Lady Zaynab (Peace be upon her)

INTRODUCTION

    Lady Zaynab, daughter of Imam 'Ali (a) and granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad (s), was the first lady in the world of Islam to form a whole history, erect edifices of right and justice, demolish the gloomy castle of wrong and oppression, and record, through her honorable situation, new items of honor and dignity for Islam and Muslims, throughout history. Thus, she has been a ring in the sereis of the ideal, human glories that her fathers, brothers, descendants of her brothers, and their partisans have introduced to humanity.
    She contribute activitely in constructing the edifices of the Muslim ideal renaissances and in the propagation for the religious and political congnizance in the meanwhile as the ruling authorities and their tails used all media for overcasting the pure mentalities of people and forging even the intuitive facts of Islam.
    Postively, Lady Zaynab aborted all these forgeries and brought into views the reality of the Umayyad rulers; the actual enemies of Islam. She, also, proved to the public that the Umayyad rulers were polluted by crimes and violations against human rights and that their authority was illegal since they usurped the others' rights and appointed themselves as absolute rulers over Muslims without obtaining their satisfaction or consulting them.
    Through her marvelous revolutionary speeched and situations, Lady Zaynab particularized minutely the reality that was hidden from the publics, and focused lights on the misdemeanor of the Umayyad rulers' political plots.
    Lady Zaynab, the Prophet's granddaughter, was

( 40 ) characterized by a personality that joines all the high moral standards and the honorable tendencies and, accordingly, she has been the best exemplary of honor, chastity, and dignity in addition to every virtue of human perfection.
From her grandfather and parents, lady Zaynab inherited perfectly the highest principles of charity including deep-rooted faith and trust in Almighty Allah. Historians have recorded remarkable pictures and situation of incomparable faith and perseverance on principles the leading roles of which was proudly given to Lady Zaynab. At the night that followed that horrible day of 'Ashura'¹ in Karbala', Lady Zaynab offered Thanksgiving Prayer to Almighty Allah for that tragedy which inflicted not only the Ahl al-Bayt (a), but also all human beings in general and Muslims in particular.
Another picture of Lady Zaynab's tremendous faith is that on the day of 'Ashura' she stopped near the body of her killed brother, Imam al-Husayn (a), that was cruelly severed by the swords of the criminal band of the Umayyad army, and uttered her immortal word:

اللهم تقبل هذاالقربان , و أثبه علي عمله.

    "O Allah, accept this offering and reward him for his deed."
    Has humanity ever seen such a scene of faith?
    The most destructive adversity that inflicted Islam was taking the Ahl al-Bayt (a) away from the political theatre of Islam while everybody, especially those who contributed directly in the scenario of setting them aside from their position, knew for certain the divine decision of choosing them (i.e. the Ahl al-Bayt) for the leadership of the Islamic nation. Historians have recorded unanimously that after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (s), some individuals led a rebellion against his general decision of succession in the
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1- Day of 'Ashura' is the tenth of Muharram, celebrated as a day of mourning (the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Al-Hussein (a).

( 41 ) leadership of the Islamic nation, claiming that it is unacceptable for the Hashemites¹ to have both prophesy and leadership.²
    This adversity resulted in handing the leadership and destiny of the Islamic nation over to unsuitable individuals who were the main reason beyond the collapse of Muslims.
    Thus, the Islamic nation, as a whole, was deprived of the pure source of the knowlege of the Ahl al-Bayt(a) which was the natural extension of the divine knowledge of the prophet (a). Imam 'Ali (a), in consequence, lived in complete confinement away from the political and practical life of the Isalmic nation all during the reigns of the three caliphs, and when he was elected, freely first time, for the leadership of the Islamic nation, the capitalists, the greedy, the deviants, and the ignorant revolted against his just government and ingaged him aganist many things. By such engagement, the Islamic world was afflicated with a big loss when Imam Ali (a) did not have enough time to extend ideal justice and equality all over the Islamic state. As a matter of fact, the Immaculate Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) faced the same fate of their grandfather Imam 'Ali (a) when the Umayyad and 'Abbasid rulers prevented them from extending their idealities and knowledge among people and caused humanity to lose such sources of wisdom.
    Because of the policies of the caliphs of Qurayash³, the mortal enemies of Islam could come to power, rule Muslims, and change the Islamic State into kingdom dominated by personal interests and hereditary dynasty.
    Thus, wrong and oppression became the distinctive
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1- The Hashemites are sons and descendants of Hashim, the grandfather of Prophet Muhammad (s).

