He married Zainab bint Abu Mu'awiyah, a woman from the Thaqeef
tribe. She was a good wife, skilled in handiwork and eager to
learn. She used to make things with her hands and sell them to
earn some money which she used to help her relatives who were
poor. Her husband was exemplary in his attitude of dignity. He
encouraged her to seek knowledge and to acquire greater insight
into Islam, putting what she learns into practice. Zainab heard
the Prophet addressing women, telling them to donate to charity,
even if they have to sell their jewelry for that. She came back
home and said to her husband: You are a man of limited means,
and the Prophet has told us to donate to charity. Go to him and
ask whether I can pay my donation to you. Otherwise, I will have
to pay it to some other people. Her husband said: You better go
and ask him. Zainab reports: I went to see him and at his door I
found an Ansari woman who had come to ask the same question. We
were rather apprehensive of going in. Bilal, however, came over.
So we