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THE LION-HEARTED LADY OF KARBALA-SAYYIDA ZAYNAB BINT ALI
(S.A.)
Lady Zaynab (s.a.) was the third
child of Lady of Paradise,
Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and
the Commander of the Faithful
Imam Ali (a.s.). She was
born on 5 Jamadi al-Awwal 5 A.H.
At that time the Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.) was not in Madinah.
On his return, he was informed
about her birth and on receiving
the Divine Decree, he named the
baby as Zaynab. He cried when
Arch-angel Jibra'ee informed
about the calamities to befallen
this little girl.
When she was 5 years old, she
had a dream which the Noble
Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) interpreted
as the demise of the Panjetan,
except the Infallible Imam
Husayn (a.s.).
She was raised in a unique
pious, pure and prophetic
environment. Hence, in her
character, she reflected the
best attributes of those who
raised her. In sobriety and
serenity, she was likened to
Ummul Mumineen Sayyida Khadija
(s.a.); in chastity and modesty
to her mother Fatima Zahra
(s.a.); in eloquence to her
father Imam Ali (a.s.); in
forbearance and patience to her
brother Imam Hasan (a.s.); and
in bravery and tranquility to
the heart Imam Husayn (a.s.).
Her face reflected her father's
awe and her grandfather's
reverence.
When the time came for marriage,
she was married to her first
cousin, Abdullah ibn Ja'far
Tayyar. Together this young
couple had five children; four
sons, Ali, Aoun, Muhammad, and
Abbas and one daughter, Umme
Kulsoom.
In Madinah, she shared her
knowledge with the women and
taught them about Islam and was
known as Fasiha and Baligha for
her clarity and eloquence. For
her depth and certainty of her
knowledge, Imam Zayn-al-Abedin
(a.s.) called her “A'limah Ghair
Mu'allama” meaning one who has
knowledge without being taught. Also
because other piety and lack of
interest in worldly adornments,
she was called “Abidah” and
“Zahidah”. She always preferred
Bliss and comfort of the life
hereafter.
When the Commander of the
Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) was
requested by the Muslims to
accept the responsibilities of
Khilafah, she moved to Kufa with
her family. Unfortunately, his
khilafah lasted for about 5
years and was filled with wars
and the world was deprived of a
chance to witness a complete and
through implementation of a
Divine System of Social Justice.
He was martyred in the Mosque
while prostrating. It was a
calamity for her and she moved
back to Madinah.
In a blatant contravention of
the Peace Agreement with the
Infallible Imam Hasan (a.s.),
Muawiya appointed Yazid as his
successor. As soon as Yazid
became caliph, he demanded
allegiance from the Infallible
Imam Husayn (a.s.). The Imam
naturally refused and decided to
move out of Madinah. Sayyidah
Zaynab (s.a.) accompanied her
beloved brother.
After the tragedy of Karbala,
she became the defacto leader of
the remaining family and
exhibited exceptional patience,
fortitude and bravery. After the
martyrdom of Imam Husayn (a.s.),
members of Bani Hashim and the
companions, the Muslims looted
the sacred belongings, set on
fire the camps, imprisoned the
daughters of the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.) and others and were
made captives and led towards
Kufa on camels without seats!
Only recently, she was in Kufa
as the daughter of the Caliph
and now she was brought in as a
captive. But she addressed the
people who had betrayed her
brother after inviting him to
Kufa and were now celebrating.
She said in a piercing eloquent
insight: All
Praise be to Allah and blessings
be on my grandfather Muhammad
(s.a.w.a.s.) and his purified
and chosen Progeny. O people who
deceive, forsake and contrive,
it is you who will weep. May
Allah not stop your tears and
may your chests burn incessantly
with the fire of grief and
sorrow. You have earned the
shame of killing the Imam of
age. The stains of his blood are
on your clothes and you cannot
remove it, nor can you secure
acquittal from the charge of
slaying the son of the last
Prophet of Allah, the Chief of
the Youths in Paradise.
Similarly, when in Yazid's court
when he was boasting and said:
“My ancestors who were killed at
Badr have been avenged today. It
is clear that Bani Hashim had
played a game to gain power and
there was no divine revelation!”
Sayyida Zaynab stood up boldly
while her hands were tied in a
rope and said: “Praise be to
Allah and blessings on my
grandfather, the chief of Divine
Prophets. O Yazid! Allah says:
“Then evil was the end of those
who did evil because they
rejected the communications of
Allah and used to mock them.”
(30:10) “O Son of freed slaves,
is this your justice that you
keep your daughters and slave
maids veiled while the daughters
of the Prophet of Allah are
being paraded from place to
place exposed.” “Remember that
the evil deeds and sinful acts
you have committed are the
result of unbelief and old
rancor you bear because of your
ancestors who were killed in
Badr.”
Imagine the courage and
fortitude of a lady whose
brothers, sons, nephews and
other members of Bani Hashim and
the companions of her brother,
seventy two in all, were
ruthlessly martyred after being
deprived of food and water for
three days. She was physically,
mentally, and emotionally
tortured but still retained her
family bravery and eloquence and
unnerved by the events. |
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