Ep. 06: Zaynab bt. Ali | Our Models – The Heroes We Want to Be

Allah (SWT) has written different journeys for everyone. Everyone has different functions and roles and the lives of these people will be distinctly different from the others. This is why we cannot use one yardstick to measure all human beings and their worth and contributions. Sayyid Ali (RA) had two sons, but these were not his only children. He also had a daughter by the name of Zaynab. Zaynab bint Ali (RA) was born in the time of the prophet (SAW) and used to play with the prophet (SAW). She was, in fact, with him when he went to Hajj. She was about five years old at that time. When she was about six years old, the prophet (SAW) passed away, and about six months after this, her mother also passed away. Now, she was almost entirely in the care of her father Ali (RA) who looked after her. Very quickly, she picked up immense knowledge of Ali (RA) and his manner of speaking. Ali (RA) is known as one of the greatest speakers in Islam. He was so eloquent and powerful in his words that it would make the people who were listening completely change their minds and shake them to their core. Zaynab (RA) inherited this from Ali (RA), and, as her life story demonstrates, she used this in the most noble way possible.

The first is, because she had a great deal of knowledge, she was addressed as one of the great female scholars of that time. Even when she moved from Madinah after being married, she had her own halaqa where she lived. Once, Ali (RA) came back home to where she was conducting a halaqa of tafsir of surah Maryam, and Ali (RA) was so impressed that after the session was over, he told her that he was impressed and proud of her and praised Allah (SWT) for giving her the ability to explain the verses of the Qur’an. During her stay in Kufa, something very tragic happened. Her father, Ali (RA) was murdered. He was killed at the hands of a man named Abdur Rahman ibn Muljim. This is where, as said before, people have different roles to play. It seems that Zaynab (RA)’s role was to speak the truth in front of wrongdoers. This is what she did in the face of Abdur Rahman. She told him what a worthless man he was and what a wrong thing he had done to convey the last message of his deeds and the outcome of his deeds, even though he did not take the message very seriously. After this, some time later, she moved back to Madinah and she resided there until another tragic event happened. This was when Sayyid Hussain (RA) was urged to come by the people of Kufa who were ready to accept him as their khalifa as a deceptive play. There were many elements involved in this and there was a long story, but she joined her brother on that journey, and she was there when they went through the extreme thirst and hunger. She was by his side when his own children were slain and the entire caravan of the family of the prophet (SAW) fought until the only one that remained was Sayyid Hussain (RA). She witnessed it all and witnessed her relatives being killed fighting valiantly to the end. At the end, it was just her, and one of the sons of Hussain (RA) whose name was Ali was too sick to do anything. He was not able to get up or fight. After this event was over, she was one of the people taken as captive. Before she allowed this to happen, she told the leader of that army that had come from Sham how despicable of a man he was to allow this to happen to the family of the prophet (SAW). Even that man cried, but by then, it was too late to do anything. They were taken as captives and brought to Kufa where thousands of people had gathered. There, in front of that crowd, she spoke to them and made them realize what a great mistake they had made and how this would affect them for generations to come. With that beautiful eloquence, she made them listen to the words of truth. After this, she was brought into the presence of Ubaid ibn Ziyad, who had masterminded the operation of tragedy. In his face, she spoke the truth and told him what a vile and evil man he was. She said, “What can you do to us now?” He began listing off what he could do to them. This man even wanted the young, sick boy killed. She said, “If you kill him, kill me along with him.” She held her nephew close, and the leader finally realized that this had gone too far, so she let them go. Eventually, she was brought in front of Yazid, who, behind the scenes, had fought against the family of the prophet (SAW). Even in the face of Yazid, she spoke the truth and made him realize what a mistake he had made.

This woman who Allah (SWT) had stripped of everything – her grandfather, mother, father, brother and entire family – was determined to stay firm on the truth. She did not feel sorry for herself and did not wallow in despair or mourn; every opportunity she used as an occasion to speak the truth even though she lost everything in the process. She remained steadfast to the truth until the last minute of her life. If we wish to learn the lessons of steadfastness and staying loyal to the truth, Zaynab bint Ali is someone who can teach us about this. May Allah (SWT) also give us the ability to understand and see the truth and live our lives along with the truth.