تويت
Her Relation to the Infallibles:
- She is the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), daughter of Imam Ali and Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon them), sister of the two Imams, Hasan and Husayn, and the aunt of Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon them).
Her Name and Lineage:
Her name is Zainab, daughter of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon them).
Her Kunya and Title:
Her kunyah (nickname) is Umm Kulthum, Umm al-Hasan, and her titles include: Al-Siddiqah al-Sughra (the lesser truthful), Zaynab al-Kubra (the great Zaynab), Al-Aqila (the noble woman), Aqilat Bani Hashim (the noble woman of the Hashim clan), Aqilat al-Talibiyyin (the noble woman of the Talib family), Al-Muthaqah (the trustworthy), Al-A‘rifah (the knowledgeable), Al-‘Alimah Ghayr al-Mu‘allimah (the learned without being taught), Al-Kamilah (the complete), and Al-‘Abidah of the Family of Ali.
Her Mother:
Lady Fatimah al-Zahra, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Her Birth:
She was born on the 5th of Jumada al-Awwal in the year 5 AH in Medina.
Scholarly Quotes About Her:
Her name is Zainab, daughter of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon them).
Her Kunya and Title:
Her kunyah (nickname) is Umm Kulthum, Umm al-Hasan, and her titles include: Al-Siddiqah al-Sughra (the lesser truthful), Zaynab al-Kubra (the great Zaynab), Al-Aqila (the noble woman), Aqilat Bani Hashim (the noble woman of the Hashim clan), Aqilat al-Talibiyyin (the noble woman of the Talib family), Al-Muthaqah (the trustworthy), Al-A‘rifah (the knowledgeable), Al-‘Alimah Ghayr al-Mu‘allimah (the learned without being taught), Al-Kamilah (the complete), and Al-‘Abidah of the Family of Ali.
Her Mother:
Lady Fatimah al-Zahra, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Her Birth:
She was born on the 5th of Jumada al-Awwal in the year 5 AH in Medina.
Scholarly Quotes About Her:
- Ibn al-Athir (d. 630 AH) said: “Zainab was a wise, intelligent, and composed woman.”
- Sayyid Mohsin al-Amin (may Allah sanctify his soul) said: "Zainab (peace be upon her) was one of the most distinguished women. Her virtues are too famous to be mentioned, and her greatness, intellectual prowess, strong argumentation, eloquence, and steadfastness were such that it seemed as though she was speaking with the eloquence of her father, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), during her speeches in Kufa and Sham, and in her confrontation with Yazid and Ibn Ziyad.”
- Sayyid al-Khui (may Allah sanctify his soul) said: “She was a partner of her brother Husayn (peace be upon him) in defending Islam, striving in the path of Allah, and upholding the Shari‘ah of her grandfather, the Messenger of Allah. She spoke with eloquence as if it were her father's tongue speaking. In terms of steadfastness, she reflected the resolve of her father. She did not bow before tyrants, nor did she fear anyone except Allah. She spoke truthfully and resolutely, unshaken by storms, making her truly the sister of Husayn (peace be upon him), sharing with him the path of his belief and struggle.”
Her Eminence:
Yahya al-Mazani said: “I was in the vicinity of Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) in Medina for a long period, and near the house where Zainab, his daughter, resided. By Allah, I never saw her in person or heard her voice. Whenever she went out to visit her grandfather, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), she would go out at night, with Hasan to her right, Husayn to her left, and Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) in front of her. When they approached the sacred grave, Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) would precede them and extinguish the lamps. Hasan once asked him why he did that, and he replied: ‘I fear that someone may look at the face of your sister Zainab.’”
Her Narration of Hadith:
She is considered one of the narrators of hadith in the first century of the Islamic era. She narrated from Imam Ali, Lady Fatimah al-Zahra, and the two Imams Hasan and Husayn (peace be upon them).
Her Role in Karbala:
In the tragedy of Karbala, she played a significant role in every moment. She tended to the sick, monitored the situation of her brother Husayn (peace be upon him) at every hour, spoke to him, and inquired about every event. She managed the affairs of the family and the children, performing tasks usually done by men. It is notable that she was married at the time, but she chose to stay with her brother and Imam over staying with her husband, who was supportive of her decision. He ordered his sons to remain with their uncle and strive by his side. Given that she had a brother like Husayn (peace be upon him), and her immense qualities, it is not surprising that she chose him over her husband.
Her Lament for Brother Husayn (Peace Be Upon Him):
She lamented her brother Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) on the Day of Ashura:
“Woe to me, whose tent is torn asunder, woe to me, whose loved ones are scattered, woe to me, whose soul I sacrifice for him, woe to me, the one whose soul is crushed by grief, woe to me, the one whose thirst remains until the end...”
