better house in paradise)!



Zayd ibn Harethah, the servant and freed slave of the Prophet [PPBUH], married her to teach her Qur'an and Sunna. She was later divorced and Allah, Almighty, told his Prophet [PPBUH] to marry her and revealed the verse that says [And when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor "Keep your wife and fear Allah" while you concealed within yourself that which Allah was to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you should fear Him. So when Zayd had ended his need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they end their needs for them. And ever is the command of Allah accomplished] al-Ahzab 33:37.



The Prophet [PPBUH] has adopted Zayd, before, who accordingly was named “Mohammad’s son”. Therefore, when the verse was revealed [Call them by their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah] al-Ahzab 33:5. The Prophet [PPBUH] married Zainab after she was divorced from Zayd, to cancel the concept of adoption that was known during the ignorance age.



Zaynab [AAH] used to be proud of the way that she was married to the Prophet [PPBUH]. She used to tell the other mothers of believers “you were all married by your families but I was married by Allah, Almighty, above the seven heavens”. The Prophet [PPBUH] named her Zainab after the marriage, and fed the people meet and bread for her.



She [AAH] was one of the masters of all women for her generosity, ethics, favors, and religiosity. She was the most beautiful among all of them. The Prophet [PPBUH] used to visit her, stay with her, and drink honey at her place, until some of his wives became jealous of her and they wanted to stop him [PPBUH] from doing so. Aisha [AAH] said “the Prophet [PPBUH] used to stay at Zaynab bent Gahsh, place, and drink honey their. So me and Hafsah plotted that every time the Prophet [PPBUH] comes to either of us, she would tell him [PPBUH] that he smells like acacia, which is a kind of paste with unpleasant smell, and ask him if he has eaten acacia”. So when the Prophet [PPBUH] went to one of them and she told him that, he replied (No, I only had some honey at Zainab bent Gahsh’s house, but I will never go back to it). Then Allah revealed [O Prophet, why do you prohibit what Allah has made lawful for you] … till He said … [If you two repent to Allah] for Aisha and Hafsah, and [And when the Prophet confided to some of his wives a statement] is for his saying (No, I only had some honey) Al-Tahrim 66:1-4, and the Hadith is by al-Bukhary and Muslim.



One of the important incidents that happened was when the Prophet [PPBUH] asked Zainab [AAH] if she has heard or seen anything about Aisha [AAH], referring to the incident Ifk [lying], she said “O, messenger of Allah, I protect my hearing and sight and I have not seen or heard anything except good things”. It was later narrated that Aisha [AAH] said “Zainab said that about me, although she was the one, of the Prophet’s wives, who used to show pride and superiority over me. But Allah protected her from ill saying, for her piety”.



Zainab [AAH] was worshiper, devout, and always praying and fasting. She also was so generous that she would give away many charities for the sake of Allah. It was narrated by Abdullah ibn Shadad al-Laythy that the Prophet [PPBUH] once told Omar ibn al-Khattab (Zainab bent Gahsh is Awwaha). One man said: O, Messenger of Allah, what is Awwah? The Prophet [PPBUH] said (the one who is devout and supplicating). And he [PPBUH] recited [Indeed, Ibrahim was forbearing, Awwah [Dhikr with supplication] and penitent] Houd 11:75.



She [AAH] was also a devout with lots of praying and lots of alms giving and good doing. She also was good with her hand making and she used to tan and thread beads and give away what gets from that for the sake of Allah. She [AAH] was very giving that the Prophet [PPBUH] once praised her and said that her hand was long, for her charity giving. Aisha [AAH] said “The Prophet [PPBUH] said (among you, the one who has the longest hand will be the first to join me in the hereafter) So we used to try to compete which of is the one with the longest hand. But Zainab had the longest hand because she used to work with her hand and give alms”. Narrated by al-Bukhary and Muslim.



Aisha [AAH] described Zainab [AAH], as in Sahih Muslim, saying “I have not seen a better person in religion, more pious, more truthful teller, more good to her kinship, greater charity giver, and more devoted to the work she do for the charity for the sake of Allah, than Zainab”.



In the Sahih, Omar ibn al-Khatab sent her annual share of money, 12 thousands Dinars, but she gave it all away to her kinship and to the needy. She prayed that she would not receive any more money like it from the prince of believers the next year, as she thought it was a trail. And Allah responded to her prayer, as she died and caught up with the Prophet [PPBUH] before her next year. But when Omar knew about what she has done with the money, at that time, he stood by her door, sent her his Salam, told her that he heard what she did, and sent her one thousand Dinars more to keep for herself. But she gave it all away as before, and did not keep one single Dinar to herself.



When the time of death came for Zainab [AAH], she said “I have prepared my own shroud, and Omar, the prince of believers, will send me another shroud. So donate one of them. And if you can donate my dress, do that”.



Ibn Saad narrated that Zainab bent Gahsh [AAH] did not leave any Darhim or Dinar, and she would donate all what she can. Zainab bent Gahsh [AAH] was a shelter for the poor and needy.



Indeed, she [AAH] was the first of the Prophet’s [PPBUH] wives to pass away after him. She died in the 20th year of Hijra, and Omar ibn al-Khattab prayed onto her. She was the first woman to have a casket, and was buried in Al-Baqie.



Al-Zahaby [AAH] said that Zainab [AAH] has twelve narrations, but only two were proven in the six books. O’ Allah, we testify that she [AAH] was a mother and a role model for all believers. May Allah have mercy on her soul and attach her with her husband and beloved Prophet [PPBUH]. May Allah attach all of us with her and all our mothers, the mothers of believers, and may Allah accept them all. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.





Edited by Rawya Ramadan.



Translated by Shayma Bassyoni.



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