Bibi Hazrat Zainab(S.A)
Nicknamed Zahidah (abstemious) and 'Abidah (devoted)
It was five years after the Muslims had accompanied the Prophet
(PBUH&HF) and his family in the migration (Hijra) to Medina, when the
Holy Prophet's daughter, Syeda Fatima (AS), gave birth to a little girl.'
named ZAINAB.
| NAME |
ZAINAB |
| FATHER'S NAME |
Hazrat Ali (A.S) |
| MOTHER'S NAME |
Hazrat Fatima(S.A) |
| DATE OF WILADAT |
1st Shabaan |
| HUSBAND NAME |
Hazrat Abdullah |
| Number of children |
Hazrat Aoun , Mohammad,Ali,Abbas
Umm Kulsoom |
|
|
Zainab (AS) shared with her brothers and sister the extraordinary position
of having such examples to look up to, emulate and learn from, as her grand
father, the Prophet of Allah (PBUH&HF) her mother Fatima (AS), daughter
of the Prophet, and her father Imam Ali (AS), cousin-brother of the Prophet.
In the pure environment that enveloped her she absorbed the teachings of
Islam that her grandfather imparted, and after him her father. Here too
she learnt to master all household skills with great proficiency.
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 (AS); in chastity and modesty to her mother Fatima Zahra
(AS); in eloquence to her father Ali (AS); in forbearance and patience
to her brother Imam Hassan (AS); and in bravery and tranquillity of the
heart to Imam Hussein (AS). Her face reflected her father's awe and her
grandfather's reverence.
When the time came for marriage, she was married in a simple ceremony
to her first cousin, Abdullah ibn Ja'far Tayyar. Abdullah had been brought
up under the direct care of the Prophet. After the demise of the Prophet,
Imam Ali (AS) became his supporter and guardian until he came of age. Abdullah
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.
Together this young couple had five children, of whom four were sons,
Ali, Aun, Muhammad, and Abbas, and one daughter, Umm Kulsoom.
After the massacre of Imam Hussein (a.s.) at Karbala, the forces
of Yazid took the children and the women as prisoners. They were taken
from Karbala to Kufa and from Kufa to Damascus, the capital and stronghold
of Umayyid power.
In Damascus, the women and children were presented into the court of
Yazid. Yazid had assembled all the dignitaries and officers of his capital
for that occasion. When the prisoners where brought in, they saw that Imam
Hussein's head was at the foot of Yazid's throne. Yazid was joyfully reciting
some poems in which he openly rejected the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad
(s.a.w.) and called on his ancestors (who were killed by the Muslim army
in the battle of Badr) to witness the revenge which he had extracted from
the family of the Prophet.
It was under such emotionally charged circumstances that Sayyida Zainab,
the courageous daughter of a courageous father, stood up and gave a very
moving speech in response to Yazid's statements.
In the name of Allah the, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Universe, Allah's blessings
be on His Messenger's Family altogether.
Allah says: "Then the end of those who do evil deeds is that they
reject the verses of Allah and ridicule them". (Qura'n 30:10)
Oh Yazid! Do you think that by making us prisoners in such a way
that we are being taken from one place to another in humiliation - do you
think that by this you have humiliated us in the sight of Allah and have
earned respect for yourself?
This apparent success of yours is the result of grandeur of your
might and lofty status for which you are proud.
You feel that you have conquered the whole world and your affairs
are organised and that our domain is now under you control…
And are you forgetting that Allah has said: "Surely those who have
bought unbelief at the price of faith shall do no harm at all to Allah,
and they shall have a painful chastisement". (Qura'n 3:177)
