Biography of Hazrat Zainab Bint Ali رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُمَا

Happiness and grief are two such situations at which the true personality of a person can be judged. History always remembers those who have the courage to embrace their death and who know the accomplishment for keeping high the Islamic flag in the abundance of difficulties and grieves. These people have a decisive power of utterance.

These are the personalities who have the ability to take the Islam at very high ranks. Among these great people, Hazrat Zainab Bint Ali رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُمَا is a most shining pearl. Her name was Zainab. She was the brave woman who saw the incident of Karbala with her eyes and showed her bravery from the field of Karbala to the king of Damascus. After this incident she got the kuniah of Ummul-masaaib. She was the daughter of Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ. Her mother was Hazrat Fatima رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا, the princess of all women.

Her maternal grandfather was the final Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ and her maternal grandmother was the first woman of Islam, Hazrat Khadijah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا. Some of her titles are: Shareeka tul Hussain, Namoosul Kubra, Naibul Zahra. At the birth of Hazrat Zainab Holy The Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ was out of city and he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ came back after three days from her birth. He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ went to the house of Hazrat Fatima رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا at his arrival in the city, 

he took Hazrat Zainab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا and cried for a long period of time then chewed a date and put his saliva in the mouth of child. After that he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ suggested her name Zainab and said she resembles with Khadijah. After six years this little girl lost her beloved maternal grandfather and after a very little time she lost her mother as well.

What a graceful luck of Hazrat Zainab is that she got the blessings of her grandfather, and her mother was Fatima رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا who teaches her the good lessons of life. After death of Hazrat Fatima رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا, Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ took the responsibility of upbringing of his children and it was the highness of their luck that Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ was giving them the teachings of lessons of Islam who was the door of knowledge and who got knowledge from the beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ.  Hazrat Zainab 

رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا learn the teachings of her father and resembled with her mother in piety, intellect and insight, truthfulness, modesty and shyness, worships and getting up at nights for worship. She had long height having dignity on her face like her grandfather; her manners had a grace like her father. The historians agree at the fact that no other woman of Quraish or Banu Hashim was equal to her in knowledge. Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ was matchless speaker of Islam even Holy Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ praised him. Hazrat Zainab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا resembled him in this quality.

She was got married with Hazrat Abdullah bin Jaffar رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ who was brought up by Holy Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ after death of his father. Hazrat Zainab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا had a graceful married life. She would do her house chores by herself even in the presence of slaves at home. Hazrat Abdullah رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ used to say Zainab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا is a good house wife. 

Hazrat Abdullah رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ was a rich and pious man. The abundance of wealth at her husband’s house did not affect her manners and she spent her life simply with patience and contentment. Hazrat Zainab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا stayed in Kufa during the caliphate of Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ. The women of Kufa came to her for getting knowledge of Islam and she delivered it to them with honesty and hardworking. She was famous in kufa due to her knowledge and power of speech. She stayed in Kufa till she bear incident of her father’s death.

She was the woman who joined the incident of Karbala from start to end. She bore the hardships of separation of her beloved ones during this incident. Her sons, sons of her brothers, their companions, and at the last her beloved brother was killed before her and she bore all these sufferings with patience.

She was the woman of Islam who faced the circumstances after the departure of Imam Hussain رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ from this world. She was in those people who were brought in front of cruel Yazeed after Karbala. She delivered a speech before him which turned everybody into tears. After that she was sent to Madina where she told everyone about the incident of Karbala. She went to Syria after one year and died there.

May Allahعَزَّ وَجَلَّ have mercy on her and forgive us for her sake!

“O the people of Kufah! Woe be upon you! Do you know which part of the Messenger of Allah you have cut? And which vow you have broken? And whose blood you have shed? And which respected family you have brought to the public (as captives)? And whose sanctity you have violated? You have done that, which could tear down the skies, open the earth, and make the mountains vanish. As far as the earth goes and as deep as the skies go, your obvious deed has no like, no similarity and no decency. Indeed you have done the ugliest, the most grievous and gruesome deed.”

With these words Hadrat Zainab bint Ali (as) confronted the people of Kufa who betrayed their Imam in Karbala. There is no doubt that Hadrat Zainab (as) is the shining sun in the history of Islam and of humanity. Her brother's name “Imam Hussain” (as) and Karbala associate the idea of freedom, justice, humanity, virtue, fighting against despotism, with the realization of the sovereignty of Allah.

To fully comprehend the message of Karbala one has to fathom two thoughts. One is the rising of Imam Hussain (as) and the other is the rising of Zainab (as). Hadrat Zainab (as) was an outstanding figure in the history of Karbala endowed with divine steadfastness and fortitude. After the martyrdom of her brother and her two sons in the battle of Karbala, Hadrat Zainab stood tall and said: "O my Lord! Accept our humble sacrifice to You."

Hadrat Zainab (as) became famous for her virtuous life. In her character she reflected the best attributes. In sobriety and serenity she was likened to her grand-mother Umm-al-Mumineen Hadrat Khadija(as), in chastity and modesty to her holy mother Hadrat Fatima(as) and in eloquence to her holy father Imam Ali(as).

Hadrat Zainab(A.S.) proclaimed to the world the greatest sacrifices made by her brother Imam Hussain (as) and other members of the family of the Holy Prophet of Islam(saw) who were brutally martyred at Karbala in 61 A.H by the forces of Yazid son of Muawiya. On the other hand, the women and children witnessed the very inhumane and merciless violence that took place in Karbala, yet they were not desperate, depressed, they did not collapse, despite all the pain and challenges, they were contrary the opposite. They stood up, spoke up and held Yazid responsible. They had no fear or anxiety but rather were very strong and decisive in their stances.

