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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.
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