Her Testimony in Kufa:
When the captives of the family of the Prophet (peace be upon them) arrived in Kufa after the Battle of Karbala, the people of Kufa began to wail and mourn. Hadhlem ibn Sater said: "I saw Zainab bint Ali (peace be upon them), and I never saw anyone more modest than her. It was as though she spoke with the tongue of Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him). She signaled to the people to be silent, and their breaths ceased. Then she said: ‘Praise be to Allah, and prayers upon the Messenger of Allah. Now, O people of Kufa, and O people of betrayal and treachery, your tears will not cease, nor will your wailing end. You are like the woman who unraveled her spun thread after it was strong...’”
Her Testimony in Syria:
When the captives were sent to Syria by the orders of Yazid ibn Muawiya, and the head of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) was placed in front of him, Yazid began to strike the teeth of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) with a stick. Lady Zainab (peace be upon her) stood up and gave a speech: "Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. And prayers upon the Messenger of Allah and his family... Did you think, O Yazid, that by taking us as captives, marching us from one land to another, bringing us before you, that we would become humiliated before Allah? No, we are honored by Allah...”
Her Marriage:
She married her cousin, Abdullah ibn Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib.
Her Children:
Her children included Ali Abu Muhammad al-Zaynabi (a generous man), and Aun and Muhammad, who were martyred in the battle of Karbala.
Her Death:
She passed away on the 15th of Rajab, 62 AH. There is a difference of opinion regarding the location of her burial: some say it was in Egypt, others say in Syria, and others claim it was in Medina.
Poetry About Her:
Yahya al-Mazani said: “I was in the vicinity of Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) in Medina for a long period, and near the house where Zainab, his daughter, resided. By Allah, I never saw her in person or heard her voice. Whenever she went out to visit her grandfather, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), she would go out at night, with Hasan to her right, Husayn to her left, and Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) in front of her. When they approached the sacred grave, Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) would precede them and extinguish the lamps. Hasan once asked him why he did that, and he replied: ‘I fear that someone may look at the face of your sister Zainab.’”
Her Narration of Hadith:
She is considered one of the narrators of hadith in the first century of the Islamic era. She narrated from Imam Ali, Lady Fatimah al-Zahra, and the two Imams Hasan and Husayn (peace be upon them).
Her Role in Karbala:
In the tragedy of Karbala, she played a significant role in every moment. She tended to the sick, monitored the situation of her brother Husayn (peace be upon him) at every hour, spoke to him, and inquired about every event. She managed the affairs of the family and the children, performing tasks usually done by men. It is notable that she was married at the time, but she chose to stay with her brother and Imam over staying with her husband, who was supportive of her decision. He ordered his sons to remain with their uncle and strive by his side. Given that she had a brother like Husayn (peace be upon him), and her immense qualities, it is not surprising that she chose him over her husband.
Her Lament for Brother Husayn (Peace Be Upon Him):
She lamented her brother Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) on the Day of Ashura:
“Woe to me, whose tent is torn asunder, woe to me, whose loved ones are scattered, woe to me, whose soul I sacrifice for him, woe to me, the one whose soul is crushed by grief, woe to me, the one whose thirst remains until the end...”
Her Testimony in Kufa:
When the captives of the family of the Prophet (peace be upon them) arrived in Kufa after the Battle of Karbala, the people of Kufa began to wail and mourn. Hadhlem ibn Sater said: "I saw Zainab bint Ali (peace be upon them), and I never saw anyone more modest than her. It was as though she spoke with the tongue of Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him). She signaled to the people to be silent, and their breaths ceased. Then she said: ‘Praise be to Allah, and prayers upon the Messenger of Allah. Now, O people of Kufa, and O people of betrayal and treachery, your tears will not cease, nor will your wailing end. You are like the woman who unraveled her spun thread after it was strong...’”
Her Testimony in Syria:
When the captives were sent to Syria by the orders of Yazid ibn Muawiya, and the head of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) was placed in front of him, Yazid began to strike the teeth of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) with a stick. Lady Zainab (peace be upon her) stood up and gave a speech: "Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. And prayers upon the Messenger of Allah and his family... Did you think, O Yazid, that by taking us as captives, marching us from one land to another, bringing us before you, that we would become humiliated before Allah? No, we are honored by Allah...”
Her Marriage:
She married her cousin, Abdullah ibn Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib.
Her Children:
Her children included Ali Abu Muhammad al-Zaynabi (a generous man), and Aun and Muhammad, who were martyred in the battle of Karbala.
Her Death:
She passed away on the 15th of Rajab, 62 AH. There is a difference of opinion regarding the location of her burial: some say it was in Egypt, others say in Syria, and others claim it was in Medina.
Poetry About Her:
- Shaykh Ja‘far al-Naqdi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
"She is the noble lady of the House of Revelation, the daughter of the chosen one, master of the masters. The sister of the two grandsons of the Prophet, her honor surpasses all, shining like a crescent moon. She embodies the virtues of her ancestors, with knowledge and wisdom...”
- Shaykh Hassan Sabti (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“My soul be sacrificed for her, a noble and pure woman of great virtue. Her lineage is a source of pride, from the house of purity and knowledge...”
Sources:
- A‘yan al-Shi‘a, 7/137
- Usd al-Ghabah, 5/469
- Al-‘Iqd al-Farid, 7/136