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| But those who
had been given the knowledge said, `woe to you; the reward of God
is better for him who believes and acts right, yet only the steadfast
receive it. |
| Surat Al-Qasas
: 80 |
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| AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF HAZRAT IMAM HUSSAIN (A.S) |
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| Sayyeda Zainab (s.a.),
the daughter of Imam Ali (a.s.) and Sayyeda Fatima (s.a.),
was an exemplary woman of great ability, intelligence,
knowledge, insight, courage and perseverance; she performed
her divine duties to the best of her ability. She was
born to a family formed by the Prophet (SAW), the most
outstanding figure in history. The Prophet's wife Sayyeda
Khadija (s.a.) a devoted woman, was her maternal grandmother,
and her paternal grandmother was Fatima daughter of
Assad, who mothered and nursed the Prophet (SAW). The
members of the family, in trio hierarchical order, were
all great.
Sayyeda Zainab (s.a.) was a brilliant star in the mandate
sky that received rays of holiness from the five suns.
It was through her holy origins and pious edification
that she manifested so great a fortitude in Karbala
(Iraq).
The life of the daughter of Sayyeda Al-Zahra (s.a.)
was always laden with hardships, but she never feared
coping with difficulties, this enhanced her endurance
and elevated her soul.
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| The Birth of Sayyeda
Zainab (s.a.) |
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There is divergence
of opinions about the birth date of Sayyeda Zainab (s.a.).
Some say it was in Medina 5th of Jamadi Al-Awwal, and
others say it was 1st in the month of Shabaan, in the
6th Hijra year.
It was five years after the Muslims had accompanied the
Prophet (SAW) and his family in the migration (Hijrah)
to Medina, when the Holy Prophet's daughter, Sayyeda Fatima
(s.a.), gave birth to a little girl.
When her father, Imam Ali (AS), saw his daughter for the
first time Imam Hussain (a.s.), who was then almost three
years old, was with him. The boy exclaimed in delight,
"O father, Allah has given me a sister."
At those words Imam Ali (a.s.) began to weep, and when
Hussain (a.s.) asked why he was crying so, his father
answered that he would soon come to know.
Sayyeda Fatima (s.a.) and Imam Ali (a.s.) did not name
their child until a few days after her birth, for they
awaited the Prophet's return from a journey so that he
could propose the name.
When finally the baby girl was brought before him he held
her in his lap and kissed her. The Angel Gabriel came
to him and conveyed the name that was to be hers, and
then he began to weep. The Prophet (SAW) asked why Gabriel
wept and he answered, "O Prophet of Allah. From early
on in life this girl will remain entangled in tribulations
and trials in this world. First she will weep over your
separation (from this world); thereafter she will bemoan
the loss of her mother, then her father, and then her
brother Hassan. After all this she will be confronted
with the trials of the land of Karbala and the tribulations
of that lonely desert, as a result of which her hair will
turn gray and her back will be bent."
When the members of the family heard this prophecy they
all broke down in tears. Imam Hussain (a.s.) now understood
why earlier his father had also wept. Then the Prophet
(SAW) named her Zainab (s.a.).
One day, when Zainab (s.a.) was about five years old,
she had a strange and terrible dream. A violent wind arose
in the city and darkened the earth and the sky. The little
girl was tossed hither and thither, and suddenly she found
herself stuck in the branches of a huge tree. But the
wind was so strong that it uprooted the tree. Zainab (s.a.)
caught hold of a branch but that broke. In a panic she
grabbed two twigs but these top gave way and she was left
falling with no support.
Then she woke up. When she told her grand father, the
Prophet (SAW), about this dream he wept bitterly and said,
"O my daughter. That tree is me who is shortly going
to leave this world. The branches are your father Ali
and your mother Fatima Zahra, and the twigs are your brothers
Hassan and Hussain. They will all depart this world before
you do, and you will suffer their separation and loss."
She had barely attained the tender age of seven when her
beloved mother passed away. Her mother's death had closely
followed her cherished grand father's passing away. Some
time later Imam Ali (a.s.) married Umm ul-Banin, whose
devotion and piety encouraged Zainab (s.a.) in her learning.
Whilst still a young girl she was fully able to care for
and be responsible for the running of her father's household.
As much as she cared for the comforts and ease of her
brothers and sisters, in her own wants she was frugal
and unstintingly generous to the poor, homeless and parentless.
After her marriage her husband is reported as having said,
"Zainab is the best housewife."
From very early on she developed an unbreakable bond of
attachment to her brother Imam Hussain (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 quieter 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 Fatima (s.a.) mentioned the intensity of her daughter's
love for Imam Hussain (a.s.) to the Prophet (SAW). He
breathed a deep sigh and said with moistened eyes, "My
dear child, this child of mine Zainab would be confronted
with a thousand and one calamities and face serious hardships
in Karbala."
