Wife of the Prophet
Sayyidah Zainab ibn Muhammad

Zainab was born when the Prophet was 30 years old. When he grew up and reached the age of marriage, Halah bint Khuwailid asked his brother, Khadijah bint Khuwailid (wife of the Prophet), that Zainab marry his son, Abul Ash bin Rabi’. The Prophet then married Abul Ash to Zainab. Shortly thereafter Abul Ash ibn Rabi' brought Zainab to his house.

Khadijah went to meet the two husbands who loved each other and prayed that both of them would get blessings. Then he took off his necklace and put it around Zainab's neck as a wedding gift.

The marriage took place before the revelation to his father, Prophet SAW. When the revelation had come down to the Prophet Muhammad, he invited Abul Ash to embrace Islam, but he refused and chose to remain a idol. Zainab converted to Islam and embraced the religion of Allah. She remained in Islam while her husband remained in disbelief, until it was time for the Prophet to emigrate.

After the Prophet Muhammad migrated to Medina, the Quraish troops set out for Badr to fight the Prophet and the Muslims. Among them was Abul Ash ibn Rabi', not to declare his Islam, but to fight the Prophet.

The war raged and was won by the Muslims. Most of the Quraiys soldiers were killed and some captured, including Abul Ash. The prisoners were led to Medina by the Muslims.

Then the Quraysh sent men to redeem the captives. Zaynab sent a ransom to redeem her husband, Abul Ash bin Rabi'. Among the money Zainab sent was a necklace given by her mother when she married first.

When the Prophet saw the necklace, he was saddened and said, "If you do not mind releasing the captives and returning the property, then do it."

The Companions answered: "Okay, O Messenger of Allah."

Then they released Abul Ash and returned Zainab's property. Abul Ash promised the Prophet SAW that he would release Zainab and return her to him in Medina.

When Abul Ash was released and arrived in Makkah, the Prophet SAW sent Zaid bin Harithah and one from among Anshar to represent him. He said, "Go to the area Ya’jaj—a place near Makkah—until Zainab passes you both. Then you should accompany him until you both come to me with him!"

Abul Ash was very grateful to his dutiful and noble wife. And he said, "Come back to your father, O Zainab."

Abul Ash has fulfilled his promise to the Prophet Muhammad to let Zainab return to him. He could not help but weep and could not take his wife to the edge of the hamlet outside Makkah, where he had been waiting for Zaid ibn Harithah and an Anshar man.

Abul Ash asked his brother, Kinanah ibn Rabi', to deliver Zainab. Abul Ash said to Kinanah, "Brother, you must know his place in my soul. I do not want a woman of Quraysh beside him and you know that I cannot leave her. So accompany him to the edge of the hamlet, where he has been waiting for two messengers of Muhammad. Treat her meekly on the way and watch her as you watch the women preserved. Protect him with your arrow until the last arrow."

After completing the preparations, Kinanah ibn Rabi' handed over a camel to Zainab, and then climbed it. Kinanah took his bow and arrow, and went out with Zainab in the afternoon. Zaynab sat in a shade, while Kinanah led his camel.

The news of Zainab's departure to meet Muhammad SAW, his father, was heard by some Quraysh people so they went out to pursue him. Some time later they saw Zainab in a valley called Dzi Thuwa. The first people to follow him were Hubar bin Al-Aswad and Nafi’ bin Abdul Qais Al-Fahri. Hubar scares him with a spear so that he returns to Makkah. Zainab was still on top of her camel, at the time she was pregnant. When she returned to Makkah, she had a miscarriage.

Seeing his brother-in-law being treated as such, Kinanah got angry and prepared his arrow. "By Allah, no one comes near me unless I throw an arrow at him."

Hearing this, people become nervous. Soon Abu Sufyan and the Quraysh came and said to Kinanah, "Male, hold your arrow until I speak to you."

And Kinanah held his arrow. Abu Sufyan came to him and said, "Your actions are not right. You came out to bring women openly before the crowd. Indeed, it shows the humiliation that befalls us due to the calamities and disasters that we have experienced before. It shows our weakness. For the sake of my age, we don't need to prevent him from going to his father. We don't want revenge, but give the woman back."

When the atmosphere subsided, Kinanah took Zainab at night, and handed her over to Zaid bin Harithah and his friend. The two went to deliver Zainab to the Prophet of Allah. The husband and wife also separated.

Shortly before the conquest of Makkah (Makkah Fatu), Abul Ash set out to trade in the land of Sham. He is believed to be a trusty man with the property entrusted to him from the princes of Quraysh to be traded by him.

Remembering Zainab with her love and loyalty, Abul Ash entered the city of Medina at night and begged Zainab to protect and help her to restore her property. Zainab protected him.

When the time of dawn arrived the Prophet came out to perform prayer. At the imposition of Ihram, Zainab suddenly shouted at the women's line, "Oh man, I have protected Abul Ash bin Rabi'. He's in my protection and my guarantee."

The Prophet finished his prayer, and he went to the crowd and asked, "Have you heard what I heard?"

"Yes" they answered.

He said, "For the sake of Dzat who grasped the soul of Muhammad, I've never done anything until I hear what you've heard together that there are people who give something that Muslims should have."

Then he went to his daughter and spoke to her, "O my daughter, glorify this place and let her not return to you, for you have not been lawful to her as long as she is a polytheist."

The Prophet was impressed to see the loyalty of his daughter to her husband who was left behind and she broke off sexual relations with him because of the command of Allah SWT. In addition, Zainab still gave him services, loyalty and help; services as a Muslim woman, loyalty as a friend and help as a human being.

Then the Prophet SAW sent men to the army that seized the property of Abul Ash. He said, "You know the position of this man against us. You have taken his treasure. If you do him good and give him back his property, then we like it. If you refuse, then it is the fai' of God that He has given you and you are more entitled to it."

They said, "We'll give it back to Abul Ash."

Some of them said, "Hi Abul Ash, will you convert to Islam and take away this property, because it belongs to the polytheists?"

Abul Ash replied, "It is bad that my early Islam, if I betray my trust."

So they returned the treasure to him for the glory of the Messenger of Allah and in honor of Zaynab. Abul Ash returned to Mecca with his wealth and the wealth of the people.

After returning the property to their respective owners, Abul Ash stood up and said, "O Quraysh, is there any treasure among you?"

They said, "No. May Allah reward you with kindness. We have found you an honest and noble person."

Abul Ash said, "I testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. By Allah, there is no one to prevent me from converting to Islam in front of him (Rasulullah SAW), to the cave because I am worried that they think I want to eat your treasure. After Allah has presented it to you and I have finished sharing it, I will convert to Islam."

Abul Ash also came out of Makkah, emigrated to Medina with guidance of faith and belief. The husband and wife who love each other met for the second time after a long separation.

Zainab had fulfilled her obligations and completed her world affairs while resuscitating the man she loved and fulfilling the rights of her husband according to the level of her love for her husband. Shortly after that meeting, Zainab died in the 8th year of the Hijri.

The Prophet was very saddened by his passing. Zainab left the world with the best memories. He is the best example of the faithfulness of the wife, the sincerity of love and the truth of faith.