2- See Ahmed Hussein Ya'qub, The Conception of the Sahaba's Ultimate Decency and the Political Leadership in Islam; translated by Badr Shahin, Published by Ansariyan Publication- Qom, 1998.

3- Quraysh is the tribe to which Prophet Muhammad (s) belonged.

( 42 ) features of the ruling authorities, killing was the fate of men of thought and freedom, people were deprived of their rights, which became in the hands of a few gang loyal to the ruling authorities, and corruption found rich pasture in the Islamic provinces.
    Wrong, oppression, and corruption attainted the climax in the reign of Yazid the dissolute. Historians have unanimously agreed on the fact that "Yazid was such an unjust, immoral, and sinful man that he did not believe in Allah and His Apostle for a single moment." In abstract, Yazid's policies exploded in every matter that violated Islam.
    In the midst of these cicumstances, nobody had the ability to utter a single word of right except Imam al-Husayn (a) who formulated his great revolution that paved the way to the standing against every unjust individual and declare the word of truth openly courageously.
    Through its horrible chapters, the revolution of Imam al-Husayn (a) shook the worldwide conscience and carried an intellectual donation and bright lessons to all peoples who suffer the ordeals of colonialism and slavery.
    Lady Zaynab contributed activity and positively in all the chapters and heroisms of Imam al-Husayn's revolution, In the first stage of the revolution , Lady Zaynab stood with her brother so bravely although she knew the fate that he would face. Her strong will, fortitude, and determination on supporting her brother in his revolution were distinctive features of this revolution that changed the history and supplied the seekers of freedom with factors of renaissance and developement.
    Lady Zaynab believed in the revolution of her brother, participated in his struggle against wrong and oppression vigorously, and adopted the goals of this great revolution. Through her innovative speeches in the porticoes of the Umayyad rulyng center, she signalized the genuine principles of Imam al-Husayn's revolution and could

( 43 ) crystallize the public opinion and found an actual cognizance that, later on, resulted in successive popular uprisings against the Umayyad regim.
    She gave matchless examples of willpower, deep-rooted faith, and steadfastness through her treatment of the horrible situations she had to encounter. In fact, the example of Lady Zaynab can be found neither in the Islamic history nor in the history of humankind.
    This great lady saw the atrocious adversities that afflicated her family members and could treat these situations with perseverance and steadfastness as she submitted totally to Almighty Allah.
    She saw the moonlike young men among her sons, nephews, and cousins killed and their organs were severed so horribly on the ground of Karbala. She also saw even the newborns and the babies of her household slaughtered so savagely on the hands of those inhumane criminals.
    She saw the ladies of the Prophet's house harshly exhausted by thirst while they were wailing for their sons and brethren, but she was trying to console and order them to be patient and steadfast.
    She saw her brother, Chief of the Martyrs, surrounded by those wicked people those swords, spears and lances were stricken his body until they beheaded him so hideously.
    She saw those infidel invaders attach the women's tents and set them on fire while the Prophet's harem had to run in the desert out of fear.
    Lady Zaynab saw all these adversities and faced them with faith, persistence, and submission to Almighty Allah.
    The disaster of Karbala with all of the horrifying, hideous events that accompanied it, including the capture, humility, and exemplary punishment against the Ahl al-Bayt, men and women, provokes us into having a brief view at the political documents and the events that followed the Prophet's demise directly because these are the rudimentary