A part of the sermon Hadrat Zainab (as) gave with utmost bravery in the gathering of Yazid son of Muawiya in Syria shook his majlis (gathering) and still echoes through time and space:

“By Allah (SWT), you cannot remove us from the minds (of people), and you cannot fade our message. You will never reach our glory and can never wash the stain of this crime from your hands. Your decisions will not be stable, your period of ruling will be short, and your population will scatter. In that day, a voice will shout: "Indeed may the curse of Allah (SWT) be upon the oppressors..."

Righteous people should not at all be affected by the harsh circumstances they undergo, that is exactly what Hadrat Zeinab (as) stressed in her speeches. She reiterated they (AhlulBayt) are the people of strong presence, strength, confidence and faith despite the drastic and harsh calamity that fell upon her and her family. The prophet's household turned this threat into an opportunity and made use of the entire situation and the circumstances they went through lead by the courageous Hadrat Zainab (as).

A model of defiance against oppression and injustice. A woman of patience and endurance. There was no act of worship greater than continuing the rising of her brother, delivering fiery sermons in the path of Kufa and Syria, and awakening ignorant people who were deceived by poisonous propaganda of Yazid son of Muawiya and martyred Imam Hussain (as) as a man who was out of Islam. Her sermons created a movement in Kufa and Damascus which shook the bases of Yazid's kingdom and even Yazid's son refused to replace his father as the king, and after a while, quitted the government while disgracing the oppressing dynasty of Umayyads

In her lifetime, Hadrat Zainab (as) had endured immense pain from witnessing her loved ones martyred before her eyes, but she never objected to the destiny decreed upon her by Allah. The completeness of her submission is monumental. The grief she expressed was an outpouring of her incredible humanity.

Hadrat Zainab’s role was exemplary. It showed how bold Muslim women were and how they played a key role in consolidating Islamic teachings. Today, despite so much progress and the spread of education, so many Muslim women are suppressed. In some alleged Muslim societies, a woman’s voice is banned from even being heard in public; and here was Zainab (as) from the Imam’s family who became a public speaker to save Islamic values. The leadership of the family fell to Hadrat Zainab after Karbala, and she proved to be more than what was expected of her.

Today, women have to learn much from her example and leadership qualities. Her public role in the battle of Karbala has much to teach us both Muslim men and women. The only way for women in general and Muslim woman in particular could pay respects to her sacrifice is by being inspired by her life to be courageous in the face of tyranny, patient in times of trouble, and submissive to the will of God. Hadrat Zainab bint Ali (as) the role model for the righteous will forever teach us all that when we undergo countless trials in our lives, we should see nothing but beauty in them.

The Strongest Lady of Karbala (Hazrat Zainab R.A)Hazrat Zainab bint-e-Ali (R.A) is called as the Queen of Karbala who actually played a very strong role in representing the Islam. Very courageously and bravely, she has shown the true mirror of Yazid ibn Muawiya to the entire World.

Hazrat Zainab (R.A) is the granddaughter of Allah’s messenger Mohammad (P.B.U.H) and the daughter of Hazrat Fatima (R.A) who is known as al-Batool which means the chaste and the pure. Hazrat Zainab (R.A) is such a courageous lady who stood against the atrocities of Yazid and was standing with his brother Hazrat Hussain (R.A) in the ground of Karbala.

Hazrat Zainab (R.A) is an important Muslim figure in Islamic History, who has not only given power to the Muslim ladies at the time of Karbala but she is still giving strength to all the women across the globe. 

Her powerful words in her last sermon at the Yazid’s court has set an example of the voice a lady can raise against wrong and so here, such stereotypes break that a Muslim woman is not allowed to raise her voice. She delivered a defiant speech when her brother Hussain’s (R.A) head among the other martyrs’ head were paraded before Hazrat Zainab (R.A). It was that moment when the World has seen the power of woman voice and that speech of Hazrat Zainab (R.A) is instructive till today.

In the sermon of Hazrat Zainab (R.A), she lifted the flag of religion Islam. She told the Yazid and the people out there that how much powerful Almighty Allah is, and how severe His punishments could be to those who are cruel and who kill the people of God. She must have  gathered so much power at that time to speak when she was heart wrenched with the pain of her brother’s death. She humiliated Yazid while honoring the Ahl al-Bayt, and recalled him the verse of Quran which says that disbelievers are not free for the long time to commit sins,  indeed! They must be caught one day. As Allah says in Quran, in

Surah Ali-Imran, verse 178:
“And let not those who disbelieve ever think that [because] We extend their time [of enjoyment] it is better for them. We only extend it for them so that they may increase in sin, and for them is a humiliating punishment”. [3:178]

Hazrat Zainab (R.A) told the Yazid to not be happy on his apparent victory, whereas the real victors are those who died in the cause of Allah and cruel people like Yazid must face the taste of painful punishments. Hazrat Zainab (R.A) called out the verse of Surah Ali-Imran, in which Allah says:

“And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision, Rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those [to be martyred] after them who have not yet joined them - that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve”. [3:169-170]

Hazrat Zainab (R.A) is indeed the strongest lady in the history. The battle of Karbala has the positive impacts in the history too, which is unforgettable. And the sufferings which the family of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) faced is for that moment only and those who struggle in the path of Allah will undoubtedly get the eternal rewards.