Zaynab was the daughter of 'Abdullah Ibn Mu'awiyah al-Thaqafiyyah or, the daughter of Mu'awiyah1 and she was the wife of 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud and the mother of his child. She has also been called Raytah and Ra'itah.

Ibn Hajar says, "Abu Sa'id, Ibn Habban, al-'Askari, Ibn Mandah, and Abu Nu'aym have considered Zaynab and Raytah to be two different people.2 Ibn Sa'd has introduced Raytah as a manumitted bondwoman.3

Ibn al-Athir and Ibn 'Abd al­Barr have used both names for her. The book Rijal al-Shi 'ah has only mentioned Zaynab.4 Most writers consider both names to be for one person.

Her Merits

Zaynab became Muslim, pledged allegiance to the Messenger of God (S), and related traditions from him. She was an industrious woman, and since her husband had no wealth, she supported her family. Therefore, nothing remained for her to give in charity.

According to al-Tabari, her husband 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud was one of the twelve people who refused to come to the Mosque at the summons of Abu Bakr. He rejected the take-over of Caliphate by Abu Bakr and said, "O you people of Quraysh, you know that the household of the Prophet are closer to him than you are. If you claim the position of Caliphate and leadership of the Muslims belongs to the close ones of the Messenger of God (S), his near family are closer to him and have a longer history of closeness to him. 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib ('a) is more deserving of this position after the Messenger of God (S). Give the position to him which God has assigned for him, and return to your past or you will suffer the loss.” 5

Al-Majlisi quotes Amir al-Mu'minin ('a) as saying, "The earth was created for seven people, and because of them sustenance comes to the inhabitants of the earth. Because of them rain falls and people are helped. They are: Abu Dharr, Salman, al-Miqdad, 'Ammar, Hudhayfah, and 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud. I am their Imam and leader and they were present at the time of the prayer over Fatimah ('a)."6

Shaykh al-Tusi, Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, Ibn al-Athir, and Mamqani have introduced her as one of the companions and relaters of traditions from the Messenger of God (S).7

Mamqani writes, "Her life story is unclear to us."8 She has related traditions from the Messenger of God (S), 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud (her husband), and 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab. Abu 'Ubaydah (her son), her nephew, 'Amr Ibn al-Harith Ibn Dirar, Muhammad Ibn 'Amr Ibn al-Harith, 'Abdullah Ibn 'Amr Ibn al-Harith, Busr Ibn Sa'id, and 'Ubayd Ibn Sabbaq have related traditions from her.

The wife of 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud said, '"O Messenger of God (S), I am an industrious woman. That which I make I sell, but my husband, children, and I have no wealth. Shall I spend this income on them?'

He answered, 'Whatever you spend to help them will be rewarded."'9 Al-Tabarani based on five different documents relates from Ibn 'Utbah from Ra'itah a tradition similar to this.10

Ibn Sa'd relates based on his documents from Busr Ibn Sa'id as saying, "Zaynab al-Thaqafiyyah, the wife of 'Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud, reported to me that the Messenger of God (S) told her, "When you go out to pray the evening prayer do not use perfume."

Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nassa'i, and Ibn Majah have related traditions from her.11

• 1. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 422.
• 2. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 422.
• 3. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, pp. 290.
• 4. Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, p. 461 and 470; Al-Isti’ab, vol. 4, pp. 1848 and 1856.
• 5. Tarikh al-Tabari, vol. 2, p. 255.
• 6. Hayat al-Qulub, p. 396.
• 7. Rijal al-Tusi, p. 52; Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, pp. 461 and 470; Al-Isti’ab, vol. 4, pp. 1848 and 1856; Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 78.
• 8. Tanqih al-Maqal, vol. 3, p. 78.
• 9. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 8, p. 290; Sunan al-Daraqutni, vol. 2, p. 109, the book on charity.
• 10. Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, vol. 24, pp. 263 - 265.
• 11. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, vol. 12, p. 422.