Aqdam أقدام

Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

زينب بنت جحش

رضي الله عنها

Zaynab bint Jahsh

Zaynab bint Jahsh ibn Ri'ab al-Asadiyyah

Zaynab bint Jahsh, Mother of the Believers: known for working with her hands and giving the income away in charity, with hadith sources.

  • Umm al-Mu'minin (Mother of the Believers)
A day in her footsteps
  • Family and tribeBanu Asad ibn Khuzaymah (her mother was of Banu Hashim)
  • Bornc. 590 CE (approx.)
  • Diedc. 20 AH / 641 CE (some sources: 21 AH)
  • Resting placeJannat al-Baqi', Madinah
  • Counted amongMothers of the Believers, Ahl al-Bayt, Muhajirun

Introduction

Zaynab bint Jahsh was a cousin of the Prophet from a noble Makkan family, and among the early women to migrate to Madinah. Her first marriage, to Zayd ibn Harithah at the Prophet's urging, ended, and Allah then ordained her marriage to the Prophet, an event revealed in the Quran.

Aisha, who rivalled her in the Prophet's affection, said she had never seen a woman more devout, God-conscious, truthful, mindful of family ties, generous and charitable than Zaynab. The Prophet's remark that the one with the longest hand would follow him first was understood after her death as a reference to her charity.

She died in the caliphate of Umar, the first of the Prophet's wives to follow him.

The story

  1. c. 622 CE / 1 AH

    Migrates to Madinah with her family.

  2. c. 5 AH

    Marries the Prophet by a Quranic revelation; the wedding feast at which the verse of etiquette about entering the Prophet's home was revealed.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 7420Sahih
    Arabic text

    … عَائِشَةُ لَوْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَاتِمًا شَيْئًا لَكَتَمَ هَذِهِ. قَالَ فَكَانَتْ زَيْنَبُ تَفْخَرُ عَلَى أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَقُولُ زَوَّجَكُنَّ أَهَالِيكُنَّ، وَزَوَّجَنِي اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مِنْ فَوْقِ سَبْعِ سَمَوَاتٍ. وَعَنْ ثَابِتٍ{وَتُخْفِي فِي نَفْسِكَ مَا اللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى النَّاسَ} نَزَلَتْ فِي شَأْنِ زَيْنَبَ وَزَيْدِ بْنِ …

    “married (to the Prophet) by Allah from over seven Heavens”

    Grade: Sahih (collected in Sahih al-Bukhari)

    Sahih al-Bukhari 4793Sahih
    Arabic text

    قَالَ بُنِيَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِزَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ جَحْشٍ بِخُبْزٍ وَلَحْمٍ فَأُرْسِلْتُ عَلَى الطَّعَامِ دَاعِيًا فَيَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ فَيَأْكُلُونَ وَيَخْرُجُونَ، ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ فَيَأْكُلُونَ وَيَخْرُجُونَ، فَدَعَوْتُ حَتَّى مَا أَجِدُ أَحَدًا أَدْعُو فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ مَا أَجِدُ أَحَدًا أَدْعُوهُ قَالَ ارْفَعُوا طَعَامَكُمْ، وَبَقِيَ ثَلاَثَةُ رَهْطٍ …

    “A banquet of bread and meat was held on the occasion of the marriage of the Prophet”

    Grade: Sahih (collected in Sahih al-Bukhari)

  3. c. 20 AH / 641 CE

    Dies in Madinah, the first of the Prophet's wives to follow him, in the caliphate of Umar.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 1420Sahih
    Arabic text

    أَنَّ بَعْضَ، أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْنَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَيُّنَا أَسْرَعُ بِكَ لُحُوقًا قَالَ " أَطْوَلُكُنَّ يَدًا". فَأَخَذُوا قَصَبَةً يَذْرَعُونَهَا، فَكَانَتْ سَوْدَةُ أَطْوَلَهُنَّ يَدًا، فَعَلِمْنَا بَعْدُ أَنَّمَا كَانَتْ طُولَ يَدِهَا الصَّدَقَةُ، وَكَانَتْ أَسْرَعَنَا لُحُوقًا بِهِ وَكَانَتْ تُحِبُّ الصَّدَقَةَ.

