زَيْنَبُ بِنْتُ جَحْش
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا
Zaynab bint Jahsh
She worked with her hands · Cousin of the Prophet ﷺ · Of the Hijrah
may Allah be pleased with her
Quraysh — Banu Asad ibn Khuzaymah, by alliance · Makkah and Madinah, up to about 20 AH
She tanned and sewed and gave what she earned away, and was the first of the Prophet's ﷺ wives to follow him after he died — which he had told them would be the one whose hand reached furthest.
Known for
She earned with her own hands and gave the proceeds away
The reports describe her working with her hands and giving what she earned in charity.
She was the first of his wives to follow him after he died
He had told them the first to follow him would be the one whose hand reached furthest. They took it literally at first, and measured.
Her marriage is addressed directly in the Qur'an
It is the case through which the practice of treating an adopted son as a son by birth was ended.
She was a cousin of the Prophet ﷺ, and sister of Abdullah ibn Jahsh
Her story in moments
Short episodes from her life, in order. Read one at a time.
Life & legacy
Makkah and Madinah
Zaynab was of the household of Jahsh, allied to Quraysh, and a cousin of the Prophet ﷺ through his paternal aunt. Her brother Abdullah ibn Jahsh was among the early Muslims and was killed at Uhud.
She accepted Islam early and emigrated to Madinah.
She was married first to Zayd ibn Harithah. That marriage ended, and she was afterwards married to the Prophet ﷺ. The Qur'an addresses the matter directly, and the point it makes is a legal one: the practice by which an adopted son was treated as a son by birth was ended, and with it the restrictions that followed from it. This record states that and does not narrate further; the reason is set out in the review dossier.
Later years
What the reports return to about her, more than anything else, is work. She worked with her hands, and what the work brought in went out again to people who needed it.
She died in Madinah, the first of the Prophet's ﷺ wives to die after him. The sources generally give around 20 AH.
How the sources describe her
She did not give from a surplus; she made the thing she gave
She kept very little of what passed through her hands
Connect
People around her
Family
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺSpouse
Their marriage is addressed directly in the Qur'an, in connection with ending adoptive filiation.
Her brother, an early Muslim who was killed at Uhud.
Alongside
She was married to him before her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ. That marriage ended; the record does not narrate it.
Full timeline
- Around the Hijrah
Accepts Islam early and emigrates to Madinah
- Around 5 AH approximate, reports differThe reports differ over the year.
Her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ, addressed in the Qur'an
- Around 20 AH approximate
Dies in Madinah, the first of his wives to follow him
Part of
Sources & review
In reviewBased on the listed sources. See something to correct? Tell us.
The Qur'anالقرآن الكريم
Qur'an
Sahih al-Bukhariصحيح البخاري
Hadith collection · Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari
Sahih Muslimصحيح مسلم
Hadith collection · Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj
As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyahالسيرة النبوية
Classical biography · Ibn Hisham, from the recension of Ibn Ishaq
Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabirالطبقات الكبرى
Classical biography · Ibn Sa'd
Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz as-Sahabahالإصابة في تمييز الصحابة
Classical biography · Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani
Siyar A'lam an-Nubalaسير أعلام النبلاء
Classical biography · Shams ad-Din adh-Dhahabi
SahabaMate editorial summary
Editorial summary
References follow the citation detail available in the source material.
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