Companions & Great WomenMother of the Believers

Zaynab bint Jahsh

زينب بنت جحش

The daughter of his aunt, whose marriage to the Prophet ﷺ the Quran tells of.

Wife of: Muhammad ﷺ
Died: 20 AH

Life

Her mother was Umayma bint 'Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet's ﷺ aunt. She was married to Zayd ibn Haritha, who divorced her, and the Quran tells that Allah married her to the Prophet ﷺ (33:37).

She died in Madinah in 20 AH and was buried in al-Baqi'.

Evidence

QuranAl-Ahzaab (The Clans)Quran 33:6Holds part of this text only

ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ ۗ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَسْطُورًا ٦

The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves,[1182] and his wives are [in the position of] their mothers. And those of [blood] relationship are more entitled [to inheritance] in the decree of Allāh than the [other] believers and the emigrants, except that you may do to your close associates a kindness [through bequest]. That was in the Book[1183] inscribed.

Translator's notes

[1182] He (ﷺ) is more worthy of their obedience and loyalty and is more concerned for them than they are for one another. [1183] The Preserved Slate (al-Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ).

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

6. The Prophet is closer to the believers than their ownselves,[3] and his wives are their (believers’) mothers (as regards respect and marriage). And blood relations among each other have closer personal ties in the Decree of Allâh (regarding inheritance) than (the brotherhood of) the believers and the Muhâjirûn (emigrants from Makkah), except that you do kindness to those brothers (when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم joined them in brotherhood ties). This has been written in the (Allâh’s Book of Divine) Decrees - (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz)."

[3] (V.33:6) Narrated ‘Abdullâh bin Hishâm رضي الله عنه: We were with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and he was holding the hand of ‘Umar bin Al-Khattâb. ‘Umar said to Him. "O Allâh’s Messenger! You are dearer to me than everything except my ownself." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "No, by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, (you will not have complete Faith) till I am dearer to you than your ownself." Then ‘Umar said to him, now, by Allâh, you are dearer to me than my ownself." The Prophet said, " Now, O ‘Umar, (now you are a believer)." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.8, Hadîth No.682).

Read in context on Quran.com

Names the wives as Mothers of the Believers as a group, not each by name.

QuranAl-Ahzaab (The Clans)Quran 33:37

وَإِذْ تَقُولُ لِلَّذِىٓ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَتُخْفِى فِى نَفْسِكَ مَا ٱللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى ٱلنَّاسَ وَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَىٰهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ زَيْدٌ مِّنْهَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجْنَـٰكَهَا لِكَىْ لَا يَكُونَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَرَجٌ فِىٓ أَزْوَٰجِ أَدْعِيَآئِهِمْ إِذَا قَضَوْا۟ مِنْهُنَّ وَطَرًا ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا ٣٧

And [remember, O Muḥammad], when you said to the one on whom Allāh bestowed favor and you bestowed favor,[1198] "Keep your wife and fear Allāh," while you concealed within yourself that which Allāh is to disclose.[1199] And you feared the people,[1200] while Allāh has more right that you fear Him.[1201] So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort [i.e., guilt] concerning the wives of their claimed [i.e., adopted] sons when they no longer have need of them. And ever is the command [i.e., decree] of Allāh accomplished.

Translator's notes

[1198] Referring to the Prophet's freed slave, Zayd bin Ḥārithah. [1199] i.e., Allāh's command to the Prophet (ﷺ) to marry Zaynab after Zayd divorced her. This was to demonstrate that a man may marry a woman formerly married to his adopted son. [1200] i.e., feared their saying that the Prophet (ﷺ) had married the (former) wife of his son (which is prohibited by Allāh in the case of a true, begotten son). [1201] By making known His command.

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

37. And (remember) when you said to him (Zaid bin Hârithah رضي الله عنه - the freed-slave of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) on whom Allâh has bestowed Grace (by guiding him to Islâm) and you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم too) have done favour (by manumitting him): "Keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allâh." But you did hide in yourself (i.e. what Allâh has already made known to you that He will give her to you in marriage) that which Allâh will make manifest, you did fear the people (i.e., their saying that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم married the divorced wife of his manumitted slave) whereas Allâh had a better right that you should fear Him. So when Zaid had accomplished his desire from her (i.e. divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage, so that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the believers in respect of (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no desire to keep them (i.e. they have divorced them). And Allâh’s Command must be fulfilled.

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Scholarly opinionThe Mothers of the Believers (islamweb)islamweb.net

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