Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

www.alhassanain.org/english

LADY ZAYNAB

(Peace Be Upon Her)

Compiled By: Badr Shahin

Earlier Published by: Ansarian Publications,

Qum, Islamic Republic of Iran

Propagated by: Ja’fari Propagation Centre, Mumbai

www.jpconline.org

www.alhassanain.org/english

Notice:

This version is published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english

The composing errors are not corrected.

Table of Contents

Dedication 6

Publisher’s Word 7

The Ahlul-bayt in The Qur’an and Sunnah 9

Introduction: His Eminence Shaykh Musa Muhammad Ali’s al-Sayyidah Zaynab 9

Introduction 24

The Life of Lady Zaynab (a.s.) 29

Lineage 29

The Blessed New-born 31

Choosing The Name 32

Epithets 32

1) al-A’qeelah 32

2) al-Aalemah 33

3) A’bidato Aali-A’li 33

4) al-Kaamelah 33

5) al-Faazelah 33

6) al-Siddiqah al-Sughra 33

7) Umm al-Masaa’eb 33

Year of Birth 34

Early Life 34

Scholarly Capacities 35

Marriage 39

Personality 42

Faith 42

Steadfastness 43

Dignity 43

Courage 44

Abstention From Worldly Pleasures 45

Firmness 45

Lady Zaynab (a.s.) In Traditions 47

Traditions Of Lady Zaynab (a.s.) 48

Horrifying Events 49

Lady Zaynab’s Dream 49

The Farewell Pilgrimage 49

The Prophet’s Final Disease 51

The Calamity Of Thursday 51

Lady Fatemah al-Zahra’s (a.s.) Grief 52

Holy Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.a.) Departs Life 52

The Caliphs’ Reigns 54

The Plot of Al-Saqifah 54

Sudden Arrival of the Mohaajerun 55

Imam Ali (a.s.) and the Illegal Homage 55

Strict Procedures Against the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) 55

Rejected Apologies 57

Sorrows of Lady Fatemah al-Zahra (a.s.) 57

Demise of Lady Fatimah (a.s.) 58

Umar’s Reign 59

Usmaan’s Reign 61

Imam Ali(a.s.)’s Reign 61

Rebellion Against The Imam (a.s.) 62

Mu’awiyah’s Sedition 64

The Kharjites’ Sedition 65

Decline of the Honest Government 65

The Assassination of Imam Ali (a.s.) 66

Lady Zaynab (a.s.) with her Father 67

The Imam’s Final Advices 68

Imam Al-Hasan (a.s.)’s Reign 70

Mu’awiyah’s Reign 71

Assassination of Imam Al-Hasan (a.s.) 71

Assigning Yazid as the Coming Caliph 72

The Black Reign 72

Refusal of Yazid’s Leadership 73

In Mecca 74

Muslim Ibn Aqil In Al-Kufah 76

Ubaydullah Ibn Ziyad in Kufa 76

Leaving For Iraq 79

In Karbala 86

Lady Zaynab(a.s.)’s Panic 90

Day Of Ashura 94

The War 97

Martyrdom Of Al-Abbas (a.s.) 100

The Grand Adversity 102

Lady Zaynab (a.s.) In Captivity 108

Lady Zaynab (a.s.) First Address 108

Echo Of The Speech 110

Before The Governor 111

The Captives In Damascus 113

Yazid’s Gloating 115

Lady Zaynab (a.s.)’s Second Address 116

Words About The Address 119

Contents Of The Address 120

Lady Zaynab (a.s.) And A Syrian Man 121

Moaning For Imam Al-Husain (a.s.) 122

Back To Medina 122

To The Heaven 125

Her Burial Place 125

Ziyarah of Lady Zaynab (a.s.) 127

References 136

Endnotes 138

Dedication

I pray that this modest work is accepted by Almighty Allah, His Prophet (s.a.w.a.), and his immaculate progeny. I have basically tried to present some documented facts about a lady who led a revolution against oppression and falsehood.

I dedicatethis humble attempt to Imam al-Husain bin Ali (a.s.), the most beloved individual to Lady Zaynab (a.s.), for he trained herto become an exceptional character, a character which still stands to be unique. Consequently, she passed the Divine trial so remarkably and achieved all her brother’s goals.

