Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) was raised in the school of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) and Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), and from childhood she was familiar with the lofty teachings of the House of Prophethood. Her steadfast faith and boundless patience led her along a path that turned her life into a radiant page of devotion and defense of wilayah.
A Heavenly Naming
The birth of Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) was accompanied by a heavenly account of her being named by the Lord.
After her birth, Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) and Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) left the choice of name to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family). He, awaiting divine command, waited until Gabriel descended and delivered the revelation. Finally, Gabriel descended with greetings from the Lord and brought the name “Zaynab” for the lady. This chosen name had previously been recorded for her in the Preserved Tablet. [1]
When news of Lady Zaynab’s birth (peace be upon her) reached the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), he went to the house of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) and said:
“My daughter! Bring the newborn girl to me.”
When the Prophet took the infant in his arms, he pressed her to his blessed chest and laid his cheek against hers. Suddenly the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) began to weep loudly, tears running down his blessed face. Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) asked anxiously:
“Father dear, why are you weeping? May Allah not make your eyes weep.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said:
“My daughter, O Fatimah! This girl will in the future be afflicted with severe hardships and calamities. Whoever weeps for her, and for the calamities that befall her, will have a reward like that of one who weeps for her brothers.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) then named her “Zaynab.” [2]
Al-Siddiqah al-Sughra
Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) was an incomparable lady who, after her honored mother, was recognized as foremost among the House of Bani Hashim in all moral virtues.
Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) was among the narrators of hadith. She lived during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), having been born in that very era. This great lady was the foremost of the House of Bani Hashim, and she possessed such admirable qualities and moral virtues that, after her honored mother Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), no one attained her rank. For this reason, it is fitting to call her “al-Siddiqah al-Sughra” (the Lesser Truthful One).
In patience, steadfastness, strength of faith, and piety, Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) was a unique and incomparable lady. In eloquence and rhetoric as well, she was such that it was as though the words were flowing from the tongue of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him). Her virtues and merits are so vast that words fall short of describing them, but a glimpse of this greatness can be seen in her companionship with her brother Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) and in the sermon she delivered in Kufa after his martyrdom. [3]
The Narrator of Fadak
Such was the scholarly stature and lofty standing of Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) that even the great companions narrated important hadiths from her.
Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) is the very lady from whom Ibn Abbas narrated the words of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) concerning the affair of Fadak. In relating this hadith, Ibn Abbas would say with respect:
“Our Aqeela, Zaynab, daughter of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), related this narration to me.” [4]
The Secret of the Disjointed Letters
Seeing Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) interpret the disjointed letters, Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) lifted the veil from their true meaning for his daughter.
Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) was engaged in interpreting and explaining the letters “Kaf-Ha-Ya-Ayn-Sad” when Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) entered upon her and said:
“O light of my eyes, I heard that you were interpreting the letters ‘Kaf-Ha-Ya-Ayn-Sad’ for the women?”
Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) replied: “Yes.” Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) then said:
“These letters are a code for the calamities that will befall the House of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) in the future.” [5]
The Fatimi Sanctity
Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) held a special place for Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) and showed her great respect.
Yahya al-Mazini says:
“I lived for a long time in Medina as a neighbor of Amir al-Muminin Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), near the house where his daughter Zaynab (peace be upon her) lived. By Allah, I never saw her and never heard any sound from her. When she wished to visit her grandfather, she would leave the house at night, with Imam al-Hasan (peace be upon him) on her right, Imam al-Hussain (peace be upon him) on her left, and Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) walking ahead of her. When they reached the grave, Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) would arrive first and extinguish the light of the lamps. Once, Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (peace be upon him) asked him the reason for this. Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) replied: ‘I fear that someone might lay eyes on your sister Zaynab.’” [6][7][8]
References
[1] Qazwini, Sayyid Muhammad Kazim, Zaynab al-Kubra (peace be upon her) min al-Mahd ila al-Lahd, p. 35
[2] Zaynab al-Kubra min al-Mahd ila al-Lahd, vol. 1, p. 35
[3] Mustadrak Safinat al-Bihar, vol. 4, p. 313
[4] Maqatil al-Talibiyyin, p. 95
[5] Awalim al-Ulum wa al-Maarif, vol. 11, p. 957
[6] Wafayat al-Aimmah, vol. 1, p. 435
[7] Zaynab al-Kubra, vol. 1, p. 22
[8] Al-Akhlaq al-Husayniyyah, vol. 1, p. 223
