Zainab bint Jahsh & the Veil Verse:-
Zainab bint Jahsh was the Muhammad's cousin, her mother Umayma being the daughter of Abdul Muttalib, Muhammad's grandfather, who, while he was alive, had ensured the safety of his grandson, thanks to his position as one of the most respected leaders of the Quraysh. Thus Zainab came from one of the noble families of the Quraysh, and everyone expected her to eventually marry a man with the same high social status.
Muhammad wanted her to marry a young man called Zayd ibn Harith, whose background was very different to that of Zainab.
Zayd had been taken prisoner while he was still a child during one of the inter-tribal wars that had been common before the coming of Islam. He had been sold as a slave to a nephew of Khadijah who had given Zayd to her as a gift. In turn, Khadijah had given him to her husband Muhammad in the days before the revelations of the Qur'an had begun, and Muhammad had given him his freedom and adopted him as his own son, at the age of eight.
Muhammad had watched both Zayd and Zainab grow up, and thought they would make a good couple, and that their marriage would demonstrate that it was not who their ancestors were, but rather their standing in the sight of Allah, that mattered. When Muhammad asked for her hand on behalf of Zayd, Zainab and her family were shocked at the idea of her marrying a man who in their eyes was only a freed slave.
Amongst pre-Islamic Arabs, the custom of ADOPTION of orphan/helpless child was a very popular and moral practice. By adopting orphan/helpless child, they used to consider adopted child as their own. And they used to pass onto them the adopter's genealogy and name, his investment of them with all the rights of the legitimate son including that of inheritance and the prohibition of marriage on grounds of consanguinity
Once, when Muhammad passed by the house of Zayd in the latter's absence, he was met by Zainab wearing a little shift which exposed her beauty. Muhammad's LUST was inflamed. It is reported that when his eyes fell upon her, he exclaimed,
"Praise be to Allah who changes the hearts of men"
and he repeated this expression at the time of his departure from her home.
It is also related that when Muhammad saw her she was half-naked, that her fine black hair was covering half of her body, and that every curve of her body was full of desire and passion.
Others relate that when Muhammad opened the door of the house of Zayd the breeze played with the curtains of the room of Zainab, thus permitting Muhammad to catch a glimpse of her stretched out on her mattress in a nightgown.”
Tabari VIII:1 "In this year the Messenger married Zaynab bt. Jahsh [a first cousin: Allah's Messenger came to the house of Zayd bin [son of] Muhammad. Perhaps the Messenger missed him at that moment. Zaynab, Zayd's wife, rose to meet him. She was dressed only in a shift…. She jumped up eagerly and excited the admiration of Allah's Messenger, so that he turned away murmuring something that could scarcely be understood. However, he did say overtly,
'Glory be to Allah Almighty, who causes hearts to turn!'
So Zayd went to Muhammad. 'Prophet, I have heard that you came to my house. Why didn't you go in? Perhaps Zaynab has excited your admiration, so I will leave her.'"
Tabari VIII:3 "Zayd left her, and she became free. While the Messenger of Allah was talking with Aisha, a fainting overcame him. When he was released from it, he smiled and said, 'Who will go to Zaynab to tell her the good news? Allah has married her to me.'
Then the Prophet recited [Quran 33] to the end of the passage.
Aisha said, 'I became very uneasy because of what we heard about her beauty and another thing, the loftiest of matters, what Allah had done for her by personally giving her to him in marriage. I said that she would boast of it over us.'"
Tabari VIII:4 "One day Muhammad went out looking for Zayd. Now there was a covering of haircloth over the doorway, but the wind had lifted the covering so that the doorway was uncovered. Zaynab was in her chamber, undressed, and admiration for her entered the heart of the Prophet. After that Allah made her unattractive to Zayd.'"
*** Muhammad's Allah was INSTANTLY obliging his slave by making the beautiful Zaynab UNATTRACTIVE in the eyes of her husband just so that he would divorce her to satisfy Muhammad's lust for her ***
Zainab heard him say this and noticed desire in his eye. Zainab proudly reported this happening to her husband. Zayd immediately went to see the Muhammad and offered to divorce his wife. Muhammad answered, "Hold to your wife and fear Allah."
Thereafter, Zainab was no longer a docile wife and Zayd had to divorce her. Muhammad married Zainab Bint Jahsh who was his daughter-in-law. That was definitely taboo in pre-Islamic Arabia, and the 'Prophet of Islam' lifted this very taboo in order to satisfy his own lust and fulfill his own desire.
