By
Sadaf Azhar – Sub-Editor, Hiba magazine
Early life
Zaynab al-Kubra, the oldest daughter of the Prophet (sa), her story is poignant, reflecting the immense sacrifices, personal grief and complications of becoming Muslim as the Prophet (sa) first started preaching. Zaynab (rta) was born in Makkah when the Prophet (sa) was 30 years old. The Prophet (sa) loved her deeply and he used to praise her a lot as is narrated in the books of Fasting.
Her marriage
She got married when she was 10 years old, as was the Arab custom, to her cousin, Abu Al Aas ibn Rabee (rta), the son of Khadeejah’s (rta) sister, Haala. Abu Al Aas (rta) was reputed to be an honest and truthful merchant. The blessed couple was truly in love with each other. Khadeejah (rta) gifted Zaynab (rta) a beautiful necklace as a wedding gift.
Zaynab (rta) had two children- Ali and Umama. Ali, their son, died very early and the Prophet (sa) was grieved. Her daughter, Umama (rta), was the beloved granddaughter of the Prophet (sa) who is often mentioned in the Hadith just like Hasan (rta) and Hussain (rta). The Prophet (sa) is reported to hold her, carry her, and love her.
Her acceptance of Islam
She was amongst the first ten people to accept Islam. Her husband did not oppose her conversion, but he didn’t accept Islam either.
When the Prophet (sa) received revelation, she was newly married and her husband had been away on a trade route. When Abu Al As (rta) returned, he heard of the Prophet hood and his wife and mother-in-law’s conversion to Islam.
As a result, Abu Lahab had ordered his two sons to divorce the daughters of the Prophet (sa), Ruqayya (rta) and Umm Kulthum (rta). Abu al-As (rta) was also pressurized to divorce Zaynab (rta). He didn’t want to offend his tribesmen, yet he loved his wife dearly. At this very early stage in the Seerah, the marriage of a Mumin to a Mushrik was not forbidden. Due to her unique situation as being married to a disbeliever and mother to two children, the Prophet (sa) allowed her to remain in Makkah at the time of migration.
Abu Al As (rta) nobly resisted the pressure to divorce Zaynab (rta), and the Prophet (sa) appreciated his decision. However, he did not accept Islam for fear of his tribesmen mocking him for following the religion of his wife, even though he knew that the Prophet (sa) and Khadeejah (rta) were special.
Torn between father and husband
Being a non-political merchant, Abu Al Aas (rta) wasn’t expected to actively oppose the Prophet (sa). But Zaynab (rta) lived a life torn between watching her father being persecuted and her husband’s ambivalent attitude towards his fellow Makkans persecuting the Prophet (sa). For Zaynab (rta), this anguish worsened following the death of her mother, Khadeejah (rta).
Abu Al Aas (rta) resisted conversion and would not allow Zaynab (rta) and her children to migrate to Madinah. Despite being a practicing Muslim, Zaynab (rta) had to remain behind with the disbelievers of Makkah. This was a difficult test for her – she had no family of her own now and she was surrounded by people who viciously opposed her faith. Also, imagine how distressing it must have been for the Prophet (sa) to leave behind his eldest daughter and beloved grandchildren.
The Battle of Badr
At Badr, Abu Al As (rta) was forced to accompany the Makkans against the Prophet (sa), a situation which caused severe anxiety to Zaynab (rta), for both were beloved to her.
When the Makkans lost in Badr and her own husband was taken captive, Zaynab (rta) suffered humiliation from the Makkans. They blamed her father for killing and capturing the Makkans.
However, Abu Al Aas (rta) was captured early in the battle by Abdullah ibn Jubair (rta). Like Al Abbas (rta), he is reported to not have engaged in any offensive against the Muslims. Yet, it was painful for the Prophet (sa) to have his uncle and son in law among the prisoners of war.
Zaynab (rta) suffered the pain of separation from her husband when he was taken captive during the Battle of Badr. She also had to prove loyalty to her in laws.
The necklace
She sent the most precious thing in the world to her, which was the necklace that Khadeeja (rta) gifted her. Abu Al Aa’s brother presented the necklace to the Prophet (sa), requesting him to ransom Zaynab’s (rta) husband with it.
The Prophet (sa) wept when he drew that necklace out of the bag because it reminded him of both his beloved daughter and his deceased wife. The companions, of course, could not understand the significance of the necklace so he told them.
