Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ - Shams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi - (سيرة 1/317)

Siyar Aʿlām al-NubalāʾShams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi

had clasped on her when she married Abū al-‘Āṣ. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw the necklace, he was deeply moved and said, “If you are willing, release her captive to her and return her property.” They answered, “Yes, Messenger of Allah,” and they set him free.

The Prophet ﷺ then took a pledge from Abū al-‘Āṣ to let Zaynab leave; she was among the vulnerable women still in Mecca. He also asked him to keep the matter secret. The Prophet dispatched Zayd ibn Ḥāritha together with an Anṣārī companion, telling them, “Wait in the valley of Yaʾjaj. When Zaynab passes by, escort her until you bring her to me.” This occurred one month after Badr.

When Abū al-‘Āṣ reached Mecca he ordered Zaynab to join her father. She made her preparations, and her husband’s brother, Kināna ibn al-Rabīʿ, brought a camel for her. She mounted, he took his bow and quiver, and they set out in broad daylight. Some men heard what was happening and pursued them. They overtook them at Dhū Ṭuwā, where Kināna dismounted, poured out his arrows and stood his ground, while Habbār ibn al-Aswad brandished a spear at Zaynab, terrifying her. Kināna declared, “By Allah, no one comes near me unless I plant an arrow in him!” The people backed away.

Abū Sufyān then arrived with a group of Quraysh and said, “Man, lower your arrows so we may speak with you.” Kināna complied and halted. Abū Sufyān said, “You have not acted wisely. You led the woman out before everyone’s eyes, and you know the disaster that has befallen us at the hands of Muhammad. If people see you taking his daughter to him openly, they will think it is because we have been humbled and weakened. By my life, we have no need to detain her from her father, but take her back. When the commotion subsides and people hear that we returned her, then send her out secretly and reunite her with her father.”

Kināna agreed, turned back with her, and after a few nights had passed, he led her out under cover of darkness and handed her over to Zayd and his companion. They brought her to the Prophet ﷺ, and she remained with him.

أدخلتها بها على أبي العاص. فلما رآها رسول الله ﷺ رق لها, وقال: "إن رأيتم أن تطلقوا لها أسيرها وتردوا عليها". قالوا: نعم، يا رسول الله. وأطلقوه. فأخذ عليه النبي ﷺ أن يخلي سبيل زينب, وكانت من المستضعفين من النساء، واستكتمه النبي ﷺ ذلك, وبعث زيد بن حارثة ورجلا من الأنصار، فقال: كونا ببطن يأجج حتى تمر بكما زينب فتصحبانها حتى تأتياني بها. وذلك بعد بدر بشهر. فلما قدم أبو العاص مكة أمرها باللحوق بأبيها، فتجهزت فقدم أخو زوجها كنانة بن الربيع بعيرا، فركبته وأخذ قوسه وكنانته، ثم خرج بها نهارا يقودها. فتحدث بذلك رجال، فخرجوا في طلبها، فبرك كنانة ونثر كنانته لما أدركوها لذي طوى، فروعها هبار بن الأسود بالرمح. فقال كنانة: والله لا يدنو مني رجل إلا وضعت فيه سهما. فتكركر الناس عنه وأتى أبو سفيان في جلة من قريش، فقال: أيها الرجل كف عنا نبلك حتى نكلمك. فكف فوقف عليه أبو سفيان فقال: إنك لم تصب، خرجت بالمرأة على رءوس الناس علانية، وقد عرفت مصيبتنا ونكبتنا وما دخل علينا من محمد، فيظن الناس إذا خرجت بابنته إليه علانية أن ذلك على ذل أصابنا، وأن ذلك منا وهن وضعف، ولعمري ما بنا بحبسها عن أبيها من حاجة، ولكن ارجع بالمرأة، حتى إذا هدأت الأصوات، وتحدث الناس أنا رددناها، فسلها سرا وألحقها بأبيها. قال: ففعل، ثم خرج بها ليلا، بعد ليال، فسلمها إلى زيد وصاحبه، فقدما بها على النبي ﷺ فأقامت عنده.