Recognition of Lady Zaynab’s Greatness by Prominent Sunni Scholars
The renowned Sunni historian Ibn al-Athir al-Jazari wrote:
“Zaynab, the daughter of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), and her mother, Fatimah (peace be upon her), the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), was born during the Prophet’s lifetime and witnessed part of his blessed life. She was a woman of deep intellect and exceptional wisdom. Her father married her to Abdullah ibn Jafar, and from this union came their children: Awn al-Akbar, Abbas, Muhammad, and Umm Kulthum. She accompanied her brother, Imam Hussain ibn Ali (peace be upon him), to Karbala. After his martyrdom, she was taken captive to Damascus, where she delivered a powerful and eloquent sermon before Yazid ibn Muawiyah—a speech that has been recorded in the annals of history as a testament to her intellect, insight, and spiritual strength.”
Similarly, the distinguished Sunni scholar al-Dhahabi described her as:
“Zaynab, daughter of Ali ibn Abi Talib of the Hashimite clan, was born during the lifetime of her grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family). She was a woman of intelligence and eloquence, and she bore several children with Abdullah ibn Jafar—Ali, Awn, Abbas, and Umm Kulthum.”
Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her): The Heroine of Karbala
The Egyptian Sunni author Aisha Bint al-Shati wrote:
“Indeed, it was Zaynab (peace be upon her) who preserved the eternal and tragic legacy of her brother’s martyrdom. From the day al-Hussain (peace be upon him) was slain, she held commemorations of mourning every year. Thus, Zaynab, the noble lady of Banu Hashim, stands in Islamic and human history as a heroine—one who rose to avenge her martyred brother, shook the foundations of the Umayyad rule, and altered the course of history.”
Lady Zaynab’s Knowledge in the Words of Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him)
Imam Ali ibn al-Hussain al-Sajjad (peace be upon him) once said to his aunt, Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her):
“O my aunt, by the grace of Allah, you are a scholar who has not been taught, and one endowed with understanding who has not been instructed.”
Words of Allamah Mamqani (may Allah have mercy on him) on the Virtues of Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her)
Allamah Mamqani wrote:
“Zaynab—and what can I say about Zaynab? Do you know who Zaynab is? She is the noble lady of Banu Hashim, endowed with virtues unparalleled after her mother. Indeed, she is rightly called ‘the younger truthful one (al-Siddiqa al-Sughra).’ In chastity and modesty, none could equal her; no man saw her from the time of her father’s life until the tragedy of Karbala.
In patience, steadfastness, faith, and piety, she was unmatched. In eloquence and oratory, it was as though she spoke with the tongue of her father, Imam Ali (peace be upon him).
If one were to claim that Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) possessed a state of infallibility, it would not be denied—especially by those familiar with her conduct in Karbala and after. Otherwise, why would Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) entrust her with part of the burden of Imamate during the illness of Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him), or why would Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him) appoint her as his representative in matters of divine law and guidance?”
Lady Zaynab’s (peace be upon her) Delegated Authority from the Infallible Imam
The eminent Shia scholar Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir Birjandi (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote:
“I bear witness to the virtue and greatness of that noble lady, as narrated by Shaikh al-Saduq in Kamal al-Din and by al-Majlisi in Bihar al-Anwar, who reported that Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) held delegated authority from Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him). During his severe illness, she served as the reference for the Shia in matters of lawful and unlawful, until the Imam recovered from his illness.”
