Message #1633

[Zainab_M]

Thank u zeynab for this very interesting discourse .. So does this mean Verse 33:37 was revealed after the Prophet's (pbuh) marriage?

Salaams and hi PT.  Yes, I think it's more than obvious that this verse was revealed well after the Prophet's marriage to Zeinab bint Jahsh.  This might raise the quesiton in one's mind that in this case, did the Prophet (pbuh) independently decide to marry Zeinab?  Again, I would say, yes and there's nothing wrong with that.  The Prophet (and also the rest of us) can make independent decsions concerning our personal lives based on the basic Quraanic guidelines.  Verse 4:23 of Surah An-Nur already mentions a list of women that are forbidden for marriage:

"Forbidden unto you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your father's sisters, and your mother's sisters, and your brother's daughters and your sister's daughters, and your foster-mothers, and your foster-sisters, and your mothers-in-law, and your step-daughters who are under your protection (born) of your women unto whom ye have gone in - but if ye have not gone in unto them, then it is no sin for you (to marry their daughters) - and the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins. And (it is forbidden unto you) that ye should have two sisters together, except what hath already happened (of that nature) in the past. Lo! Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful."

This verse states that one is not to marry the divorced wife of one's biological son, clearly referring that the divorced wife of his adopted son is lawful for him. 

Verse 33:37 regarding Zeinab's marriage is from Surah Al-Ahzab which is the 33rd chapter of the Quraan.  This is a Madinah Surah revealed between the end of the 5th and 7th year of the Hijrah.

The above verse 4:23 from Surah An-Nur, also a Madinah Surah, was revealed months after the Battle of Uhad, between the 3rd and 4th year of the Hijrah.

Therefore, the primary law permitting marriage between a man and the divorced wife of his adopted son had already been introduced.  It's very likely that the Prophet's decision was on this Quraanic guideline.  Even otherwise, it would be perfectly understandable if the Prophet married Zeinab based on his own best discretion.  Had it been a wrong step not approved by the Almighty Allah, He would have corrected the Prophet with a revelation in the Quraan (as Allah had corrected the Prophet regarding certain other minor mistakes E.g. Surah Abasa, 80:1-4) and in that case the Prophet would have to revoke this marriage.  But since it was in accordance with Quraanic law, Allah approved and confirmed it as we see in Surah 33:37.