    “Zainab bint Jahsh died first of all in the caliphate of `Umar”

    Grade: Sahih (collected in Sahih al-Bukhari)

A day in their footsteps

5 small, repeatable practices from Zaynab bint Jahsh's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

  1. Working with her hands to give in charity

    She earned by manual work and spent all of that income in charity, which Aisha identified as the 'longest hand' the Prophet mentioned.

    Try this today

    Set aside part of what you earn by your own effort for others, before you need to be asked.

    Sit with this

    What part of what you earn could you set aside for others before being asked?

    Sources

    Sahih Muslim 2452Sahih

    قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَسْرَعُكُنَّ لَحَاقًا بِي أَطْوَلُكُنَّ يَدًا". قَالَتْ فَكُنَّ يَتَطَاوَلْنَ أَيَّتُهُنَّ أَطْوَلُ يَدًا. قَالَتْ فَكَانَتْ أَطْوَلَنَا يَدًا زَيْنَبُ لأَنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَعْمَلُ بِيَدِهَا وَتَصَدَّقُ.

    “she used to work with her hand and Spend (that income) on charity”

    Grade: Sahih (collected in Sahih Muslim)

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1420Sahih

    أَنَّ بَعْضَ، أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْنَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَيُّنَا أَسْرَعُ بِكَ لُحُوقًا قَالَ " أَطْوَلُكُنَّ يَدًا". فَأَخَذُوا قَصَبَةً يَذْرَعُونَهَا، فَكَانَتْ سَوْدَةُ أَطْوَلَهُنَّ يَدًا، فَعَلِمْنَا بَعْدُ أَنَّمَا كَانَتْ طُولَ يَدِهَا الصَّدَقَةُ، وَكَانَتْ أَسْرَعَنَا لُحُوقًا بِهِ وَكَانَتْ تُحِبُّ الصَّدَقَةَ.

    “the long hand was a symbol of practicing charity”

    Grade: Sahih (collected in Sahih al-Bukhari)

  2. Piety and truthfulness

    Aisha praised her for being more devout, more God-conscious and more truthful than any woman she had seen. This came even when the two women quarrelled.

    Try this today

    Honour a rival's character; truthful speech is a sign of fear of Allah.

    Sit with this

    Can you honour the goodness of someone you quarrel with?

    Source

    Sahih Muslim 2442Sahih

    … وَأَوْصَلَ لِلرَّحِمِ وَأَعْظَمَ صَدَقَةً وَأَشَدَّ ابْتِذَالاً لِنَفْسِهَا فِي الْعَمَلِ الَّذِي تَصَدَّقُ بِهِ وَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مَا عَدَا سَوْرَةً مِنْ حَدٍّ كَانَتْ فِيهَا تُسْرِعُ مِنْهَا الْفَيْئَةَ قَالَتْ فَاسْتَأْذَنَتْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ عَائِشَةَ فِي مِرْطِهَا عَلَى الْحَالَةِ الَّتِي دَخَلَتْ …

    “I have never seen a woman more advanced in religious piety than Zainab”

    Grade: Sahih (collected in Sahih Muslim)

  3. Keeping the ties of kinship

    The same description by Aisha emphasises that Zaynab was especially attentive to family ties and generous to relatives.

    Try this today

    Reach out to a relative this week.

    Sit with this

    Which relative could you reach out to this week?

    Source

    Sahih Muslim 2442Sahih

    … بِهِ وَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مَا عَدَا سَوْرَةً مِنْ حَدٍّ كَانَتْ فِيهَا تُسْرِعُ مِنْهَا الْفَيْئَةَ قَالَتْ فَاسْتَأْذَنَتْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ عَائِشَةَ فِي مِرْطِهَا عَلَى الْحَالَةِ الَّتِي دَخَلَتْ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْهَا وَهُوَ بِهَا فَأَذِنَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ …

    “more alive to the ties of blood”

    Grade: Sahih (collected in Sahih Muslim)

  4. Quickly calm after anger

    Aisha added that Zaynab lost her temper quickly but calmed quickly too, an honest note on character that shows a believer's effort in self-control.

