for baking bread. He narrates: 'She appeared to me so great and dread, that I was unable to look at her, and first turned back involuntarily. Then I came a second time, and said, "Good news for thee, O Zeinab: the Apostle of God has sent me to thee to ask thee in marriage for him." Zeinab replied, "I cannot give an answer in this matter before having consulted with my brother."' Then she arose, went to the place of prayer, performing two genuflexions of service, at the close of which she offered up this petition 'O God, Thy Apostle seeks me in marriage: if I am worthy of him, give me to him in wedlock!' The petition was at once answered by the coming down of this noble verse: 'When Zeid had decided to divorce her, we married her to thee, so that it might not be reckoned a guilt for the believers to marry the wives of their adopted sons.' It happened whilst the Prophet had a conversation with Aisha in her own apartment, that suddenly symptoms appeared in him of the coming down of a revelation, which was made known in an instant. For his Excellency began to smile, and said, 'Who will go and take the joyous news to Zeinab that God has given her to me for a wife?' and saying so, he recited the above verse. His servant Selmi instantly ran to take the good news to Zeinab. She rewarded him with the present of one of her own gold ornaments; and vowing that she would fast for two months, she prostrated herself, and gave thanks to God.

Aisha the faithful said to herself, 'Zeinab is a beautiful lady, and was wedded to his Excellency in heaven: surely she will boast of a superiority over us on both these accounts.' So without asking permission of the Apostle of God, she went to Zeinab's apartment; and finding Zeinab's head uncovered, she said to the Prophet, 'O Apostle of God, thou hast paid a visit, without asking in marriage, and without witnesses.' His Excellency replied, 'The Giver in marriage was God, and the witness Gabriel.'

The Prophet had a wedding-feast prepared, in which he regaled the people with meat and bread. It is recorded that Uns Ibn Malik narrated: 'My mother, Om Selim, cooked a dish for Zeinab's wedding-feast, consisting of dates, butter, and bread, just enough to suffice for the Prophet and his household. She put it into a basin and requested me to take it to the Prophet, with her salutation; and to apologise for the smallness of the quantity, there being a famine in Medina in those days. When I had discharged this errand, his Excellency said to me, "Go now and invite such and such people," mentioning a great many by name; "and call also any whom thou mayest meet on the way." I did as I was bidden,

without raising the least objection, though wondering how he could invite so many people to so little food. Such a number of guests came, that the house and the hall and the private room became brimful. — There were altogether 300, or, according to another account, 71 or 72 persons. — Then his Excellency ordered the food to be brought forward, and having put his blessed hand upon it, invoked a blessing, and told the people to form themselves into circles of tens and to begin eating, saying first, "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate!" I observed, that the dates in the basin were multiplying as fast as the people ate them; and from the bottom of the basin butter was bubbling up, like water in a spring. All the people ate till they were satisfied, and there remained none who had not eaten. Then, on being told by that prince to take up the basin, I looked, but could not tell whether it was fuller at that moment, or when I had brought it. I handed the basin to Zeinab, who likewise ate of it; afterwards I took it back to my mother and told her what had taken place. She replied, " My son, do not wonder: if the Most High had so willed it, the whole population of Medina might have eaten of this food till they were satisfied."' ¹

It is recorded that when the people had eaten the food, they occupied themselves with conversation, whilst Zeinab sat in a corner of the house, with her head turned towards the wall. His Excellency wished in his heart that the people might disperse and leave the house private; but he was ashamed to tell them to go away. Then he rose up and made himself ready to go out, hoping the people might understand that he wished them to leave. But they were so much engaged in conversation, that they did not take the hint. This was most annoying to that prince. At last he went out; and when the people saw this, they also left, except three men who remained sitting and talking. That prince, through exceeding modesty, refrained from telling them to their faces, 'Go away!' Then he went to the door of the dwelling of the mothers of the faithful and saluted them. They, after having returned his salutation, inquired of him, 'O Apostle of God, how didst thou find thy spouse?' Whilst this was taking place, one of the three persons left; and when his Excellency returned to Zeinab's apartment, he found the other two still sitting. So he turned back and occupied himself with something else. Not till after all this, did the two others take the hint and likewise go away. As soon as he was told that they had left, he returned to Zeinab's room. Uns says, 'I wished