To be able to marry his new desire, Muhammad had to change one of the fundamental traditions of the Arabs that asserted that an ADOPTED SON is considered as if he were from the BLOODLINE of the father.
To achieve this purpose, Muhammad very conveniently declared a REVERSAL of this tradition because the ever obliging Allah 'revealed' that the tradition was WRONG and had to be changed
- to suit Muhammad of course.
5: 5 Call them by (the names) of their fathers: that is juster in the sight of Allah but if ye know not their father's (names call them) your Brothers in faith or your Maulas. But there is no blame on you if ye make a mistake therein: (what counts is) the intention of your hearts: and Allah is Oft-Returning Most Merciful.
#3672 Freedmen were often called after their master's name as the "son of so and so". When they were slaves, perhaps their father's names were lost altogether. It is more correct to speak of them as the Maula of so and so. But Maula in Arabic might also imply a close relationship of friendship: in that case, too, it is better to use the right term instead of the term "son". "Brother" is not objectionable because "Brotherhood" is used in a wider sense than "fatherhood" and is not likely to be misunderstood. (33.5)
3673 What is aimed at is to destroy the superstition of erecting false relationships to the detriment or loss of true blood relations. It is not intended to penalise an unintentional slip in the matter, and indeed, even if a man deliberately calls another his son or father, who is not his son or father, out of politeness or affection, "Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful". It is the action of mischievous parties which is chiefly reprehended, if they intend false insinuations. A mere mistake on their part does not matter#
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 6.305 Narrated byAbdullah bin Umar
We used not to call Zaid bin Haritha the freed slave of Allah's Apostle except Zaid bin Muhammad till the Qu'anic Verse was revealed: "Call them (adopted sons) by (the names of) their fathers. That is more than just in the Sight of Allah." (33.5)
After this very timely and appropriate 'revelation' Zayd had no choice but to DIVORCE his beautiful wife to satify Muhammad's LUST & DESIRE for her.
To justify such an abhorrent act - from the point of view of the not yet converted Arabs - ANOTHER very CONVENIENTLY and MADE to ORDER 'revealed' verse was again 'descended' by the ever accommodating Allah of Muhammad, SANCTFYING this 'sacriligious' act from 'heaven'.
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 6.310 Narrated byAnas bin Malik
The Verse: "But you did hide in your mind that which Allah was about to make manifest." (33.37) was revealed concerning Zainab bint Jahsh and Zaid bin Haritha.
Muhammad received the 'command' to marry Zainab while he was with A'isha. After he had received the 'revelation', he smiled and said, "Who will go and give Zainab the good news?" and he recited the ayat that he had received. Some say that it was Zayd himself who told her the good news. When Zainab heard the news, she stopped what she was doing and prayed to thank Allah. Afterwards, she was fond of pointing out that her marriage had been arranged by Allah. It was at this point that Muhammad changed her name from Barra to Zainab.
Muhammad cannot get away from the culpability of this salacious behavior of his with Zainab. If he had forthrightness in his mind, he would have vigorously fought with his conscience and not allowed this marriage to go through. But the reality was quite the opposite. He had surrendered to his passion and thus had marred his "unblemished" character.
*** If many of the Muhammadan Muslims in the present-day world follow Muhammad's inglorious example, seduce their daughter-in-law, cause a divorce and then to add insult to the injury marry her, what would happen then?
In a more enlightened society, if a man does what Mohammad did with Zainab he would be looked up as a lascivious character. Not even all the Quranic verses of this world will be able to change that ***
Zainab's wedding feast was also the occasion for another verse of the Quran to be 'revealed'-
Muhammad sacrificed a sheep and then commanded his servant, Anas, to invite the people to partake of it. After they had eaten, two men remained there after the meal chatting. Muhammad went out and said goodnight to his other wives and then came back and the two men were still there chatting. It was very hard on Muhammad who did not like to confront people directly, and so he waited patiently until they left.
Then Allah sent down the following ayat which is known as " Ayat 'il Hijab":
33:53-56 "O you who believe! Do not go into the Prophet's rooms except after being given permission to come and eat, not waiting for the food to be prepared, However, when you are called, then go in and when you have eaten, then disperse, and do not remain wanting to chat together. If you do that, it causes injury to the Prophet though he is too reticent to tell you. But Allah is not reticent with the truth. When you ask his wives for something, ask them from behind a screen [wara^i HIJABI] That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. It is not for you to cause injury to the Messenger of Allah nor ever to marry his wives after him. TO do that would be something dreadful in the sight of Allah. Whether you make something known or conceal it, Allah has knowledge of all things. There is no blame on them regarding their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their brothers' s sons or their sisters' s sons or their women or those their right hands own. Have fear of Allah. Allah is witness over everything. Allah and His angels pray blessings of the Prophet. O you who believe! Pray blessings on him and ask for peace for him.
