A Daughter’s Difficult Migration

All the Makkan prisoners were released with the payment of a ransom. It was against the dignity of prophethood that the son-in-law of the Holy Prophet (sas) should be released without paying any ransom. Therefore, it was decided that after returning to Makkah Hazrat Abul-‘As (ra) would send Hazrat Zainab (ra) to Madinah as payment for his ransom.1

The Holy Prophet (sas) instructed Hazrat Abul-‘As (ra) and Hazrat Zaid (ra) bin Harithah, the adopted son of the Holy Prophet (sas), to bring Hazrat Zainab (ra) to Madinah. Hazrat Zaid (ra) was instructed to stay outside of Makkah and wait for Hazrat Zainab (ra), then bring her back to Madinah. Hazrat Abul-‘As (ra) instructed his younger brother to accompany Hazrat Zainab (ra) on her journey from Makkah.

When preparations for the journey were complete, Hazrat Zainab (ra) mounted her camel and departed for Madinah. Her brother-in-law Kinanah bin Rabi‘ accompanied her. As it was expected that the disbelievers of Makkah would cause trouble, her brother-in-law was armed with arrows and a bow.

When the disbelievers learned that Hazrat Zainab (ra) had left Makkah, they became extremely angry. The people of Makkah chased after them and surrounded them at a place called Dhi Tuwa outside of Makkah. A person named Habbar bin Aswad and another man from this group attacked Hazrat Zainab (ra) with a spear. Hazrat Zainab (ra) fell from the camel to the ground. As a result of this attack she suffered a terrible wound deep inside of her stomach. She lost a great deal of blood from this injury.

Her brother-in-law took an arrow out of his quiver and warned the disbelievers that if anyone came near them he would shoot them with his arrow. At this threat the disbelievers quickly dispersed. Abu Sufyan, the leader of the Quraish came forward and said that he wanted to talk. Kinanah put his arrow back in its quiver and asked what he wanted to discuss. Abu Sufyan said we have suffered a humiliating defeat, misfortune, and disgrace at the hands of Muhammad (sas). If you take the daughter of Muhammad (sas) from among us, we will be considered weak and cowards. We have no reason to prevent the daughter of Muhammad (sas) from leaving Makkah if she so wishes. However, my goal is that you return to Makkah for now and when the situation settles down you can take her to Madinah.

Kinanah agreed to this and after a few days he discreetly handed her over to Hazrat Zaid (ra) bin Harithah who brought her back from Makkah.2