THE BRAVE LADY OF KARBALA, SAYYIDA ZAYNAB (S.A.)

Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.), the third child of the Infallible Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) and the Lady of Paradise, Sayyida 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.a.s.). Zaynab means “The Adornment of Her Father”.

She was born on 5^th Jamadi-al-Awwal, 5 A.H. in Madinah. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) was not in Madinah at that time. On his return, as usual, he went straight to Sayyida 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’il descended and conveyed the name for the newborn and began to cry. On inquiry, he replied: “O Prophet of Allah! From early on in life, this girl will be entangled in trials and tribulations. First, she will cry over your separation from her; thereafter she will bemoan the loss of her mother, her father, her brother Hasan. After all this, she will be confronted with the trials at the land of Karbala because 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 looked after her brothers and sister. From early age, she was generous to the poor and the orphans.

In her character, she represented the best attributes of those who raised her. In sobriety and sincerity, she was like Ummul Momineen Khadija (s.a.), her grandmother; in chastity and modesty to her mother Sayyida 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 Hashem 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 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. Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) witnessed the pieces of her brother’s liver because 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 Hashem 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. Sayyida 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 Muslims 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 could 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 to this day, dynamism to every movement for freedom in the world that aimed at removing injustice and oppression.

She was martyred by yet another hypocrite caliph 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 by Muna Haeri Bilgrami

A Probe into the History of Ashura by Dr. Ibrahim Ayati, WIKIPEDIA, Ziaraat.com

JAWAB-E-SHIKWA (REPLY ON BEHALF OF ALLAH) TO ALLAMA IQBAL (R.A.)'S SHIKWA

The Thinker of Pakistan, Allama Iqbal (r.a.), had compiled a complaint to Almighty Allah (s.w.t.) on the deplorable condition of the Muslim Ummah of the British India trying to stimulate and revive the social, political and financial condition of the Muslims. After 3 years, in 1913 A.D. he himself composed the reply from Allah (s.w.t.) highlighting the shortcomings and weakness of the Muslims. As stated earlier, the translation of any literary masterpiece cannot be conveyed completely in the new language. However, some of the selected stanzas are reproduced hereunder:

                                             We are poised to give, but there is no willing recipient

                                             We are eager to guide, but there is none seeking guidance

                                             Your problem is your inability and not lack of instruction

                                             Yours is not the soil to make a super creation

                                             If we find deserving people, we bestow the glory

                                             To the searching navigators, we grant them new world

                                             Each one of you is drenched in the wine of lethargy

                                             You are a Muslim? But what is Muslim about you?

                                             Neither you have the contentment of Ali, nor the wealth of Usman

                                             What spiritual connection can you boast with your ancestors?

                                             They, as staunch believers earned themselves a place,

                                             You, gave up the Qur’an and yourselves disgraced.

                                             How hard you find yourselves waking up for the morning prayers

                                             Who says you have any love for Me? Your sleep is dearer to you.

                                             The burden of fasting in Ramadhan bears heavily on your care-                                                       freeness

                                             You be the honest judge yourselves

                                             Is this the sign of faithfulness?

                                             Nations are defined by their religion; in religion lies their sanctuaries

                                             Take your hint from what binds the stars, no gravity, no galaxy

                                             As Muslim Ummah, your gains and losses are one as a whole,

                                             One Prophet, one religion, one belief

                                             One Ka’ba, one Qur’an, one Allah

                                             What a tragedy then that you stand divided.

                                             You are an Ummah divided in classes and sects

                                             In such conditions can any nation ever grow?

                                             Intellect is your armor, love is your sword,

                                             My friend, your succession could embrace the world,

                                             Your call for prayer can enflame the minds.

                                             If you are true Muslim, your intent will become Allah’s intent.

                                             If you remain loyal to Muhammad, then we belong to you,

                                             What to talk of the universe, what lies beyond it is yours.

               Source: Bang-e-Dera (Call of the Marching Band)

BENEFITS OF RECITING "BISMILLAH AR-RAHMAN AR-RAHIMM"

The English equivalent of “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” is “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful”

The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) have narrated from the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s), “Any important job which is done without Allah’s remembrance, is tarnished and useless.”

Imam Ali al-Reza (a.s.) said, “The Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim” is close to Allah’s Ism-e-Azam as the blackness of eye to its whiteness.”

When Prophet Sulayman wrote a letter to the Queen of Sheba, it read, “From Sulayman: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent and the Merciful.” (27:30). The Prophet Noah told his companions during the mammoth rain storm, “Embark in it. It will sail in the name of Allah, in His Name it will sail and in His Name it will cast anchor. My Lord is All-forgiving and All-merciful.”

The Arab Grammarians believe that the Arabic word ‘ism (name)’ is derived from ‘sumuw’ meaning greatness. The All-Compassionate connected the preposition ‘bi (in) to ‘ism (name)’ in this phrase to convey that by reciting the phrase, the supplicant wants to beseech Allah. It may be stressed that to receive results, the soul should be purified through seeking forgiveness from Allah (s.w.t.).

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “Each of these three letters (in the word ‘bism’) implies one of the Glorious names of Allah; ‘ba’ is Allah’s Brightness, ‘sin’ is Allah’s Eminence, and ‘mim’ is His Magnificence.”

