Mother of the Believers Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her, Earned Through Handwork and Gave Charity
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, asked: O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, after your passing, which wife among us will meet you first? Meaning, who will pass away first?
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: The one among you with the longest hands.
The wives took the literal meaning. They took a bamboo stick and started measuring everyone’s hands. Sauda, may Allah be pleased with her, turned out to have the longest hands.
They assumed Sauda, may Allah be pleased with her, would pass away first. But it was Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her, who passed away first.
Then they understood that “longest hands” did not mean physical length. It meant the one who gives the most charity.
Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her, passed away first. She loved giving charity more than the other wives.
_Mishkat 165, narrated from Bukhari_
About Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: No woman surpassed Zainab in piety, God-consciousness, truthfulness, maintaining family ties, and giving charity.
To draw closer to Allah through charity, she worked hard with her own hands. No other woman did more than her in this.
Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her, earned money through handwork and gave it in charity.
Today’s women are often unwilling to give even a penny from thousands. She was also a woman. When she had no money, she earned through handwork and gave charity.
She would stand in prayer at night and fast often.
Sisters, you too be generous. Make a habit of giving charity. Keep sending whatever you can ahead for the Hereafter.
*Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her, Especially Cared for Orphans and Widows*
Ata narrated: Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, fixed an annual stipend of 12,000 dirhams for Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her, from the treasury. She accepted it for only one year. As soon as she received it, she distributed it among relatives and the needy.
When Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, heard this, he sent another 1,000 and said: Keep this for your own needs. Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her, distributed that too.
Before her death, she made a will: I have prepared a shroud for myself, and Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, will send one shroud from his side. So give one shroud in charity.
Her sister gave in charity the shroud she had prepared herself.
When she passed away, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her, left this world praised for her good character and devotion in worship. She left the orphans and widows in distress, because she used to spend on them.