To you, Imam al-Husain (a.s.), I dedicate this work hoping for acceptance because you have been the guide and inspirer of seekers of Righteousness, Justice and real Humanity.

Publisher’s Word

All praise is due to Almighty Allah Who will reward those who sacrificed their lives for His sake and declared the word of right fearlessly so as to extend justice and honesty on this earth and contribute in achieving the purpose for which He has created the creatures.

Allah’s peace and allBlessings are upon Muhammad (s.a.w.a.)and his infallible Household (a.s.) who suffered troubles and encountered horrible adversities; all for taking humankind to the eternal pleasure and serving Almighty Allah in the best way.

In the history of humankind, one can find many names whose principles encouraged them to declare the word of right and justice openly in the faces of the wrongdoers and the unjust. This book deals with a lady who entered the field of struggle against wrong strongly and said the word of right and justice in the faces of the wrongdoers and oppressors. The echoes of this lady’s words are still disturbing every tyrant and still reminding history of her immortal situations that gave, altogether with her brother’s revolution, a new birth to Islam after it had been about to be deformed and vanished at the hands of the illegal rulers who took over the leadership of the Islamic nation. This lady was Zaynab (a.s.) daughter of Imam Ali (a.s.).

We must also yield to the fact that Imam al-Husain (a.s.) accompanied his sister, lady Zaynab (a.s.), with him only after he had found her the fittest to complete his giant revolution, and she did complete his revolution after him so perfectly. Besides, Lady Zaynab (a.s.) was such a perfect individual that she understood the duty she would burden about the revolutionof her brother although the Islamic Shari’ah[1] has ordered women to remain at their houses since it is not obligatory upon them to participate in jihad.[2] Notwithstanding, lady Zaynab (a.s.), being the daughter of the Islamic Shari’ah that was revealed in her house, understood more than anyone else that the advocacy of the right and the support of the religion were two missions to be undertaken by her. Hence, she carried out the religious duty as perfect as possible and could act as an important ring in the series of Islam.

From this cause, we understand that the revolution of Lady Zaynab (a.s.), granddaughter of the Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.a.) and daughter of its protector (a.s.) was due to a divine directive.

Everybody knows that Islam could see the light only by virtue of the wealth of Khadijah (Prophet Muhammad’s (s.a.w.a.)first wife) and the sword of Ali ibn Abu Talib (a.s.). In the same manner, Islam has subsisted by virtue of the martyrdom of Imam al-Husain (a.s.) and the revolution of Lady Zaynab (a.s.).

Only through the revolutionary speeches of Lady Zaynab (a.s.) did the publics recognize the falsity of Mu’awiyah and Yazid and their enmity against Islam.

The tragedy of Lady Zaynab (a.s.) forms the second half of the revolution of Imam al-Husain (a.s.). Against those unbearable misfortunes, she stood with steadfastness and had full custody on the captives, orphans, and the ailed Imam. She then disputed the wrongdoers through her speeches and denied the horrendous crushing and violation against human rights and dignity. She then rallied the publics against the oppressive gang of the Umayyad rulers and their tails until they banished her so as to save their state. Nevertheless, their state was smashed completely in consequence of Lady Zaynab(a.s.)’sefforts.

The material of this book has been compiled from the most reliable reference books of history and biography. However, the books entitled ‘Al-Sayidah Zaynab (a.s.)’ and authored by Sheikh Ja’far al-Naqdi, ‘Al-Sayyidah Zaynab (a.s.)’and authored by Sheikh Baqir Sharif al-Qarashi have been most depended in the material of this book.

The Ansariyan Publications thus is pleased to introduce this work, which focuses light, in a brief yet documented way, on the life account, personality, and struggle of Lady Zaynab (a.s.), to the gentle readers hoping they will benefit by the unparalleled situations of this great lady and derive items leading to human perfection.

Finally, we pray to Almighty Allah to make the path of success paved for us and make our intentions purely proposed to Him. He is most certainly the source of success and good fortune.

Ansariyan Publications, 2002