Zainab, the sage of Bani Hashim
In her childhood, Zainab studied with the Prophet (SAW) , and when
Imam Ali (a.s) moved to Kufa, the respected women of Kufa requested Imam
Ali (a.s) through their husbands to allow them to benefit from the
knowledge of Hazrat Zainab (a.s.). Imam Ali (a.s) complied with their
request and the interested women learned from her the expounding wisdom
of the Holy Qur'an.
Ibn Abbas quoted Hazrat Zahra (a.s.) as having said that her daughter
Zainab, like her father, was unparalleled in literary eloquence and
courage. The speech she delivered in the assembly in presence of Yazid
was at the zenith of eloquence and impressiveness. (Refer Famous Women,
Dr. Ahmed Beheshti, p.51)
After the demise of the Holy Prophet (SAW), there came the period of
distress and hardship in the life of Hazrat Zainab (a.s.) She stood by
her mother as far as the question of supreme mandate of her father was
concerned. When her mother delivered the Fadak sermon, she was only 4
years old, but narrated the sermon so lucidly and expressively that the
people from Bani Hashim remembered it by heart. Later the Shiite scholars
recorded it, that is why she is called Zainab the narrator of traditions.
After the martyrdom of Hazrat Zahra (a.s.), Zainab suffered many
calamities. Their house was attacked and the usurpation of her father's
rightful caliphate was a great shock to her. Her sublime devotion to the
cause of Allah and Islam endeared her to her father Ali ,which reminded
of her mother's endearment to her father, the Holy Prophet (SAW). All
this was worthy of the grand status of Zainab (a.s.).
Hazrat Zainab's Marriage
Abdullah son of Ja'far Tayyar, a nephew of Imam Ali (a.s.) asked for
Zainab's hand, and Imam Ali (a.s.) accepted it. Her marriage settlement
was equal to that of her mother's. Imam Ali (a.s.) told Ja'far not to
prevent Zainab from going on a journey with Imam Hussein (a.s), her
brother.
Although Zainab's husband was a man of means, she lived a modest life,
not a life of luxury. She and her husband were charitable to the needy
people. The Arab tribes called
Abdullah "the sea or the cloud of munificence.
Abdullah was also noted for his standing with Imam Ali (a.s.) in the
holy wars (jihad). Ibn Hajar quoted the Prophet as having said that
Abdullah was like him in character and had taken him by the right hand
and prayed to Allah to extend His mercy over the household of Abdullah
bin Ja'far.
The marriage of Zainab did not diminish her strong attachment to her
family. Imam Ali (a.s) also felt a great affection for his daughter and
nephew and when he became the Caliph of the Muslims and moved from
Medina
to Kufa,
Zainab and Abdullah joined him. Zainab bore four boys by the names of
Ali, Muhammad, Aun and Abbas and two girls, Umm Kulthum.
Zainab and Imamate
In her life Zainab always saw the evildoers, oppressors, insurgents
and breakers of covenants defy the truth and Imam Ali (a.s.), the
supporter of the truth and justice had to quell their revolts. Finally,
an evil hand gave Imam Ali (a.s.) a stroke from a poisoned sword on his
head in the mosque. After Imam Ali (a.s.), his son Imam Hassan (a.s.) became
the Caliph. Hassan was also greatly oppressed until at last he signed a
peace treaty with the ruler of that time and moved to Kufa in the company
of Zainab , her husband, and his own companions. Imam Hassan (a.s.) was
poisoned by his treacherous wife, by the order of the Caliph of that
time. After Imam Hassan, Imam Hussein (a.s.) became the Imam, but the
ruler of Syria
violated the peace treaty and appointed his son as his successor and
insisted that Imam Hussein (a.s.) should pledge allegiance to him. Imam
Hussein refused to pledge allegiance and made up his mind to move to Mecca .
Zainab said farewell to her husband and went with her brother
accompanied by her sons Muhammad and Aun. They reached Mecca in 61 Hijra year.
Imam Hussein (a.s.) was informed that some agents of the ruler of that
time had come to
Mecca
to assassinate him while circumambulating the Holy Ka'bah. Imam Hussein
(a.s.) deemed it advisable to move to Kufa and let people know of his
secret mission. They arrived at
Karbala
on the 2nd Muharram. Zainab had heard from her grandfather and father
that
Karbala
would be the place where Imam Hussein (a.s.) would be martyred.
Zainab (as.) in Karbala
Zainab (a.s.) is the shining sun in the history of Islam and of humanity.
Her brother's name and
Karbala
associate the idea of freedom, justice, humanity, virtue, fighting
against despotism , with the realization of the sovereignty of Allah. The
history of
Karbala
is based on two pillars: the rising of Imam Hussein (a.s.) and the rising
of Zainab (a.s.). She was an outstanding figure in the history of
Karbala
endowed
with divine steadfastness and fortitude. She sacrificed her two sons and
one should not say anything if one devoted his life for the cause of
Allah. After the martyrdom of her brother and her two sons, she said:
"0 my Lord! Accept our humble sacrifice to You."
When Zainab reached Kufa, she addressed people with fury words:
"Praise to Allah, and may the blessing of Allah be upon Muhammad and
his progeny. 0 people of Kufa, you are hypocrites and deceitful. You
feign to be sorry for the death of my brother and his companions. May you
always shed tears. I find nothing in you but flattery, evil acts and
thoughts, pride and spite and ill-will. By Allah! You deserve lasting
sorrow instead of joy. Shame on you, your hands are imbrued with the
blood of the son of the Holy Prophet, the one who was your sole refuge in
case of adversity. By your evil act and disloyalty, you incurred the
-wrath of Allan against you. Woe betide you! No one will intercede with
Allah for you." Her furious words provoked people of Kufa to avenge
Hussein's martyrdom. This frightened Ubaidullah and his cruel agents. She
also delivered a furious sermon in the court of the caliph that made his
authority and despotic rule feel undermined. She said: "I fear no
one but Allah. Make whatever evil plot you can. Blazes are waiting for
you in the hereafter. You'll he accountable to Allah for your
atrocities."
Source: al-shia.com
|
