Zainab Bint Ali (سلام الله عليها)

If the religion of Allah is safe today it is because of Karbala and if Karbala is alive today it is because of Zainab.

- Imam Muhammad Baqir (عليه السلام)

Zainab Bint Ali (سلام الله عليها) :

An astounding scholar of a woman who inherited her knowledge directly from none other than prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) himself, her maternal grandfather. Her maternal grandmother was Umm al-Momineen, Lady Khadija (سلام الله عليها), to whom Allah and the archangel Jibreel send salutations. Her father was Ali (عليه السلام), the beloved of Allah and His Messenger, her mother was Fatima (سلام الله عليها), the leader of the women of Paradise. Her brothers were Imam Hasan and Imam Husain (عليهم السلام), the leaders of the youth of Paradise. she was married to her first cousin ‘Abdullah, the son of Ja’far Bin Abi Talib (عليه السلام), the first migrant in Islam.

The merits, praise and recognition of Lady Zainab, who gave her two youthful sons ‘Aun and Muhammad as sacrifices for the cause of Islam at Karbala is not merely due to her familial relationships, she managed to pave a distinctive way of her own because of her amazing qualities. While the men of her family gained respect for the ultimate show of loyalty towards Islam in Karbala, she demonstrated to the world of women the practical meaning of bravery, piety, virtue and feminine rights.

Lady Zainab rose brave like her father and carved out an immortal niche for herself in the history. While women are expected to be quiet in all situations, she stood in the face of Yazid in his court. Imam zain al-‘Abideen (عليه السلام) in praise of her eloquent sermons before the Umayyad rulers, said the realities of God-given insight and knowledge that his aunt demonstrated is not easy to grasp by even the most erudite scholars. Her clarity of language and choice of words to propound the mission of her brother in the court of Yazid is rather commendable.

Scholars pointing to a single phrase from her memorable sermon in the court of Damascus say that besides being an indicator of her firm faith, trust in God, fearlessness under the most adverse circumstances, it shattered to pieces the power and pride of Yazid. Her bold address to the seemingly proud caliph: “Is it justice O’ sons of At-tulaqa (freed slaves)?” shook the very foundations of Umayyad rule and exposed its illegitimacy not only for the courtiers but for all generations to come. By her use of the word “tulaqa” Lady Zainab was actually reminding the ruler how her grandfather Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), on the day of the peaceful conquest of Mecca by the Muslims, had shown magnanimity to his forefathers who were the arch infidels and had spared their lives. She was so content with Divine Will that when Yazid implied what God has done to her family, she boldly said that whatever she had seen in Karbala was nothing but the Grace of God.

History records that, Lady Zainab had a special deputation on behalf of Imam Husain. People used to refer to her in jurisprudential matters until her nephew, Imam Zain al-‘Abedin recovered from his illness. She was a scholar of the Qur’an, and she used to preach the Qur’an to the women in Madinah, her teachers were Imam Ali and the Prophet (ﷺ) himself.

In Islam, the pursuit of knowledge is not confined to a gender; men and women are urged alike to acquire it. Islam restored a woman to her natural status in society with emphasis on learning so that literate and knowledgeable mothers could properly raise their children upon truth, thus shaping a society. Lady Zainab was immune from any ignorance and possessed God-given knowledge with certitude. Her nephew Imam Zain al-‘Abideen says about her: “You are by the grace of God a scholar unschooled by anyone. You are a scholar by conation.”

The History was incapable of doing full justice to her sermons that ensured eternity to the mission and disclosed the true events which led to the martyrdom of Imam Husain. Sadly, No Riwayah are recorded from her even though there are narrations from other Sahaba who were of same age as hers. In Fact, not many narrations are recorded of any member of the Ahlulbayt in the sunni sources.

She was given the title Ummul Masa’ib (mother of misfortunes) as she had to suffer different and innumerable misfortunes all over her lifetime beginning with the demise of prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). She merited the title ‘Sani-e Zahra’ to her impeccable mother, Lady Fatima, one of the four greatest women of all times.

So long as the martyrdom of Imam Husain is commemorated, the name of Lady Zainab will also shine with radiance.

May abundant peace and blessings of God be upon her. May God bless every Muslim especially women with a chance to read about her life, for lies therein the ideal way of a muslimah.

- by Sayada Fatima