Sayyidah Zaynab
(s.a.), the third child of the Pure and Infallible Commander of the Faithful,
Imam Ali (a.s.) and the Lady of Paradise, Sayyidah Fatima Zahra (s.a.); the
sister of the Princes of Paradise, Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Hussayn (a.s.).
Her title was Siddiqah-e-Sughra.
Her kuniyat was Ummul Masa’ib. Like
her brothers, her name was given by the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.). Zaynab means “The Adornment of Her Father”.
She was born on 5th Jamadi-al-Awwal, 5 A.H. in
Madinah. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was not in Madinah at that time. On his
return, as usual, he went straight to Sayyidah Fatima Zahra’s house and he was
given the news of her birth. While he was holding Sayyidah Zaynab (s.a.) in his
lap, Archangel Jibra’eel descended and conveyed the name for the newborn and
then he began to cry. On inquiry from the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.s.), he replied:
“O Prophet of Allah! From early on in
life this girl will be entangled in trials and tribulations in this world.
First she will cry over your separation from her; thereafter she will bemoan
the loss of her mother, then her father, then her brother Hasan. After all
this, she will be confronted with the trials at the land of Karbala as a result
of which her hair will turn gray and her back will be bent.”
After the sad demise of her mother when she was only
seven years old, she took care of her father’s household and also looked after
her brothers and sister. From young age, she was generous to the poor and
orphans.
In her character,
she represented the best attributes of those who raised her. In sobriety and sincerity,
she was likened to Ummul Momineen Khadija (s.a.), her grandmother; in chastity
and modesty to her mother Sayyidah Fatima Zahra (s.a.), in eloquence to her
father Imam Ali (a.s.). Her face reflected the awe of her father and her
grandfather’s reverence.
After the sad demise of her grandfather, there came the
period of distress and hardship. When her mother gave the sermon of Fadak, she
was only four years old, but narrated the sermon so lucidly and expressly that
the people from Bani Hashim remembered it by heart. She is called Zaynab, the narrator of traditions.
Marriage: She was married in a simple ceremony
to her first cousin Hazrat Abdullah ibn Jaffer al-Tayyar. Hazrat Jaffer was
martyred in the battle, and when Hazrat Abdullah, a young boy, was brought to
the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.), he prayed for his sustenance. He was raised by the
Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) and after his death by Imam Ali (a.s.).He grew up
into a handsome youth with pleasing manners and was known for his sincere
hospitality and selfless generosity to the poor and needy. Imam Ali (a.s.) told
Hazrat Abdullah not to prevent Sayyidah Zaynab (s.a.) from going on a journey
with her brother Imam Hussayn (a.s.).
Although her
husband was a man of means, yet she lived a modest life, not a life of luxury.
The marriage 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 Umme Kulsoom.
In Madinah, Sayyidah Zaynab (s.a.) held meetings of women
in which she shared her knowledge and taught them the precepts of Islam as laid
down in the Glorious Qur’an and practiced by the Messenger of Allah and Ahlul
Bayt (a.s.). Her gatherings were well and regularly attended. She was able to
impart the teachings with such clarity and eloquence that she was known as Fasiha (skillfully fluent) and Baligha (intensely
eloquent).
In the year 37 A.H., when Imam Ali (a.s.) became the
formal Caliph, he moved the capital to Kufa, Sayyidah Zaynab (s.a.) and her
husband also moved to Kufa. Her
reputation as an inspiring teacher had preceded her. In Kufa, women would throng to her daily sittings where they all were
benefitted from her erudition, wisdom, and scholarship in the exegesis of the Glorious Qur’an. The depth and
certainty of her knowledge earned her the name given to her by her nephew, the Infallible Imam Zain-al-Abedin (a.s.), of
Alimah Ghayr Mu’allamah, ‘one who has knowledge without being taught.’
Fateful Journey
to Karbala: After Imam Ali (a.s.) was martyred by the most evil
creature in the world, Imam Hasan (a.s.) succeeded his father. But the crafty
Muawiya trapped him by his usual treacherous weapons of money and sword and
eventually he managed to poison the “Prince
of Paradise” by his wife. Sayyidah Zaynab (s.a.) witnessed the pieces of
her brother’s liver as a result of the poison. In complete contravention of the covenants of peace treaty with Imam
Hasan (a.s.), Muawiya appointed Yazid as his heir- apparent and expedited
efforts to obtain allegiance from influential leaders. When Muwiya died, Yazid ordered the governor of Madinah to either
obtain Imam Hussayn (a.s.)’s allegiance or kill him! Imam Hussayn (a.s.) left
for Makkah along with his sister Sayyidah Zaynab (s.a.) and other members of Bani
Hashim and his companions. From Makkah the Imam (a.s.) proceeded to Karbala,
where this band of the Saviors of Islam, were mercilessly butchered by the
hypocrites, not leaving even the Imam (a.s.)’s infant of 6 months. After the
massacre, the so-called Muslims desecrated the women, looted and set on fire
the camps. Sayyidah Zaynab (s.a.) took charge
of the situation, saved Imam Sajjad (a.s.), consoled and protected the women
and children. This “Caravan of
Truth” was paraded from Kufa to Damascus with the Daughters of the Prophet
without head-cover; their hands were fastened with ropes. The Bani Umayyiyad
wanted to disgrace and damage the Ahlul Bayt morally. But the Iron Lady of
Karbala delivered bold and daring
speeches full of eloquence and uncovered the hypocritical faces of Yazid and
his forefathers. Ultimately, when Yazid feared an uprising, he offered to
release the Family of the Prophet of Islam!
Foundation of
Majils-e-Aza: When Yazid offered the release and asked for anything he
could do, Imam Sajjad (a.s.) asked Sayyidah Zaynab (s.a.) who said that they
could not mourn the Martyrs of Karbala. Hence a house was placed at their
disposal and Sayyida Zaynab organized the first Majlis-e-Aza for her brother Imam Hussayn (a.s.) and other martyrs
of Karbala. She would describe in detail the events of Karbala and the Shahadat
of every martyr. After every majlis, men would offer their condolences to Imam
Sajjad (a.s.) and women would condole to Sayyidah Zaynab (s.a.). These majalises
made quite a stir in the cities, and sounds of crying and beating chests and
heads affected the minds of the inhabitants and made them sadder and wiser to
the events of Karbala. It was the
victory of truth that the tyrant was forced to provide a place where his
oppression was allowed to be publicized to the people!
This tradition which lived in the minds and hearts of
millions of Muslims, has kept the sacrifices of Imam Husayn (a.s.) alive, and
brought dynamism to every movement for freedom in the world that aimed at
removing injustice and oppression.
She was martyred by yet another hypocrite in the year 62
A.H. and was buried in Damascus, Syria.
Please refer to my
articles:
Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) binte Ali (a.s.), Bibi Zaynab (s.a.)’s
Journey of Courage and Ziarat-e-Hazrat Zaynab (s.a.)
Sources used:
The Victory of Truth Muna
Haeri Bilgrami
A Probe into the History of Ashura Dr.
Ibrahim Ayati
WIKIPEDIA & Ziraat.org
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