( 44 ) source of the misfortunes of the Ahl al-Bayt in particular and Muslims in general.
Most certainly, within the most significant factors that resulted in the absolute domination of the Umayyad dynasty on the Islamic State were the plot of the Saqifah¹ and the spurious forgery of the Shura.² Because of the invention of these two baseless system, the Umayyad infidels, though they were humiliated by Islam and decided as slaves and then were released after they had fought against Islam with all weapons, could come to power and prevail on Muslims and their destiny.
The ruling authorities who usurped the legal right of Imam 'Ali (a) showed favor to Umayyad rulers, removed the mask of humility and meekness that Islam put on their faces, granted them abundant wealth, and invested them with leading office in the Islamic State. Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan was the biggest beneficiary of such procedures. He was given the governorship of Syria and was granted special support and advocacy. When 'Umar ibn al-Khattab was informed that the governor of Syria, namely Mu'awiyah, exceeded all limits in violating the Muslims'
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1- The Saqifah -shed- of Banu-Sa'idah is the place where Abu-Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, and Abu-'Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah held a secret meeting, attended by the Ansar -the inahbitants of Yathrib who received and supported the Prophet and the emigrants of Mecca--, immediately after the demise of Prophed Muhammad (s) to name the one to hold position of the leadership of the Islamic nation although all the attendants knew for certain that the Prophet (s), on more than one occasion, nominated 'Ali ibn Abu-Talib as his successor and declared that the issuer of this decision was Almighty Allah.

2- Although he declared before everbody that the Prophet (s) did not nominate anybody for his succession in the leadership of the Islamic nation, abu-Bakr, in his final hours, nominated 'Umar ibn al-Khattab as his successor and the coming leader. The latter, however, invented a funny council to elect the leader to succeed him. This system was called the Sura. For details, see the books of the Islamic history.

( 45 ) treasury as he built palaces, committed every sin forbidden by Islam, dressed silky clothes, and ate in golden and silver plates, 'Umar found him ecxuses by saying, "This is the Khosrow -kong- of the Arabs." Everybody knew that Islam has been empty of royalty or aristocracy. In the sight of Islam, all Muslims are of the same class. Nothing distiguishes them except piety and charity.
    It is ironic for such an individual to be described as the king of the Arabs. In the holy Quran, Mu'awiyah and his family are described as the doomed tree.¹ In many texts related authentically to the Prophet (s), the Umayyad dynasty is cursed. After all, they are only slaves of Muslims ahthough the Prophet released them and they have been named 'the Released Ones.'
    In abstract, a view at the events of Karbala and the ordeals faced by the Ahl al-Bayt (a) proves that they, primarily, are the results of the plot of Saqifah and the spurious forgery of Sura. Moreover, these two unfounded systems have been the reason beyond all the ordeals of Muslims during history.
    In point of fact, the greatest and the most constructive service to be presented to the Islamic nation is to hint at, propagate for, and refer to the Ahl al-Bayt's numerous, fenuine merits and elevated idealities since these matters leave direct influence on the spread of virtue and moral standards and the development of behavior. The Ahl al-Bayt (a) have been acting, through their words, deeds, and behaviors, as rays of Almighty Allah's illumination, since they are, as is proved by authenticated reports related to the
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1- See the exegesists' explanation of the Qur'anic Verse: "And when We said to you: Surely your Lord encompasses men; and We did not make the vision which We showed youand the cursed tree in the Qur'an as well but a trial for men; and We cause them to fear, but it only adds to their great inordinacy. (17:60)"

( 46 ) Prophet (s) who 'does not speak out of desire', the ships of salvation of the Islamic nation and the matches of the Book of Allah.
    The life account of the Ahl al-Bayt have been school of God-fearing, genuine faith, and struggle against the wrong. They dedicated their lives to the Almighty and acted perfectly sincerely for His sake. Thus, the life acount of any of them is no more than a record of model items of God-fearing and obedience to the Lord. They spent their days with fasting and spent their nights with prayers and recitals of the Holy Book of Allah.
    The Ahl al-Bayt (a), men and women, acted earnestly for spreading knowledge, wisdom, and high moral standards among people. They also spent their lives with distributing their charity among the needy, acting kindly to the miserable, struggling intently against the wrong, and exerting all possible efforts for opposing injustice and the unjust individuals no matter how strong they were, and which position they held.
    They adopted the issues of the Islamic nation so bravely; therefore, they were exposed to killing at the hands of the unjust rulers who held the rein of the Islamic nations wrongfully.
    Among the individuals of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) to whom all the previous activities and descritions are applicable is Lady Zaynab daughter of Imam 'Ali (a) who contributed in raising the word of Allah on this earth and struggled intently against the oppressors and had to suffer the most horrible adversities and misfortunes for this sake. After the killing of her brother Imam al-Husayn(a), Lady Zaynab, as well as the other harem of the Prophet's household, was taken as captive and had to be present before the bastard 'Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad who was given the position of the governorship of two Islamic provinces.