    Try this today

    Let anger pass fast and move to reconciliation.

    Sit with this

    How quickly does your anger pass into reconciliation?

    Source

    Sahih Muslim 2442Sahih

    … اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ عَائِشَةَ فِي مِرْطِهَا عَلَى الْحَالَةِ الَّتِي دَخَلَتْ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْهَا وَهُوَ بِهَا فَأَذِنَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَزْوَاجَكَ أَرْسَلْنَنِي إِلَيْكَ يَسْأَلْنَكَ الْعَدْلَ فِي ابْنَةِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ. قَالَتْ ثُمَّ وَقَعَتْ بِي فَاسْتَطَالَتْ عَلَىَّ وَأَنَا أَرْقُبُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه …

    “She, however, lost temper very soon but was soon calm”

    Grade: Sahih (collected in Sahih Muslim)

  5. Concern for the community's moral state

    When the Prophet came to her alarmed about a breach opening in the wall of Gog and Magog, she asked if they would be destroyed even with righteous people among them, and he answered that it happens when evil increases.

    Try this today

    Care for the moral health of your community, not only yourself.

    Sit with this

    Do you care about the moral health of your community as well as your own?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3346Sahih

    … أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا فَزِعًا يَقُولُ" لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَيْلٌ لِلْعَرَبِ مِنْ شَرٍّ قَدِ اقْتَرَبَ فُتِحَ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ رَدْمِ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مِثْلُ هَذِهِ". وَحَلَّقَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ الإِبْهَامِ وَالَّتِي تَلِيهَا. قَالَتْ زَيْنَبُ ابْنَةُ جَحْشٍ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَهْلِكُ وَفِينَا الصَّالِحُونَ قَالَ" نَعَمْ، إِذَا كَثُرَ …

    “Shall we be destroyed even though there are pious persons among us?”

    Grade: Sahih (collected in Sahih al-Bukhari)

Virtues

  • Allah ordained her marriage to the Prophet, and she used to tell the other wives she was married by Allah from above the seven heavens.

    “married (to the Prophet) by Allah from over seven Heavens”

    Arabic text

    … عَائِشَةُ لَوْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَاتِمًا شَيْئًا لَكَتَمَ هَذِهِ. قَالَ فَكَانَتْ زَيْنَبُ تَفْخَرُ عَلَى أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَقُولُ زَوَّجَكُنَّ أَهَالِيكُنَّ، وَزَوَّجَنِي اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مِنْ فَوْقِ سَبْعِ سَمَوَاتٍ. وَعَنْ ثَابِتٍ{وَتُخْفِي فِي نَفْسِكَ مَا اللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى النَّاسَ} نَزَلَتْ فِي شَأْنِ زَيْنَبَ وَزَيْدِ بْنِ …

    Sahih al-Bukhari 7420Sahih

  • Aisha described Zaynab as the most pious, truthful, generous and charitable woman she had seen.

    “more God-conscious, more truthful, more alive to the ties of blood”

    Arabic text

    … فِي الْعَمَلِ الَّذِي تَصَدَّقُ بِهِ وَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مَا عَدَا سَوْرَةً مِنْ حَدٍّ كَانَتْ فِيهَا تُسْرِعُ مِنْهَا الْفَيْئَةَ قَالَتْ فَاسْتَأْذَنَتْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ عَائِشَةَ فِي مِرْطِهَا عَلَى الْحَالَةِ الَّتِي دَخَلَتْ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْهَا وَهُوَ بِهَا فَأَذِنَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله …

    Sahih Muslim 2442Sahih

Words on this page

Hadithحديث
A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
Madinahالمدينة
The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.

The full glossary

Sources and review

Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.

This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.

Suggest a correction

← All companions