Zaid, the son of Harithah bin Sharahil Al-Kalbi, was the slave of Allah's Messenger (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam), whom he had freed and taken him as his son, and he was known as Zaid bin Muhammad, until Allah revealed His Words: “Call them (adopted sons) by (the names of) their fathers” (Al-Ahzab 33: 5).
So they called him Zaid bin Harithah.
As for Zainab, she was the daughter of Jahsh bin Ri'ab Al-Asadiyyah and her mother was Umaimah bint 'Abdul-Muttalib, the paternal aunt of the Messenger of Allah (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) .
With regard to the story of Zaid's marriage to Zainab, it was the Messenger of Allah (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) who arranged it for him, due to his having been his slave and his adopted son; he proposed to her on Zaid's behalf, but she rejected him, saying: "I am of more noble descent than him." Then, it was reported that Allah revealed regarding this His Words: “lt is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error” (Al-Ahzab 33: 36).
So she responded in obedience to Allah and in fulfillment of the wishes of His Messenger (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam). She lived with Zaid for about a year, then there took place between them what (often) takes place between a man and his wife (i.e. disagreement) and so Zaid complained of her to the Messenger of Allah (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam), due to their relationship to him, for he was his (former) slave and his foster son, while Zainab was his paternal aunt's daughter. And it seems that Zaid suggested divorcing her, so Allah's Messenger (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) ordered to hold onto her and be patient with her, in spite of his knowledge, through Revelation from Allah that he would divorce her and that she would become his wife, for he feared that the people would think it shameful that he had married the wife of his son, as this had been forbidden during the Jahiliyyah. But Allah censured His Prophet (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) in this matter in His Words: “And when you said to him on whom Allah has bestowed grace and you have done favor: "Keep your wife to yourself and fear Allah." But you did hide in yourself that which Allah will make manifest; you did fear the people whereas Allah had a better right that you should fear Him” (AJ-Ahzab 33: 37).
This means - and Allah knows best - you hide within yourself what Allah has informed you, that Zaid will divorce his wife, Zainab and you will marry her - in implementation of Allah's Command and confirmation of His Wisdom - and you fear the gossip of the people and their accusations against you in that regard, while Allah has more right to be feared by you, so announce what He has revealed to you regarding the details of your affairs, and those of Zaid and his wife, without heed to the talk of the people and their accusations against you.
As for the marriage of the Prophet (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) to Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her, he proposed to her after the expiry of her 'Iddah ('Iddah: The prescribed waiting period for a woman following divorce, during which she may not marry) following her divorce from Zaid. Then Allah married him to her, without any Waliy and without witnesses, for he (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) was the guardian of all the believers; indeed he has more right over them than they themselves. Allah, the Most High says: “The Prophet has more right over the believers than they do over themselves” (Al-Ahzab33: 6).
Thus, Allah abolished adoption as it had been practiced in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance, and He permitted the Muslims to marry the widowed or divorced wives of their adopted sons, as a mercy from Him upon the believers, and in order to relieve them of their difficulties.
As for what has been reported about the Prophet (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) seeing Zainab from behind a curtain, that his heart was smitten by her, that he became infatuated with her, falling in love with her, and that Zaid came to know of this, hated her and the Prophet's attraction to her, so he divorced her so that the Prophet (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) could marry her after him - none of this has been authentically reported.
The Prophets are too noble of character, too selfless, too virtuous of disposition, too high in rank and standing to do such a thing. Also, it was the Prophet (Salallahou ‘aleyhi wa salam) who proposed to her on behalf of Zaid, may Allah be pleased with him, and she was his cousin, so if he had been in love with her, he could have married her himself in the first place, especially since she had refused the proposal of Zaid and was unhappy with it, until the Verse was revealed, after which she accepted it. This was no more than an Ordainment from Allah and His Plan, to remove the practices of pre-Islamic period of ignorance, and it was a mercy for the people, easing restrictions for them, as Allah, the Most High says: “So when Zaid had accomplished his desire from her (i.e. divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage, so that there may be no difficulty to the believers in respect of the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no desire to keep them and Allah's Command must be fulfilled. There is no blame on the Prophet in that which Allah has made legal for him. That has been Allah's way with those who have passed away of (the Prophets of) old. And the Command of Allah is a decree determined. Those who convey the Message of Allah and fear Him and fear none except Allah. And sufficient is Allah as a Reckoner. Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah, and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allah is Aware of all things” (Al-Ahzab33: 37-40).
And may peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, and upon all his family and Companions.
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