( 47 )     Before 'Ubaydullah, Lady Zaynab showed such remarkable courage that he could not control himself when he hurried towards her to beat her.
    The caravan of the Prophet's household then was taken to Syria where they had to be present before Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah. Before this criminal descendant of the mortal enemies of Islam, Lady Zaynab delivered her historical speech, which is considered as the most important document that condemned and decided as illegal the Umayyad State and its partisans.
    For the sake of Islam, this granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad (s) had to suffer horrifying adversities and misfortunes, and due to her heroic situations and honorable struggle against wrong and oppression, women of this world must take her as their model through a deep understanding of her pioneership of struggle against wrong, all women should recognize their roles in adopting the issues of justice on this earth.

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THE LIFE OF LADY ZAYNAB

    To throw light upon the odorous memories and to work perseveringly for obtaining the items of such memories; these two things cast on souls good manners, virtues, and acquaintance with the conducts of the past personalities who were characterized by high merits, piety, righteousness, and decency.
    Thus, the noble, deep-rooted character of Lady Zaynab should not be passed over because she has contained all points of immaculacy, majesty, dignity, and distinguished origin. She has also possessed renowned bearings in the fields of perseverance on the principles, courage, eloquence, and full-heatedness in addition to asceticism, chastity, piety, holiness, and magnanimity.
    On that account, it is necessary for seekers of merits and fact-finders to adopt from her precious life account and please the ears by listening to her admirable, odorous memories so as to take from her a model of self disciplining, knowledge, and aspiration.
    Let us now refer to a brief presentation of the life of Lady Zaynab.

LINEAGE

Lady Zaynab enjoyed the most exalted lineage since she ramified from the tree of prophecy and Imamate and combined all the elements of honor and dignity. The family of Imam 'Ali (a) has been the most elevates all over history in fields of struggle against wrong and adaptation of the issues of human rights. For the sake of these issues, sons

( 50 ) and descendants of Imam 'Ali (a) have provided hundreds of martyrs.
    Lady Zaynab's grandfather, from the maternal side, was Prophet Muhammad (s) who exploded spring of knowledge and wisdom on this earth, founded the features of civilization and development, constructed a noble society controlled by justice and law, smashed the customs, superstitions, and pagans of the savage, tribal society that prevailed in the Arab Peninsula, called for worshipping the One Creator, and brought to his nation abundant goodness. Indeed, Almighty Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (s) as mercy for humankind.
    From this great personality, Lady Zaynab inherited defense of the right and struggle for elevating the Word of Allah highly.
    Her grandmother, from the maternal side, was Khadijah who supported Islam in its darkest days, struggled for sake of Allah in the ever-best way, and spent her entire fortune for sake of her religion. She therefore has been one of the two supports on which Islam relied in existence. The Prophet (s) used to appreciate for his loyal wife her situation in her life and after her death.
    From this great grandmother, Lady Zaynab inherited the highest moral standards and perseverance on principles. Copying her grandmother, she supported her brother, Imam al-Husayn (a), in his revolution and supplies his great uprising with elements of eternity.
    Lady Zaynab's father is Imam 'Ali Amir al-Mu'minin (commander of the faithful believers): chief of the prophets' successors, leader of the pious ones, and head of the worshippers. 'Ali was the representative, successor, and heir of Prophet Muhammad (s). His merits are innumerable and his situations for sake of Allah are incomparable. He was the most knowledgeable, the most self-possessed, the most magnanimous, the most generous, the most ascetic, the most courageous, the most reputable, the best worshipper, the

