Zainab bint Khazeemah Radi Allahu anha

Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said that Allah had ordained that he could marry only those women deserving of Paradise. And Zainab radi Allahu anha was a lady who was known as the Mother of the poor and needy because she was the most generous among the ummul mu'mineen.

She was born thirteen years before Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was chosen as the Messenger of Allah. When he declared prophethood he caused an uproar in Makkah. Even those who loved and respected him, those who called him 'Truthful' and trustworthy, turned into enemies who wanted to kill him. But there were some who were fortunate enough to have the sense to answer his call immediately with the pledge of allegiance to Allah and to him. They called out that they believed and that he was true in his claim. Among the righteous group of people who first proclaimed his truthfulness was Zainab bint Khazeemah.

She had been married to 'Abdullaah bin jahash, a highly respected Companion attained martyrdom during the Battle of Uhud. The widows and orphaned children of the martyred Companion found security with the other Companion who married the widows and took the children under their protection. Thus Zainab bint Khazeemah, after the death of her husband, attained the position of becoming a wife of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

Hamnah bint Jahash's husband was also martyred during the Battle of Uhud and she was also grief stricken. Seeing this, Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "The place a husband held in his wife's heart could not be taken by any other."

Hamnah told him sighing deeply that it was the thought of the orphaned children that troubled her most and she asked him to pray that Allah should give her patience and strength. The Prophet's prayers for her were accepted and she married the noble Companion Talhah bin 'Abdullah Radi Allahu anhu. He was an ideal husband and a loving father for the orphaned children of her first husband.

Zainab Radi Allahu anha was in the same plight as Hamnah. She entrusted her affairs entirely to Allah and devoted herself to prayer and meditation. So when she received a proposal from the best man possible, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, she was overjoyed with the good fortune that Allah had bestowed on her.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam married her with a dowry of four hundred Dirhams, and an apartment was constructed for her near those of Hafsah and 'Ayesha. Thus she joined the selected band of pure and virtuous women of the Prophet's household. Allah has said:

"Allah wishes only to remove evil deed from you, 0 member of the family (of the Prophet), and to purify you with a thorough purification." (33:33)

And also,

"O wives of the Prophet, You are not like any other women." (33:32)

Zainab bint Khazeemah even before the advent of lslam was known as 'Mother of the distressed and needy'. This was because she could not bear to see a person hungry or in dire need.

Ibn Katheer wrote that she earned the title because of her deeds of charity and generosity. Qastalani writes that she was known by this name even during pre-Islamic times.

This great quality of generosity became even more pronounced and intense when she converted to Islam, which has always strongly advocated giving in charity.

The two women who were already part of the household 'Ayesha and Hafsah welcomed this new friend and tried their best to give her their sincere sympathetic companionship. They knew that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam married Zainab because she was deeply affected by the death of her first husband.

Because of the kind behavior of Ayesha and Hafsah Radi Allahu anhuma, her grief was lightened and she felt more at peace.

She lived barely eight months after her marriage to the prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and died at the age of thirty and became the second of the wives of the prophet to die during his lifetime. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam led the funeral prayers and she was buried in Jannatul Baqi'. Allah will be pleased with them and they with Him.