Holy Prophet’s marriage with Zainab and the opinion of orientalists: an analytical study

Authors

  • Hafiza Hajira Madni Ph.D. Research Scholar, faculty of Arabic & Islamic Studies, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Dr. Ali Asghar Chishti Professor, faculty of Arabic & Islamic Studies, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33195/journal.v3i2.278

Keywords:

marriage, Zaynab, companions, orientalists, feminism, Sirah

Abstract

A group of orientalists had always endeavored to criticize the character of the Prophet Muḥammad SAW. In doing so, they had excoriated his choices in marrying different women. One of those which they criticized the most is his marriage with his cousin Zainab, after getting divorce from her husband Zayd as a result of an unresolved quarrel between the two. One common allegation against the Prophet Muḥammad is that he forced Zayd, his adopted son to divorce his wife Zainab because of his infatuation with her which he developed after catching a glimpse of her in a provocative dress. Thereafter, he fabricated the verses of Sūrah al-Aḥzāb in order to justify his doings. (May Allāh forbid !) This paper seeks to critique all related claims and concludes that all such allegations are either based on fabricated historical reports or false interpretations and misunderstanding of the facts.

Published

2020-11-02