( 51 ) most loyal, the most faithful, and the most pious among Muslims.
Historians have recorded unanimously that Lady Zaynab was imitating her father in behavior, knowledge, and conduct. She, too, adopted positively all of her father's goals and situations for sake of supplying Islam with elements of continuity. Hence, she, along with her brother Imam al-Husayn (a), could thwart the Umayyad infidels' plots aimed at wiping out Islam and replacing it with the pre-Islamic customs.
Lady Zaynab's mother was Lady Fatimah al-Zahra' the Veracious (a) who was a copy of her father in adoration of Allah, piety, self-discipline, knowledge, virtue, clemency, veneration, and the other features of perfection. Her father named her as the Chiefess of the Women of the World.¹ From this cause, her father addressed his best words of laudation and respect to his daughter who was the ideal woman on this earth.
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1- Besides Prophet Muhammad (s), Fatimah al-Zahra' the Veracious (a) was praised by everyone who lived in her time Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, in his al-Isabah, records that 'A' ishah, the Prophet's wife, said: "Except Prophet Muhammad (s), nobody is preferred to Fatimah." 'Abdullah ibn'Abbas said, as it is recorded in the previous reference book: "The best women of Paradise are four: Khadijah, Fatimah, Mary, and Asiyah -the Pharaoh's wife,"
Al-bukhari, in his al-Sahih, and Muslim, in his al-Sahih, recorded the following: Al-Musawwir ibn Makhramah quoted the Prophet (s) saying, "Fatimah is a piece of me. Whatever hurts her is certainly hurting me and whatever please her is certainly pleasing me."
'Ali (a) reported the Prophet's addressing to Fatimah: "Fatimah, most surely Allah is pleased when you are pleased and enraged when you are enraged."
Finally, reference books of Islamic history and narration are full of reports relating the elevated standing of Fatimah al-Zahra' the Veracious (a).

( 52 )     This was the mother, educator , and instructor of Lady Zaynab who was nourished on all features of human perfection.
    Let us also refer briefly to the grandfather and grandmother of Lady Zaynab from the paternal side.
    Abu Talib, father of Imam 'Ali (a), was the protector of Islam as he defended Prophet Muhammd (s) so bravely and suffered in this course unbearable troubles. Only under the guardianship of Abu Talib could Prophet Muhammad (s) propagate for his divine mission and spread his principles rearlessly. With the demise of his protector, the Prophet (s) expressed his great loss and grief. He therefore called that year as 'year of grief'. After the demise of Abu Talib, the enemies of the Prophet(s) agreed on assassinating him, but Allah saved and ordered him to flee to Yathrib and let his cousin, 'Ali, sleep in his bed for making the assassinators understand that he was still there.
    From this great personality, Lady Zaynab drew the best lessons of defending the principles.
    Lady Zaynab's grandmother was Fatimah bint Asad; an exampel of faith and purity. On her hands, the Prophet (s) was brought up and treated so kindly and tenderly since she used to take care of sympathy and love. Hence, she was highly respected by him; when she departed life, he (s) dressed her his own shirt and laid down in her grave as expressions of his great love for her.
    From this great mother, Lady Zaynab learnt the best lessons of love and support for sake of her religion and its legal leaders.
    We, also should not neglect the fact that Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn (a) participated in composing the unparalleled personality of their sister, Lady Zaynab, since she spent a long term of her life undr their custody.

( 53 )     The two Imams' merits and virtues are too many to be contained. As a result, the Prophet (s) called them 'Chiefs for the Youth of Paradise.'¹
    Lady Zaynab imitated the morals and ethics of Imam al-Hasan (a) who was known of his composure and liberty in addition to all the high moral standards. As he noticed that his grandfather and parents take care of Zaynab, Imam al-Hasan encompassed her with very much love and compassion and preferred her to the other harem of the Prophet's household.
    Imam al-Husayn's realtion with his sister Zaynab has been the melody of seekers of human perfection. She could occupy his feelings and emotions for the genuineness of her estimation, elevation of her ethics, and high moral standards. She was the most dependable in the sight of Imam al-Husayn (a) who used to take counsel with her in all of his affairs. She also accompanied him in all the stages of his revolution. without Lady Zaynab's struggle, efforts, and honorable situations, the revolution of Imam al-Husayn (a) would have been lost. As an example of Lady zaynab's great standing in the sight of her brother Imam al-Husayn (a) is that when he bade her the last farewell on the day of 'Ashura' , he asked her to mention him in her Night Prayer.²
    Through the second part of this book, we will refer to section of the unmatched relation between Imam al-Husayn (a) and his sister, Lady Zaynab.