informed him that the people had departed, or he was informed. When he went inside the house, I attempted to enter with him, but he placed a curtain between me and him. Then the Hijab (veil) was revealed, and he exhorted the people with what he exhorted them: "Do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted" (1).

His saying, the Almighty: "And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor" up to His saying: "And ever is the command of Allah accomplished."

17693 - From 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: If the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) were to conceal anything from the revelation, he would have concealed this verse: "And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor"—meaning the Prophet, by [guiding him to] Islam, and whom you favored—by manumitting him— "Keep your wife and fear Allah" up to His saying: "And ever is the command of Allah accomplished." And indeed, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) married her, [she being] the former wife of his son. So Allah the Almighty revealed: "Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets." The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) had adopted him while he was young, and he remained [known as such] until he became a man, being called Zayd ibn Muhammad. So Allah revealed: "Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah," meaning more equitable in the sight of Allah.

17694 - From Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding His saying: "And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor," he said: Zayd ibn Harithah. Allah bestowed favor upon him with Islam, and you bestowed favor upon him by manumitting him. "Keep your wife and fear Allah, O Zayd ibn Harithah." He said: He came to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and said: "O Prophet of Allah, Zaynab has become sharp-tongued with me, and I desire to divorce her." The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to him: "Fear Allah and keep your wife to yourself." He said: And the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) wanted him to divorce her, yet he feared the speech of the people if he ordered him to divorce her. So Allah revealed: "And you were concealing within yourself that which Allah was to disclose." He said: He was concealing within himself and his essence her divorce. He said: Al-Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) said: No verse was revealed to him that was more difficult for him than this, and if he were to conceal anything of the revelation, he would have concealed it. "And you feared the people." He said: The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) feared the speech of the people. "So when Zayd had no longer any need for her," he said: Zayd divorced her, "We gave her to you in marriage." She would boast to the wives of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), saying: "As for you, your fathers married you off, but as for me, the Possessor of the Throne married me off." "So that there will be no discomfort for the believers concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them."