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The Meritorious Lady
She was born
in Medina on the 5th of the month of Jamadi al-Awwal in the 6th
year of the Hijra. Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) was overjoyed at the birth of
his first grand daughter and named her Zainab, which means Ornament of
the Father. The loving father, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS) was overjoyed
as well and so was the mother, the Prophet’s daughter Hazrat Fatema
Zahra (SA). The newborn grew into a virtuous girl imbibing from her
parents and her grandfather, the values that would stand out in Karbala
and make her carve an eternal place in world history. Her personality
was shaped by the teachings of her peerless mother. In fact, in merits
she was second only to Hazrat Fatema (SA), the greatest lady of all
time. Hazrat Zainab (SA), it is said bore a striking resemblance to her
maternal grandmother, the late Hazrat Khadija al-Kubra (SA), the lady
who sacrificed all her proverbial wealth for Islam in the days of
persecution of Muslims. In her paternal grandmother, Hazrat Fatema bint-e
Asad (SA) she had another great lady of Islam who had brought up the
prophet as her own son when he was orphaned in boyhood. Thus, it could
be said, virtue and greatness flowed in the veins of Hazrat Zainab (SA).
In 11 AH, the
5-year old Zainab (SA) lost her grandfather and mother within the space
of 95 days. Her father, Imam Ali (AS), whose valour, insight, wisdom and
eloquent power of speech she inherited, now directly groomed her to the
extent that she became known as Aqeelat al-Bani Hashem or the Wise Lady
of the Hashemite Clan. Her great knowledge could be gauged from the fact
that her brothers Imam Hasan and Imam Husain (peace upon them) always
held their sister in high respect. She was married to her first cousin
Abdullah ibn Ja’far and became the mother of three sons and a daughter.
But family life did not stop her from assuming an active role in society
as the Teacher of the Women of Medina. She used to impart them the
ethereal values of Islam and give a rational explanation of the God’s
words, the Holy Qur’an, as revealed to her grandfather Prophet Mohammad
(blessings of Allah upon him and his progeny). Although her husband was
a wealthy and generous man, Hazrat Zainab (SA) was never attached to
material life. She devoted her entire life to the welfare of Muslims and
undeterred by the massacre of her household at Karbala that included the
martyrdom of her two youthful sons, Aun and Mohammad, she bravely
confronted the tyrant Yazid, the perpetrator of history’s most
heart-rending tragedy. It was for this reason she had accompanied her
brother Imam Husain (AS) on his fateful journey.
When marching
out for his final stand at Karbala, Imam Husain (AS) entrusted to the
care of his sister the entire undefended including his bed-ridden
23-year old son and successor, Imam Zain ol-Abedin (AS). The Lady who
thanked God for accepting her sacrifice on the martyrdom of her two
sons, saw the sanguine spectacle of the martyrdom of her loving brother
Imam Husain (AS). “O Sister! Do not forget me in your late midnight
prayer,” said the Imam, and Zainab (SA) despite the hardships of
imprisonment that she endured after the tragedy of Karbala, never
neglected the late midnight recommended prayer. In captivity she
triumphed and carried the struggle to the enemy’s camp. Her wise and
eloquent speeches along with those of her enchained nephew Imam Zain
ol-Abedin (AS) unmasked the crimes of the godless Omayyad regime and
awakened people towards the message of the uprising of Imam Husain (AS).
He had refused to yield to tyranny and the sister conveyed this heroic
stand in the courts of Kufa and Damascus, by refusing to be buckle down
to oppression and calling all that she had been through as: I see
nothing but the beauty of God Almighty. She thus popularized the mission
of her martyred and as part of her efforts to nurse back Islam to life,
the Prophet’s grand daughter upon release from imprisonment laid the
foundations of the life-inspiring mourning ceremonies, which the
faithful have continued to hold regularly ever since in the months of
Moharram and Safar. |