Zainab Radhi Allahu Anha

Zainab Radhi Allahu Anha

The Daughter of Nabi Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam

Zainab Radhi Allahu Anha was the daughter of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam from his first wife, Khadija Radhi Allahu Anha. Zainab Radhi Allahu Anha was married to Abul Aas Ibn Rab'i. Abul Aas was a wealthy trader and businessman of Makkah and Khadija Radhi Allahu Anha was his maternal aunt. Zainab and Abul Aas had been married before the dawn of prophethood. Zainab had then accepted Islam but Abul Aas remained a disbeliever. In the battle of Badr, Abu Aas fought on the side of the Qureish. He was taken captive by the Muslims and brought to Madinah. As it was decided that the captives would be released on payment of a ransom, Zainab Radhi Allahu Anha sent some wealth as ransom which included a necklace given to her by her mother, Khadija Radhi Allahu Anha. When Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam saw the necklace, compassion overtook him and he asked the Sahabah if they were willing to return the necklace to Zainab Radhi Allahu Anha and return Abul Aas without payment of a ranson. They agreed. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam instructed Abul Aas to allow Zainab Radhi Allahu Anha to come to him in Madinah in return for his freedom. He agreed.

When he reached Makkah, Abul Aas allowed Zainab Radhi Allahu Anha to leave Makkah. As Zainab Radhi Allahu Anha set out for Madinah she was stopped by the Qureish. A spear was thrown at her by Habbaar Ibn Aswad and she fell from her conveyance causing her to bleed severely. She was pregnant at the time and this led to a miscarriage. She never recovered from her wound and finally passed away during the 8th year of Hijri in Madinah. Nabi Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam entered her grave in great sadness and sorrow. When he emerged he appeared pleased. He explained : "I remembered Zainab and her weakness and I asked Allah to make it easy for her in the grave. My request was granted."

Habbaar Ibn Aswad came to Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam during the conquest of Makkah. He was from amongst those who the Muslim army had been commanded to kill. As he entered the gathering of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam a Sahabi wanted to attack him but Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam commanded the Sahabi not to do so. Habbaar then addressed Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam : "Peace be upon you, O Prophet of Allah. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah and I bear witness that Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is the prophet of Allah. I had fled from you, intending to join up with another tribe but I remembered your kindness to family and your forgiveness to those who were ignorant of you. O Prophet of Allah, we were a nation steeped in disbelief, but Allah guided us and saved us from destruction through you. Please pardon my ignorance and the harm I have inflicted upon you. I confess my evil action and I admit to my sin."

Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied : "I have forgiven you. Allah has surely been kind to you by guiding you to Islam."

Lessons

Numerous incidents of this nature show that Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was very forgiving and merciful. He overlooked the harm people had done to him despite the magnitude. To forgive an enemy who has harmed one physically and emotionally is no easy task. Ask yourself : Would you be prepared to forgive the murderer of your daughter the moment he shows remorse? This is what Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam did. Without doubt, as the Quran mentions, Nabi Sallallahu Alaihis Sallam was Rahmatul lil Aalameen - 'a mercy to all creation'.

References :

1. Al-Isaabah
2. Ar-Rawdhul Unf
3. Al-Istiaab
4. Usd al-Ghaabah

Courtesy Muslims At Work