Abul-‘Āṣ bin Ar-Rabī‘(ra) was also among the prisoners who were captured in the expedition to ‘Īṣ. He was the son-in-law of the Holy Prophet(sa) and a near relative of the late Ḥaḍrat Khadījah(ra) from among the Quraish. Prior to this, he was also captured in the Battle of Badr, but the Holy Prophet(sa) released him on the condition that when he reached Makkah, he would send his daughter - Ḥaḍrat Zainab(ra), to Madīnah. Abul-‘Āṣ(ra) fulfilled his promise but was still personally a polytheist. When Zaid bin Ḥārithah(ra) captured him and brought him to Madīnah it was night time, but somehow he managed to send word to Ḥaḍrat Zainab(ra) that, “I have been captured and brought here. If possible, see if you can arrange something for my release.” So, just as the Holy Prophet(sa) and his companions were engaged in their morning prayer, Zainab(ra) announced from her home in a loud voice, “O Ye Muslims! I have granted Abul- ‘Āṣ protection”. When the Holy Prophet(sa) had completed his Ṣalāt, he turned to his companions and said, “Whatever Zainab has said, you have heard it. By God, I had no prior knowledge of this, but the community of the believers is like a single soul. If one of them grants protection to an infidel, its honour is incumbent.”1 Then the Holy Prophet(sa) turned to Zainab(ra) and said, “We have granted protection to whom you endow protection.” The wealth which was acquired from Abul-‘Āṣ(ra) during this expedition was returned to him. Then, the Holy Prophet(sa) entered the home of Zainab(ra) and said to his daughter, “Be very hospitable to Abul-‘Āṣ(ra), but do not meet him in seclusion. Under the current circumstances it is not lawful that you be intimate with him.” After a stay of a few days, Abul-‘Āṣ went to Makkah, but this time his return to Makkah was not for permanent residence, for he quickly ordered his affairs and set off to Madīnah reciting the Kalimah Shahādah, and upon reaching the Holy Prophet(sa) he became a Muslim.2 The Holy Prophet(sa) sent Ḥaḍrat Zainab(ra) to him without a new Nikāḥ,3 i.e., he granted Zainab(ra) permission to resume marital relations with Abul-‘Āṣ once again.4
In certain narrations it is also mentioned that the Nikāḥ of Ḥaḍrat Zainab(ra) and Abul-‘Āṣ(ra) was performed anew, but the first narration is more reliable and authentic.5
1 The purport is that in normal circumstances the following rule applies, otherwise in special circumstances, for example when a contradictory order of a superior officer is present or the one who grants protection does so out of ill-will or mischief, etc., in such circumstances this action will not be considered legal. And Allāh knows best.
2 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 293, Sariyyatu Zaid-ibni Ḥārithata Ilal- ‘Īṣ, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)
Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, pp. 125-126, Sariyyatu Zaid-ibni Ḥārithata Ilal-‘Īṣ, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)
3 Muslim marriage ceremony (Publishers)
4 Sunanu Abī Dawūd, Kitābuṭ-Ṭalāq, Bābu Ilā Matā Turaddu ‘Alaih-Imra’atuhū Idhā Aslama Ba‘dahā, Ḥadīth No. 2240
Sunanut-Tirmidhī, Kitābun-Nikāḥ, Bābu Mā Jā’a Fiz-Zaujainil-Mushrikaini Yuslima Aḥaduhumā, Ḥadīth No 1143
Sunan Ibni Majah, Kitābun-Nikāḥ, Bābuz-Zaujaini Yuslima Aḥaduhumā Qablal-Ākhari, Ḥadīth No. 2009
5 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, pp. 127-128, Sariyyatu Zaid-ibni Ḥārithata Ilal-‘Īṣ, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)