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The 1st of Sha’ban marks the date of birth of Lady Zainab (S.A.), elder daughter of Hazrat Ali (A.S.) and Lady Fatimah (S.A.), and eldest granddaughter of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.). She is the sister of Imam Hasan (A.S.) and Imam Husain (A.S.). Her younger sister is Lady Umm-e-Kulsoom (S.A.).

Courtesy: Syed Awn Husain Rizvi

Naming the Child

After Lady Zainab (S.A.) was born, her mother Lady Fatimah (S.A.) requested Imam Ali (A.S.) to name the child to which he replied:

“This child can be named only by your honorable father when he returns from his journey.”

On returning from his travel, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.), as was his practice, descended directly at the house of Lady Fatimah (S.A.). Ali (A.S.) presented the child to the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) and entreated him to name the child. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) replied:

“O Ali! All of your children are my children. However, Allah, the Most High and the Almighty, will name this child. This is the object of His will.”

As if to answer this request, Jibraeel (A.S.) descended and declared:

“Allah, the Almighty, has named this child Zainab. This very name was written in the Lauh-e-Mehfooz.”

The name Zainab is derived from ‘Zain-ul-Ab‘ meaning the Adornment of her Father. In Urdu, it means:

باپ کی زینت

The Dream

Lady Zainab (S.A.) was only three years of age when she saw a dream and conveyed this to her maternal grandfather, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.):

“O Messenger of Allah! Last night I dreamed of a severe hurricane blowing over the entire earth. I took shelter from the sandstorm under a gigantic tree but even that got uprooted and collapsed to the ground. I then took refuge under a fallen branch of that tree but that too did not last long. I sought shelter under a third branch of the same tree but it was crushed into pieces due to the severity of the wind. I continued to seek refuge under two entangled branches but the hurricane simply blew them away. And then I awoke with a start.”

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) heard the narration and wept uncontrollably. Then he answered:

“Zainab! The tree under which you were sheltered is your grandfather who will leave this world shortly. The other two branches were your parents who will also leave this transient world. And the two entangled branches are your brothers Hasan and Husain, under the trials and difficulties faced by whom, the world will be enveloped in darkness.”

(Source: Reyaahain al-Sharee’ah, vol. 2, pg. 5)

Zainab (A.S.) and Husain (A.S.)

From very early on she developed an unbreakable bond of attachment to her brother Imam Husain (A.S.). At times, when as a baby in her mother’s arms, she could not be pacified and made to stop crying, she would quieten down upon being held by her brother, and there she would sit quietly gazing at his face. Before she would pray she used to first cast a glance at the face of her beloved brother.

One day Fatimah (S.A.) mentioned the intensity of her daughter’s love for Imam Husain (A.S.) to the Prophet (S.A.W.W.).

He breathed a deep sigh and said with moistened eyes:

“My dear child. This child of mine, Zainab, will be confronted with a thousand and one calamities and face serious hardships in Karbala.”

Characteristics and Titles

Of her physical appearance little is known. When the tragedy of Karbala befell her in her mid-fifties she was forced to go out with her head uncovered. It was then that some people remarked that she appeared as a ’shining sun’ and a ‘piece of the moon’.

In her character she reflected the best attributes of those who raised her. In sobriety and serenity she was likened to Umm-ul-Momineen Khadijah (S.A.), her grandmother [wife of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.)]; in chastity and modesty to her mother Fatimah Zehra (S.A.); in eloquence to her father Ali (A.S.); in forbearance and patience to her brother Imam Hasan (A.S.); and in bravery and tranquility of the heart to Imam Husain (A.S.). Her face reflected her father’s awe and her grandfather’s reverence.

In Madinah it was Zainab’s (S.A.) practice to hold regular meetings for women in which she shared her knowledge and taught them the precepts of the religion of Islam as laid out in the Holy Quraan. Her gatherings were well-known and regularly attended. She was able to impart the teachings with such clarity and eloquence that she became known as Fasihah (Skillfully Fluent) and Balighah (Intensely Eloquent).

The depth and certainty of her knowledge earned her the name given to her by her nephew, Imam Ali Zain-ul-Abideen (A.S.), of ‘Aalima-e-Ghair-e-Mu’allimah‘, meaning ‘she who has knowledge without being taught‘.

