لطفا منتظر باشید ...
Zainab Al Hawra'
Name: Zainab
Title: Siddiqa-e-Sughra
Kunyat: Umm-ul-Massaib
Born at: Medina on 5th
Jamadi ul Awwal
Fathers Name. Hazrat
Ali-Al-Murtaza (AS)
Mother's Name: Sayyedah
Fatema Zahra (AS)
Ziyarat of Hazrat Zainab
(AS)
The following ziyarat (verbal salutation) for Sayyedah Zaynab (AS) is
traditionally recited to obtain divine blessing while visiting her shrine
(in this case, in Damascus, Syria). It can also be recited at any other
time in remembrance of the example of courage and submission that she presented
to the world, particularly on the acknowledged days of her birth, death,
and during the month of Muharram.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of the Chief
of prophets.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of the Master
of the sanctuary and the banner.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of him who
was made to ascend to (highest) heaven and reached the station of two bows'
length (to Allah) or even closer.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of the Leader
of the pious.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of the support
of the sincere friends (of Allah)
Peace be upon you. Oh daughter of the Leader
of the Deen.
Peace be upon you. Oh daughter of the Commander
of the faithful.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of him who
struck with the sword of two blades.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of him who
prayed towards the two qiblahs [Jerusalem, then Mecca].
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of Muhammad,
the chosen.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of Ali, the
content (with the decree of Allah).
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of Fatima,
the radiant.
Peace be upon you, Oh daughter of Khadija,
the elder.
Peace be upon you. Oh righteous one, pleasing
(to Allah).
Peace be upon you, Oh learned, rightly guided
one.
Peace be upon you, Oh generous, noble one.
Peace be upon you, Oh pious, pure one.
Peace be upon you, Oh you who were thoroughly
tested by sufferance like Husayn, the oppressed.
Peace be upon you, Oh you who were kept
far from your home.
Peace be upon you, Oh you who were held
captive in cities.
Angelic Appellation
It was five years after the Muslims had accompanied the Prophet (PBUH&HF)
and his family in the migration (Hijrah) to Medina, when the Holy Prophet's
daughter, Hadrat Fatima (AS), gave birth to a little girl.
When her father, Imam Ali (AS), saw his daughter for the first time
Imam Husayn (AS), who was then almost three years old, was with him. The
boy exclaimed in delight, "O father, Allah has given me a sister."
At those words Imam Ali (AS) began to weep, and when Husayn (AS)
asked why he was crying so, his father answered that he would soon come
to know. Fatima (AS) and Ali (AS) did not name their child until a few
days after her birth, for they awaited the Prophet's return from a journey
so that he could propose the name.When finally the baby girl was brought
before him he held her in his lap and kissed her. The Angel Jibra'il came
to him and conveyed the name that was to be hers, and then he began to
weep. The Prophet (PBUH&HF) asked why Jibra'il wept and he answered,
"O Prophet of Allah. From early on in life this girl will remain entangled
in tribulations and trials in this world. First she will weep over your
separation (from this world); thereafter she will bemoan the loss of her
mother, then her father, and then her brother Hasan.After all this she
will be confronted with the trials of the land of Karbala and the tribulations
of that lonely desert, as a result of which her hair will turn grey and
her back will be bent."
When the members of the family heard this prophecy they all broke down
in tears. Imam Husayn (AS) now understood why earlier his father had also
wept. Then the Prophet (PBUH&HF) named her Zaynab (AS).
When the news of Zaynab's birth reached Salman al-Farsi, he went to
Ali (AS) to congratulate him. But instead of seeing him happy and rejoicing
he saw Ali (AS) shed tears, and he too was apprised of the events of Karbala
and the hardships that were to befall Zaynab (AS). One day, when Zaynab
(AS) was about five years old, she had a strange and terrible dream. A
violent wind arose in the city and darkened the earth and the sky. The
little girl was tossed hither and thither, and suddenly she found herself
stuck in the branches- of a huge tree. But-the wind was so strong that
it uprooted the tree. Zaynab (AS) caught hold of a branch but that broke.
In a panic she grabbed two twigs but these top gave way and she was left
falling with no support. Then she woke up. When she told her grand father,
the Prophet (PBUH&HF), about this dream he wept bitterly and said,
"O my daughter. that tree is me who is shortly going to leave this
world. The branches are your father Ali and your mother Fatima Zahra, and
the twigs are your brothers Hasan and Husayn. They will all depart this
world before you do, and you will suffer their separation and loss."
