When Zayd Had No More Need of Her — Complete Abrogation of Adoption
asbab
Level: advanced
madani-events
as-054
لِكَيۡ لَا يَكُونَ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ حَرَجٌ فِيٓ أَزۡوَٰجِ أَدۡعِيَآئِهِمۡ
— الأحزاب 37
Verse: "When Zayd had no more need of her, We married her to you so that there would not be any difficulty for believers concerning the wives of their adopted sons." (33:37)
The explicit legislative goal: "So that there would not be difficulty for believers" — not a personal act but a legislative precedent for the entire ummah: an adopted son doesn't carry the ruling of a real son in marriage.
Proof of authenticity: Documenting this story despite its social weight proves the Quran is divine revelation, not human speech.
Source: Ibn Kathir (6/433); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (14/198)
Question: What is the explicitly stated legislative wisdom for the Prophet's marriage to Zaynab in the Quran?
Answer: "So that there would not be difficulty for believers regarding the wives of their adopted sons" — a universal legislation abrogating the adoption ruling in marriage for the entire community.