Prophet Muhammad (sa) then requested the companions: “If you will, then free her prisoner, ransom her prisoner, and also take the necklace back to her.” Zaynab (rta) had sacrificed her necklace for her husband, and did not expect it back. Likewise, the Prophet (sa) could have merely commanded the companions to do so, but in his fairness and compassion, he requested their cooperation.
Before setting Abu Al Aas (rta) free, the Prophet (sa) commanded him to send Zaynab (rta) to Madinah.
Separation from Abu Al Aas (rta)
Despite the ransom being accepted, Zaynab (rta) suffered another blow – after Badr, the Prophet (sa) announced that a Mumin married to a Mushrik must be separated as per the Quranic revelation. Abu Al Aas (rta) honored his commitment and sent her to Madinah with their daughter. However, there was a skirmish when she set out on her migration due to which she miscarried and complications from this miscarriage affected her for life.
Zaynab (rta) migrated to Madinah to live with her father. For six long years, Zaynab (rta) lived in Madinah without her husband. She refused to remarry because she loved him still- like her mother Khadeejah (rta), she was intensely loyal and loving.
Zaynab (rta) saves Abu Al Aas’s (rta) life once again
Abu Al Aas (rta) was again taken captive by Zayd bin Al Haritha (rta) when he was accompanying his trade caravan to Ash Shaam that the Muslims attacked (this was before the Treaty of Hudaibiyah). Zaynab (rta) felt worried but hopeful.
Abu Al Aas (rta) managed to reach her in the middle of the night but when Zaynab (rta) asked him whether he had accepted Islam, he refused. Then Zaynab (rta) took a step that shocked even the Prophet (sa).
Right after Fajr congregation in the Prophet’s (sa) mosque, Zaynab (rta) announced: “I have freed Abu Al Aas (rta) and he is now under my protection.” Note that she did not refer to him as “her husband” because she respected the Islamic rulings.
The Prophet (sa) and companions were stunned. The Prophet (sa) turned to his companions and asked: “Did you hear what I heard?” They replied: “Yes, O Messenger, we heard what you heard. We saw what you saw.” The Prophet (Sa) swore upon Allah (swt) that he had no idea about this before.
He then consulted with them- should they let him go free? Of course, the companions always sought to please the Prophet (sa), and they agreed to free Abu Al Aas (rta). So Zaynab’s (rta) announcement was accepted but the Prophet (sa), knowing her love for him warned her against treating him like her husband.
Abu Al Aas’s (rta) acceptance of Islam
Zaynab (rta) felt let down when Abu Al Aas (rta) refused to accept Islam because he did not want people to think he had accepted Islam under pressure as a captive. He returned to Makkah to return all the money he owed people, in a manner reminiscent of the Prophet’s (sa) actions before Hijrah. He then asked the Makkans: “Is there anything left?” Once they assured him they were satisfied, he openly declared the Shahadah and left for Madinah. Hence Abu Al Aas (rta) finally accepted Islam in A. H. 7, and was reunited with his family- 20 years after Prophet hood.
Her death and Abu Al Aas’s love for Zaynab (rta)
Abu Al Aas (rta) went straight to the Prophet (sa), declared his Islam and immediately requested to be joined with Zaynab (rta). The Prophet (sa) was overjoyed.
Unfortunately, their happiness was short lived. Zaynab (rta) died within a year, leaving both her father and husband devastated. Abu Al Aas (rta) is reported to have wept copiously at her death.
Zaynab (rta) passed away in A.H. 8. She was washed and shrouded by Umm Ayman (rta), Umm Salamah (rta) and Umm Attiyah (rta) according to the Prophet’s (sa) instructions. The Prophet (sa) asked the women to shroud her in his own waist cloth (Izar) and led her funeral prayers himself. He placed her in the grave himself and despite his profound grief, comforted Umama and Abu Al Aas (rta). She was buried in Al Baqii, in Madinah.
Abu Al Aas (rta) was deeply grieved by her death and would cry and recite poetry in her memory. A year later, he too passed away.
This indeed is a true love story of two believers, who remained obedient to Allah (swt) after embracing Islam. It offers us life lessons. We pray that they are united in Jannat ul Aala by Allah, Al Wadood, the Most Loving. Ameen.
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