The marriage contract between the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and Zaynab was performed by Allah Himself. It was fitting that the verse of ḥijāb (veiling) was revealed at this wedding, in order to protect Zaynab and the other co-wives who were in the same position as her—who are the Mothers of the Believers. This is according to the opinion of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb.
Al-Bukhārī, through the transmission of Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh al-Raqqāsh, narrated from Anas b. Mālik as follows: When the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) married Zaynab bint Jaḥsh, he invited the people to the wedding. They ate and sat down, beginning to converse. The Messenger of God attempted to rise, but they did not get up and leave. Seeing this, he stood up. When he did so, some of those present also stood up, but three people remained seated. The Messenger of God went to Zaynab's room to consummate the marriage and saw that the men were still sitting there. Then they got up and left. I informed the Messenger of God that they had gone. He then entered the bridal chamber. I wanted to enter as well, but he placed a curtain between us. Thereupon, Allah revealed the following verse:
"O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet without permission." Al-Bukhārī, through the transmission of Abū Maʿmar, narrated from Anas b. Mālik as follows: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) consummated his marriage with Zaynab, he served meat and bread as the wedding feast. I was tasked with inviting the people to the meal. A group would come, eat, and leave, then another group would come, eat, and leave. I invited everyone until there was no one left to call. I said:
– O Messenger of Allah, there is no one left to invite.
– Then remove the food (the table).
But three people remained in the Prophet's house, continuing to converse. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went out and stopped by the room of ʿĀʾisha. He said to her:
– O people of the house! May Allah's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.
ʿĀʾisha replied:
– May Allah's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you as well.
– How did you find your new wife? May Allah bless her for you.
The Messenger of God visited the rooms of his other wives and said to them the same as he had said to ʿĀʾisha. They replied as ʿĀʾisha had. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) returned and saw that three people were still sitting and engaged in conversation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was extremely modest. He went again toward ʿĀʾisha's room. I do not know whether I or someone else informed him that the men had left, but then he came out again, placing one foot on the threshold and the other outside. He let the curtain fall between himself and me. Thereupon, the verse of ḥijāb was revealed.
Ibn Abī Ḥātim narrated from Anas b. Mālik as follows: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) had consummated his marriage with one of his wives. Umm Sulaym prepared ḥays (a dish made by mixing dates and curds with clarified butter). She placed it in a wide-mouthed dish and said to me:
– Take this to the Messenger of God and tell him it is a gift from us.
Anas said: At that time, people were suffering from scarcity. I brought the food and said:
– O Messenger of God! Umm Sulaym has sent you this food and sends her greetings. She says it is a gift for you.
The Messenger of God looked at the food and then said:
– Place it in a corner of the house and go call so-and-so and so-and-so for me.
He gave me the names of some men. Then he said, "Invite every Muslim you meet." I invited those whose names he gave me and every Muslim I met. When I returned, I saw that the veranda and the rooms were packed with people. I asked, "O Abū ʿUthmān, how many people were there in the crowd?" He said they were about 300.
Anas said: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me:
– Bring the food.
I brought the food. He placed his hand on it, made dua (supplication), and said what Allah willed. Then he said:
– Let them sit in groups of ten in a circle and say the basmala (in the name of Allah) and eat what is before them.
They did so, saying the basmala and beginning to eat. Eventually, everyone present ate. Then the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered me to remove the food. I went and picked up the wide-mouthed dish. I looked inside and could not tell whether there was more food in it when I put it down or when I picked it up.
Some of those who came to eat lingered in the Prophet's house and became engrossed in conversation. The wife with whom the Prophet had consummated the marriage turned her face to the wall and sat. The guests prolonged their conversation, which disturbed the Messenger of God, who was very modest. If they had known, it would have been a great matter for them. Eventually, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) got up, visited the rooms of his wives, and greeted them. When the guests saw this, they realized that they had troubled the Prophet and quickly left the house. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) returned. I was in the chamber. He entered, let the curtain fall, and stayed in his house for a short while. Allah revealed a verse. He then left the house, reciting the following verses as he went out:
"O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted for a meal, without awaiting its readiness. But when you are invited, then enter; and when you have eaten, disperse without seeking to remain for conversation. Indeed, that [behavior] was troubling the Prophet, and he is shy of [dismissing] you. But Allah is not shy of the truth. And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not [conceivable or lawful] for you to harm the Messenger of Allah or to marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allah an enormity. Whether you reveal a thing or conceal it, indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing." (al-Aḥzāb 33:53–54)
Anas said: The Messenger of God recited these verses to me before anyone else. I was the first to become acquainted with them.
I say: Zaynab bint Jaḥsh (may Allah be pleased with her) was among the first Emigrants (Muhājirūn). She performed many good deeds and gave much charity. Her first name was Barra. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave her the name Zaynab. She was also given the honorific Umm al-Ḥakam. ʿĀʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I have not seen a woman better than Zaynab in terms of piety, taqwa (God-consciousness) before Allah, truthfulness, upholding family ties, carefulness with trusts, and giving charity.
As will be explained later in the ḥadīth of ifk (the slander), according to the authentic collections of al-Bukhārī and Muslim, ʿĀʾisha said:
"The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) asked me about Zaynab bint Jaḥsh. Among the Prophet's wives, Zaynab used to compete with me. Allah protected her from being involved in the slander against me due to her piety and taqwa. In response to the Prophet's question, I said:
‘O Messenger of God, I guard my eyes and ears from things I have not seen or heard. I only know good and virtue about Zaynab.’"
Muslim b. Ḥajjāj, in his work "al-Ṣaḥīḥ," narrated from the Mother of the Believers, ʿĀʾisha, that she said: "The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'The one among you with the longest hand will be the first to join me.' We began to measure our hands to see whose was longest. Zaynab had the longest hand among us, for she worked with her hands and gave charity."
Al-Wāqidī and other scholars of sīra, maghāzī, and history said: "Zaynab died in the twentieth year of the Hijra. Her funeral prayer was led by the Commander of the Believers, ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb (may Allah be pleased with him). She was buried in the Baqīʿ cemetery. She was the first woman for whom a coffin was made."