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 6.314 Narrated byAnas bin Malik
When Allah's Apostle 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 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 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 [HIJAB] between me and him. Then Allah revealed:
"O you who believe! Do not enter the houses of the Prophet..." (33.53)
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 6.315 Narrated byAnas bin Malik
I of all the people know best this verse of Al-Hijab. When Allah's Apostle married Zainab bint Jahsh she was with him in the house and he prepared a meal and invited the people (to it). They sat down (after finishing their meal) and started chatting. So the Prophet went out and then returned several times while they were still sitting and talking. So Allah revealed the Verse:
"O you who believe! Enter not the Prophet's houses until leave is given to you for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation...ask them from behind a screen." (33.53) So the screen was set up and the people went away.
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 7.95& 8.255 Narrated byAnas bin Malik
I was ten years old when Allah's Apostle arrived at Medina. My mother and aunts used to urge me to serve the Prophet regularly, and I served him for ten years. When the Prophet died I was twenty years old, and I knew about the order of Al-Hijab (veiling of ladies) more than any other person when it was revealed. It was revealed for the first time when Allah's Apostle had consummated his marriage with Zainab bint Jahsh. When the day dawned, the Prophet was a bridegroom and he invited the people to a banquet, so they came, ate, and then all left except a few who remained with the Prophet for a long time. The Prophet got up and went out, and I too went out with him so that those people might leave too. The Prophet proceeded and so did I, till he came to the threshold of 'Aisha's dwelling place. Then thinking that these people have left by then, he returned and so did I along with him till he entered upon Zainab and behold, they were still sitting and had not gone. So the Prophet again went away and I went away along with him. When we reached the threshold of 'Aisha's dwelling place, he thought that they had left, and so he returned and I too, returned along with him and found those people had left. Then the Prophet drew a curtain between me and him, and the Verses of Al-Hijab were revealed.
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 9.516 Narrated byAnas
Zaid bin Haritha came to the Prophet complaining about his wife. The Prophet kept on saying (to him), "Be afraid of Allah and keep your wife." 'Aisha said, "If Allah's Apostle were to conceal anything (of the Qur'an) he would have concealed this Verse." Zainab used to boast before the wives of the Prophet and used to say, "You were given in marriage by your families, while I was married (to the Prophet) by Allah from over seven Heavens." And Thabit recited, "The Verse: 'But (O Muhammad) you did hide in your heart that which Allah was about to make manifest, you did fear the people,' (33.37) was revealed in connection with Zainab and Zaid bin Haritha."
33: 37 Behold! thou didst say to one who had received the grace of Allah and thy favor: "Retain thou (in wedlock) thy wife and fear Allah." But thou didst hide in thy heart that which Allah was about to make manifest: thou didst fear the people but it is more fitting that thou shouldst fear Allah. Then when Zaid had dissolved (his marriage) with her with the necessary (formality) We joined her in marriage to thee: in order that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the Believers in (the matter of) marriage with the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have dissolved with the necessary (formality) (their marriage) with them: and Allah's command must be fulfilled. 38 There can be no difficulty to the Prophet in what Allah has indicated to him as a duty. It was the practice (approved) of Allah amongst those of old that have passed away and the command of Allah is a decree determined.
*** As usual in the Quran, Allah was ALWAYS at the BECK and CALL of his beloved messenger, at all times. On this occasion, Allah was very busy 'revealing' several seminal verses to accomodate Muhammad's desires, needs, lusts and wishes.
The 'creator of the universe' had more time to spend answering Muhammad's needs, lusts, requirements and justifications than all the prophets of Israel - and the world - put together.
There is a considerable moral problem with such self-serving revelations. It is quite clear that Muhammad was attracted to Zainab before Zayd divorced her and it might well have been the true reason for the divorce itself. The Quranic verses do make clear, that there was something going on before Zayd divorced Zainab
The entire melodrama: Zayd's divorce of Zainab, Muhammad's marriage with Zainab and the subsequent 'revelations' of several Quranic verses, leaves one with the logical conclusion that Allah caused a scandal and then sent Gabriel to officially justify the scandalous action of Muhammad with Quranic 'revelations' is pathetically ridiculous, morally corrupt and intellectually inconceivable.
No wonder that Muhammad’s teenage wife Aisha once teasingly said:
“You (Muhammad) are so lucky that every time you are in a mess Allah immediately jumps on rescuing you from the mess” ***