Allah is the basic name of His Unity. Also, the strength of ‘risalat’ (prophet hood) and ‘vilayat’ is based on this name as it exists in the Arabic phrase ‘Muhammad Rasul Allah’ (Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger) and ‘Aliun Wali Allah’ (Ali is Allah’s Intimate Servant).

Further, if first letter in Arabic word of Allah is omitted, what remains is ‘lillahi’ which means ‘for Allah ‘as in the Ayah “Lillahil Amru Min Qablu Wa Min Ba’du” “Allah is the Command before and after.” (30:4)

If the first two letters of Allah are dropped, what remains is ‘Lahu’, which means ‘His’ remains, as in the Ayah, “Lahul Mulku Wa Lahul Hamd” “To Him belongs the kingdom, and to Him is all due praise.” (64:1)

If the first three letters are dropped from ‘Allah’, what remains is ‘huwa’ which means ‘He’ implying Almighty Allah as in the Ayah “Qul Huwallahu Ahad” (112:1)

The word “Rahman” (the Beneficent) is derived from “Rahmat” (Mercy). Rahman is the giver of universal mercy to all creatures, apart from their service record. Allah provides sustenance to all the creatures and humans, either believers or disbelievers.  

The word “Rahim” (the Merciful). This kind of Mercy is specific to the believers. It entails spiritual blessings to human beings and His forgiveness to the believers in this world and in the Hereafter.

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “One who says ‘Bismilaah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim’ and ‘La Hawlawala Quwwata Illah Billahil Ali al-Azim’ ten times a day, is forgiven by Allah (s.w.t.), and Allah (s.w.t.) saves him from seventy diseases, such as leprosy, black leprosy, and paralysis.”

He (s.a.w.a.s.) also said, “One who recites ‘Bismillahir Rahman a-Rahim’, Allah (s.w.t.) will record four thousand virtues for him for each letter, and forgive four thousand sins of him.”

Sources:

               The Glorious Qur’an – Tafsir-e-Namuna, Commentary on Dua-e-Kumayl by Allama Husayn Ansarian

THE UNIQUE CONNECTION OF IMAM ALI (A.S.) WITH THE NOBLE MESSENGER (S.A.W.A.S.)

The Commander of the faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) was born in the house of Hazrat Au Talib (a.s.) and the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) was raised in the house of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.). A pure spirit existed in his house. Imam Ali (a.s.) was born in the Sacred Ka’ba and opened his eyes in the lap of the last Messenger of Allah. He was born with the perfect faith of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). Imam Ali (a.s.) was very young when the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) attached him (Ali) with himself and called him his brother. The Glorious Qur’an certified that he was the “Soul” of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) in Surah Al-Imran Ayah 61 during the historic “Mubahelah”

In his sermon number 192 of Nahjul Balagha, Imam Ali (a.s.) mentions the attention paid to him by the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.): “Do you know, that due to my relationship and because my worth and merit, what were my relations with the (Noble) Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). From the very beginning of my life, he loved me, and I loved him. He took me in his lap when I was a baby and thence I was always with him, he often kept me embrace to his heart, he used to make me sleep next to him; we used to be so close to each other that I felt the warmth of his body and smelt the fragrance of his breath. When I was a baby, he fed me with his hands often chewing hard bits for me. He never found me lying nor weak and wavering. From the time of his (s.a.w.a.s.) babyhood, God appointed the Holy Ghost to be always with him and this archangel was leading him towards exemplary qualities and high moral values and I followed the (Noble) Prophet step by step as a baby camel follows its mother. Daily he used to place before me a fresh standard of efficiency and used to order me to follow it. Every year he used to stay in a grotto of Hira Mountains for some time, and nobody used to be with him but I. None could see or hear him or be near him but I. During those days, Islam was the religion of only the (Noble) Prophet and his wife Khadija, and I was the third of the trio. No body else in this world had accepted Islam I even then used to see the divine light of revelation and Prophethood and smell the fragrance of Prophethood. When the (Noble)Prophet received the first revelation, Shaitan lamented loudly. I asked the (Noble) Prophet, “Who is lamenting and why?” He replied, “It is Shaitan who had given up hopes of acquiring complete sway over human mind. In this disappointment, he is lamenting over the chance lost. Verily, Ali, you also hear whatever is revealed to me and you also see whatever is being shown to me. With this difference that you are not entrusted with Prophethood, but you will be my successor, helper, and vizier, and you will always uphold truth and justice.”

George Jordac had thoroughly investigated the complete personality of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) in the spectrum of his various facets in his famous book, titled, “The Voice of Human Justice”. In summary, he had compared Imam Ali (a.s.) with other companions in the following words, “Ali lived in a pure atmosphere by the side of his cousin and was loved very much by him. Ali was born and brought up in the lap of Prophethood, his faith was natural and innate, and he emerged from the body of his mother with this faith in his heart. None of the companions and followers of the (Noble) Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) could develop such a close relationship with him. Ali opened his eyes on the path which had been opened for him by his cousin. In the early days of the prophetic mission of the Prophet, some elders amongst Quraysh, had worshipped the idols in their previous days, joined him. The slaves and helpless persons came around him in expectation of justice and freedom. And after he was successful and victorious, a third group also joined him, because these people had no alternative left. They wanted to benefit from the new situation and most of the Bani Umayyad belonged to this group. All these companions resembled one another in the matter of obedience to the Prophet the degrees of their faith differed.”

               Sources: Nahjul Balagha and The Voice of Human Justice by George Jordac, Lebanon