Zainab (s.a.) grew into a fine stature young woman. Of
her physical appearance little is known. When the tragedy
of Karbala befell her in her mid fifties she was forced
to go out uncovered. It was then that some people remarked
that she appeared as a 'shining sun' and a 'piece of the
moon'.
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In her character she
reflected the best attributes of those who raised her.
In sobriety and serenity she was likened to Umm ul-Muminin
Khadija, her grandmother (s.a.); in chastity and modesty
to her mother Fatima Zahra (s.a.); in eloquence to her
father Imam Ali (a.s.); in forbearance and patience to
her brother Imam Hassan (a.s.); and in bravery and tranquility
of the heart to Imam Hussain (a.s.). Her face reflected
her father's awe and her grandfather's reverence.
Ibn Abbas quoted Sayyeda Zahra (s.a.) 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, and p.51)
After the demise of the Holy Prophet (SAW), there came
the period of distress and hardship in the life of Sayyeda
Zainab (s.a.). 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. |
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| Sayyeda Zainab's Marriage |
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When the time came for
marriage, she was married in a simple ceremony to her
first cousin, Abdullah Ibn Ja'far Tayyar. 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 Hussain (a.s.), her brother.
Abdullah had been brought up under the direct care of
the Prophet (SAW). After his death, Imam Ali (a.s.) became
his supporter and guardian until he came of age. He grew
up to be a handsome youth with pleasing manners and was
known for his sincere hospitality to guests and selfless
generosity to the poor and needy.
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".
The marriage of Zainab did not diminish her strong attachment
to her family. Together this young couple had five children,
of whom four were sons, Ali, Aun, Muhammad, and Abbas,
and one daughter, Umm Kulthum.
In Medina it was Zainab's practice to hold regular meetings
for women in which she shared her knowledge and taught
them the precepts of the Deen of Islam as laid out in
the Holy Quran. Her gatherings were well 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).
In the thirty-seventh year A.H. (after Hijrah), Imam Ali
(as) moved to Kufa to finally take up his rightful position
as khalifah. He was accompanied by his daughter Zainab
(s.a.) and her husband. Her reputation as an inspiring
teacher among the women had preceded her. There too women
would throng to her daily sittings where they all benefited
from her erudition, wisdom and scholarship in the exegesis
of the Qur'an.
The depth and certainty of her knowledge earned her the
name given to her by her nephew, Imam Ali Zayn ul-Abidin
(a.s.), of Alimah Ghayr Mu'allamah, 'she who has knowledge
without being taught'. |
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| Sayyeda Zainab (s.a.)
and Imamate |
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In her life Zainab
(s.a.) 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 of Kufa. 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
Joda, by the order of the Caliph of that time. After Imam
Hassan, Imam Hussain (a.s.) became the Imam, but the ruler
of Syria Mavia violated the peace treaty and appointed
his son Yazid as his successor and insisted that Imam
Hussain (a.s.) should pledge allegiance to him. Imam Hussain
refused to pledge allegiance and made up his mind to move
to Mecca.
Zainab (s.a.) 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 Hussain (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 Hussain (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 Hussain
(a.s.) would be martyred. |
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| Sayyeda Zainab (s.a.)
in Karbala |
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Zainab (s.a.) 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 Hussain (a.s.) and the rising of Zainab (s.a.).
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: "O 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. O 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. Shames
on you, your hands are imbrued with the blood of the son
of the Holy Prophet (SAW), the one who was your sole refuge
in case of adversity. By your evil act and disloyalty,
you incurred the wrath of Allah against you.
Woe betides you! No one will intercede with Allah for
you." Her furious words provoked people of Kufa to
avenge Hussain'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."
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| The Foundation of Mourning
(Majales A'azaa) |
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Another unique feature
of Zainab's character was her establishment of mourning
ceremonies. This tradition which has lived in the memories
and hearts of millions of Muslims to this day, has kept
the sacrifices of Imam Hussein alive, and brought dynamism
to every movement that aimed at removing injustices on
earth.
After every Majlis, the women would offer their condolences
to Zainab (s.a.) and the men to Imam Zain-ul-Abedeen.
These majales made quite a stir in the cities, and the
sound of crying and beating of chests and heads affected
the minds of the inhabitants, and made them sadder and
wiser to the events of Karbala.
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| In the end.... |
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As it is said, "the
word is mightier than the sword", this should stay
in the minds of all Muslims, particularly the women. They
should realize that they could always make a difference.
They can always reach for the better. Also, they can make
their Ummah look better.
The Muslim women should read more about the hardships
which faced the great women of Islam understand and practice
the patience that characterized the life of Zainab (s.a.),
and teach their children the value of these acts.The men
alone cannot win independence and prosperity, neither
can the women. Together, and under the banner of Islam,
they can achieve success.
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