Mothers of the Believers: Zaynab Bint Jahsh

Zaynab Bint Jahsh was one of the mothers of the believers and the Prophet's cousin

Zaynab's father was Jahsh bin Raeb and her mother was Umaymah bint Abdul Muttalib, who was one of the paternal aunts of the Prophet (ﷺ).

Her marriage and divorce to Zayd bin Harithah

Zaynab was married to Zayd, the adoptive son of the prophet. Zayd was a gifted slave to Khadijah, the Prophet (ﷺ) freed him and adopted him as his son. According to some sources he was called Zayd bin Muhammad until Islam adomist it.

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala says:

"Allah has not made for a man two hearts in his interior. And He has not made your wives whom you declare unlawful your mothers. And he has not made your adopted sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allah says the truth, and He guides to the [right] way." (33:4)

"Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you do not know their fathers - then they are [still] your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you. And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful." (33:5)

"It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error." (33:36)

"Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing." (33:40)

"And [remember, O Muhammad], 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 is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him. 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 concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them. And ever is the command of Allah accomplished." (33:37

Narrated Anas: "When this Ayah was revealed: 'But you did hide in yourself that which Allah will make manifest... (33:37)' about Zainab bint Jahsh, Zaid had come to the Prophet (ﷺ) complaining, and he wanted to divorce her, so he consulted with the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Keep your wife to yourself, and have Taqwa of Allah (33:37).'" (Tirmidhi, 3212)

Narrated Anas: "When this Ayah was revealed about Zainab bint Jahsh: 'So when Zaid had completed his aim with her, We gave her to you in marriage (33:37)' he said: "She used to boast to the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ): 'Your families married you (to him) while Allah married me (to him) from above the Seven Heavens.'" (Tirmidhi, 3213)

Her marriage to the Prophet (ﷺ) and the hijab

Anas bin Malik said: Zainab bint Jahsh used to boast to the other wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) and say: "Allah married me to him from above the Heavens." And the Verse of Hijab was revealed concerning her." (An Nasai, 3252

Narrated Anas bin Malik: "The Verse of Al-Hijab (veiling of women) was revealed in connection with Zainab bint Jahsh. (On the day of her marriage with him) the Prophet (ﷺ) gave a wedding banquet with bread and meat; and she used to boast before other wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) and used to say, 'Allah married me (to the Prophet (ﷺ) in the Heavens.'" (Bukhari, 7421)

Narrated Anas bin Malik: "When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) married Zainab bint Jahsh, he invited the people to a meal. They took the meal and remained sitting and talking. Then the Prophet (showed them) as if he is ready to get up, yet they did not get up. When he noticed that (there was no response to his movement), he got up, and the others too, got up except three persons who kept on sitting. The Prophet (ﷺ) came back in order to enter his house, but he went away again. Then they left, whereupon I set out and went to the Prophet (ﷺ) to tell him that they had departed, so he came and entered his house. I wanted to enter along with him, but he put a screen between me and him. Then Allah revealed: 'O you who believe! Do not enter the houses of the Prophet...' (33:53)" (Bukhari, 4791)

The incident of the honey

Narrated Aisha: "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to drink honey in the house of Zainab, the daughter of Jahsh, and would stay there with her. So Hafsa and I agreed secretly that, if he comes to either of us, she would say to him. "It seems you have eaten Maghafir (a kind of bad-smelling resin), for I smell in you the smell of Maghafir," (We did so) and he replied. "No, but I was drinking honey in the house of Zainab, the daughter of Jahsh, and I shall never take it again. I have taken an oath as to that, and you should not tell anybody about it." (Bukhari, 4912)

I’tikah

Narrated Amra bint Abdur-Rahman from Aisha: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) mentioned that he would practice I’tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. Aisha asked his permission to perform I’tikaf and he permitted her. Hafsa asked Aisha to take his permission for her, and she did so. When Zainab bint Jahsh saw that, she ordered a tent to be pitched for her and it was pitched for her. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to proceed to his tent after the prayer. So, he saw the tents and asked, "What is this?" He was told that those were the tents of Aisha, Hafsa, and Zainab. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Is it righteousness which they intended by doing so? I am not going to perform I’tikaf." So he returned home. When the fasting month was over, he performed Itikar for ten days in the month of Shawwal. (Bukhari, 2045)

The Prophet (ﷺ) changed her name

Zainab, daughter of Umm Salama, reported: "My name first was Barra. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave me the name of Zainab. Then there entered (into the house of Allah's Prophet (ﷺ) as a wife) Zainab, daughter of Jahsh, and her name was also Barra, and he gave her the name of Zainab." (Muslim, 2142a)

The first to join the Prophet (ﷺ)

Narrated Aisha: Some of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) asked him, "Who amongst us will be the first to follow you (i.e. die after you)?" He said, "Whoever has the longest hand." So they started measuring their hands with a stick and Sauda's hand turned out to be the longest. (When Zainab bint Jahsh died first of all in the caliphate of Umar), we came to know that the long hand was a symbol of practicing charity, so she was the first to follow the Prophet (ﷺ) and she used to love to practice charity. (Sauda died later in the caliphate of Muawiya)." (Bukhari, 1420)