The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked:
What is the story of Zayd ibn Haarithah and his marriage to Zaynab, whom the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) married after him? How did their marriage begin, and how did it end? We have heard some people in some Arab countries say that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fell in love with Zaynab and other things that I cannot bear to tell you what I have heard. Please advise me.
They replied:
Zayd was the son of Haarithah ibn Shurahbeel al-Kalbi, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who manumitted him and adopted him, so he was known as Zayd ibn Muhammad, until Allaah revealed the words “Call them (adopted sons) by (the names of) their fathers” [al-Ahzaab 33:5], then he was called Zayd ibn Haarithah. Zaynab was the daughter of Jahsh ibn Rabaab al-Asadi, and her mother was Umaymah bint ‘Abd al-Muttalib, the paternal aunt of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
As for the story of Zayd’s marriage to Zaynab, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the one who arranged that for him, because he was his freed slave and adopted son, so he approached her on behalf of Zayd, but she refused and said: I am of a better lineage than him. It was narrated that Allaah revealed the words “It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allaah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plain error” [al-Ahzaab 33:36] concerning that. So she responded in obedience to Allaah and so as to fulfil the wishes of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). She lived with Zayd for nearly a year, then there arose between them the kind of problems that may arise between a husband and wife, and Zayd complained about her to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), because of their position in relation to him, as he was his freed slave and adopted son, and Zaynab was the daughter of his paternal aunt Umaymah. It is as if Zayd hinted that he wanted to divorce her, but the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told him to keep her and be patient with her, even though he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) knew from the revelation of Allaah that he would divorce her and she would become his wife. But he was afraid that the people would criticize him for marrying his son’s wife, as that was forbidden during the Jaahiliyyah. Allaah rebuked His Prophet for that in the words “And (remember) when you said to him (Zayd bin Haarithah رضى الله عنه the freed‑slave of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) on whom Allaah has bestowed grace (by guiding him to Islam) and you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم too) have done favour (by manumitting him): ‘Keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allaah.’ But you did hide in yourself (i.e. what Allaah has already made known to you that He will give her to you in marriage) that which Allaah will make manifest, you did fear the people (i.e., their saying that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم married the divorced wife of his manumitted slave) whereas Allaah had a better right that you should fear Him” meaning – and Allaah knows best – you hid in yourself that which Allaah had told you, that Zayd would divorce his wife Zaynab and you would marry her, in obedience to Allaah’s command, and in fulfilment of His wisdom, but you feared the people’s comments and criticism of you for that, but Allaah is more deserving that you should fear Him and announce what He has revealed to you about your situation and that of Zayd and his wife Zaynab, without worrying about what the people will say or how they will criticize you.
With regard to the marriage of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to Zaynab, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) proposed to her after the end of her ‘iddah following her divorce from Zayd, and Allaah gave her to him in marriage without any wali (guardian) or witnesses, because he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the wali of all the believers, and is closer to them than their own selves. Allaah said (interpretation of the meaning): “The Prophet is closer to the believers than their ownselves” [al-Ahzaab 33:6]. Thus Allaah abolished the jaahili custom of adoption, and made it permissible for the Muslims to marry the wives of those whom they had adopted, after the latter separated from them by death or divorce, as a mercy from Him towards the believers and so as to relieve them of hardship.
As for the reports which say that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw Zaynab from behind a screen and that he was attracted to her and fell in love with her, and Zayd found out about that and began to dislike her, and he wanted to give precedence to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) concerning her, so he divorced her so that he could marry her after him, none of that has been proven by means of any sound isnaad. The Prophets are of the highest status and are too chaste in heart and too noble and honourable in attitude to do any such thing. Moreover, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the one who had arranged her marriage to Zayd (may Allaah be pleased with him), and she was the daughter of his paternal aunt. If he had been attracted to her, he would have kept her for himself in the first place, especially since she was reluctant to marry Zayd and did not agree to it until the verse was revealed, then she agreed. This was the decree of Allaah which He arranged in order to abolish jaahili customs, and to show mercy to the people and make things easier for them, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“So when Zayd had accomplished his desire from her (i.e. divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage, so that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the believers in respect of (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no desire to keep them (i.e. they have divorced them). And Allaah’s Command must be fulfilled.
38. There is no blame on the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in that which Allaah has made legal for him. That has been Allaah’s way with those who have passed away of (the Prophets of) old. And the Command of Allaah is a decree determined.
39. Those who convey the Message of Allaah and fear Him, and fear none save Allaah. And Sufficient is Allaah as a Reckoner.
40. Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allaah is Ever All‑Aware of everything”
[al-Ahzaab 33:37-40].
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razzaaq ‘Afeefi, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Qa’ood.
Fataawa Islamiyyah (18/137-141).
And Allaah knows best.