Zainab (S.A.) was also titled Zahidah (Abstemious) and Aabidah (Devoted Worshiper) because of her abstemiousness and piety. She found little of interest in worldly adornments, always preferring the bliss and comfort of the Next World over that of this one. Humble and of high morals, her main concern was to strive to please Allah and in doing so she avoided anything which was the least bit doubtful.

Difficulties Faced

She was only five when she saw the funeral of her grandfather Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) in 10 AH. Her mother Fatimah was extremely aggrieved at the loss and would not stop crying.

The surrounding people used to complain to Hazrat Ali (A.S.) about her crying, so he built her a shade outside Madinah for this purpose. Zainab (S.A.) used to accompany her mother to that shade everyday.

Ten days after the Prophet’s (S.A.W.W.) Martyrdom, ’some men’ attacked the house of Fatimah (S.A.), and seriously injured her, then tied a rope around Hazrat Ali (A.S.) and dragged him out of the house. Less than three months later in 10 AH, Zainab (S.A.) had to bear the loss of her mother as well.

It is important to note that both Lady Fatimah (S.A.) and Lady Zainab (S.A.) lost their respective mothers at the age of only five years old. Lady Umm-e-Kulsoom (S.A.) was four years old at the time of her mother’s martyrdom.

In 40 AH, Zainab lost her father Hazrat Ali (A.S.) when he was struck on the head with a poisoned sword by Abdur Rehman (L.A.), son of Muljim (L.A.).

In 51 AH, Muawiya (L.A.) had her brother Hasan (A.S.) poisoned. Then when the body was being taken to be buried by the Prophet’s (S.A.W.W.) side, it was attacked with arrows by Marwan (L.A.) and the Bani Umayyah (L.A.). The funeral procession returned home, only to have the arrows removed by Imam Hasan’s (A.S.) eighteen bare-headed, aggrieved sisters. He was later buried in Jannat-ul-Baqee, by his mother’s side.

Imam Hasan’s (A.S.) coffin is the only one that has ever returned home after leaving for burial.

Then in 60 AH, Yazid (L.A.) demanded Imam Husain’s (A.S.) allegiance towards him. Imam Husain (A.S.) refused and the event of Karbala happened in Muharram, 61 AH. The whole family of Zainab (S.A.) was killed before her eyes, her sons aged 6-8 years Aun (A.S.) and Muhammad (A.S.) killed, her brother slaughtered while she watched from a nearby dune and pleaded with the killer to spare her brother.

کٹ رہا تھا حلقِِ شاہِ دیں ، چل رہا تھا خنجرِ لعیں

بی بی آپ دیکھتی رہیں ، لٹ گئے حرم جلے خیام

ہر درود اور ہر سلام ، خواہرِ حسین تیرے نام

The tents were burned, bodies of the martyred trampled with horses, along with little children trying to find safety, women and the surviving children captured and taken to Syria (on foot, without sufficient food and water). They were kept in prison for a year in the most terrible conditions before being released.

Lady Zainab (S.A.), the Founder of Azadari

After being released from prison, she asked her nephew, Ali Zain-ul-Abideen (A.S.), son of Husain (A.S.), to tell Yazid (L.A.) to empty a house and return their belongings, with the heads of the martyred.

She stayed in the house for seven days, mourning for the martyred along with the rest of the imprisoned women, and the women of Damascus. She was the first one to offer condolences to the fourth Imam on the martyrdom of his father.

She then travelled to Karbala and mourned at the grave of Husain (A.S.) and the Shuhada-e-Karbala (A.S.) [Martyrs of Karbala].

Happiness eluded her for the rest of her life. Sorrow and grief over the loss of the family of the Prophet (S.A.W.W.) ruled her till her martyrdom. She is buried in Damascus, Syria.

Inside view of Zainab’s shrine in Damascus, Syria

In short, she taught the world how to commemorate the martyrdom of Husain (A.S.) and his Family (A.S.). Her tale is that of hardships, patience and unquestioned acceptance of all that befell her without a single complain.

SAWJ’s Note: I have copied this article in pieces from different sources, and written some of it myself. I don’t have the power to write anymore but I’ll try to keep adding to this post. Today is Eid and I feel like it’s Muharram already after writing this.