Growing up in Medina
Zaynab (AS) shared with-her brothers and sister the extraordinary position
of having such examples to look up to, emulate and learn from, as her grand
father, the Prophet of Allah (PBUH&HF) her mother Fatima (AS), daughter
of the Prophet, and her father Imam Ali (AS), cousin-brother of the Prophet.
In the pure environment that enveloped her she absorbed the teachings of
Islam that her grandfather imparted, and after him her father. Here too
she learnt to master all household skills with great proficiency.
She had barely attained the tender age of seven when her beloved mother
passed away. Her mother's death had closely followed her cherished grand
father's passing away. Some time later Imam Ali (AS) married Umm ul-Banin,
whose devotion and piety encouraged Zaynab (AS) in her learning. Whilst
still a young girl she was fully able to care for and be responsible for
the running of her father's household. As much as she cared for the comforts
and ease of her brothers and sisters, in her own wants she was frugal and
unstintingly generous to the poor, homeless and parentless. After her marriage
her husband is reported as having said, "Zaynab is the best housewife."
>From very early on she developed an unbreakable bond of attachment to her
brother Imam Husayn (AS). At times when as a baby in her mother's arms
she could not be pacified and made to stop crying, she would quieten down
upon being held by her brother, and there she would sit quietly gazing
at his face. Before she would pray she used to first cast a glance at the
face of her beloved brother.
One day Fatima (AS) mentioned the intensity of her daughter's love
for Imam Husayn (AS) to the Prophet (PBUH&HF). He breathed a deep sigh
and said with moistened eyes, "My dear child. This child of mine
Zaynab would be confronted with a thousand and one calamities and face
serious hardships in Karbala."
Womanhood
Zaynab (AS) grew into a fine statured young woman. Of her physical appearance
little is known. When the tragedy of Karbala befell her in her midfifties
she was forced to go out uncovered. It was then that some people remarked
that she appeared as a 'shining sun' and a 'piece of the moon'. In her
character she reflected the best attributes of those who raised her. In
sobriety and serenity she was likened to Umm ul-Muminin
Khadija, her grandmother (AS); in chastity and modesty to her mother
Fatima Zahra (AS); in eloquence to her father Ali (AS); in forbearance
and patience to her brother Imam Hasan (AS); and in bravery and tranquility
of the heart to Imam Husayn (AS). Her face reflected her father's awe and
her grandfather's reverence.
When the time came for marriage, she was married in a simple ceremony
to her first cousin, Abdullah ibn Ja'far Tayyar. Abdullah had been brought
up under the direct care of the Prophet (PBUH&HF). After his death,
Imam Ali (AS) became his supporter and guardian until he came of age. He
grew up to be a handsome youth with pleasing manners and was known for
his sincere hospitality to guests and selfless generosity to the poor and
needy.
Together this young couple had five children, of whom four were sons,
Ali, Aun, Muhammad, and Abbas, and one daughter, Umm Kulthum. In Medina
it was Zaynab's practice to hold regular meetings for women in which she
shared her knowledge and taught them the precepts of the Deen of Islam
as laid out in the Holy Quran. Her gatherings were well and regularly attended.
She was able to impart the teachings with such clarity and eloquence that
she became known as Fasihah (skillfully fluent) and Balighah (intensely
eloquent).
In the thirty-seventh year A.H. (after Hijrah), Imam Ali (AS) moved
to Kufa to finally take up his rightful position as khalifah. He was accompanied
by his daughter Zaynab (AS) and her husband. Her reputation as an inspiring
teacher among the women had preceded her. There too women would throng
to her daily sittings where they all benefited from her erudition, wisdom
and scholarship in the exegesis of the Qur'an. The depth and certainty
of her knowledge earned her the name given to her by her nephew, Imam Ali
Zayn ul-Abidin (AS), of 'Alimah Ghayr Mu'allamah, 'she who
has knowledge without being taught'.
Zaynab (AS) was also nicknamed Zahidah (abstemious) and
'Abidah (devoted) because of her abstemiousness and piety.
She found little of interest in worldly adornments, always preferring the
bliss and comfort of the Next World over that of this world. She used to
say that for her the life of this world was as a resting place to relieve
fatigue along a journey. Humble and of high morals, her main concern was
to strive to please Allah and in doing so she avoided anything which was
the least bit doubtful.
Taken from
The Victory of Truth
The Life of Zaynab binte Ali
Zahra Publications, Karachi, Pakistan
