Sayyidatuna Zaynab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا is the granddaughter of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ , beloved daughter of Maula ‘Ali and Sayyidatuna Fatima-tuz-Zahra رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُمَا, and the real sister of Sayyiduna Imam Hasan and Sayyiduna Imam Husayn رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُمَا who are chiefs of the youths of Paradise. Sayyidatuna Zaynab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا was born during the lifetime of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ . She was very intelligent, wise and big-hearted. (Asad-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 7, pp. 146)
She رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا is also called Zaynab-e-Kubra. (Tareekh Madinah Dimashq, vol. 69, pp. 174)
Nikah and children
Her father, Sayyiduna ‘Ali-ul-Murtada کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجـھَـهُ الـکَـرِیم performed her Nikah with his nephew, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Ja’far رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُمَا. From this marriage, she had 4 sons, namely Sayyiduna ‘Ali, Sayyiduna ‘Awn Akbar, Sayyiduna ‘Abbas, Sayyiduna Muhammad, and one daughter, namely Sayyiduna Umm-e-Kulsoom رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم. (Asad-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 7, pp. 146)
Participation in the battle of Karbala
Sayyidatuna Zaynab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا went to the plain of Karbala with her two sons, Sayyiduna ‘Awn and Sayyiduna Muhammad رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُمَا. Both the sons showed great bravery and courage during the battle and finally embraced martyrdom while killing the cruel Yazeedis [supporters of Yazeed]. (Sawanih Karbala, pp. 127)
Dear Islamic brothers! Remaining pleased with the Will of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ by showing patience and steadfastness is an extremely good quality. By having patience, special Divine help is received. In Doomsday-like tragedy of Karbala, Sayyidatuna Zaynab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا saw her sons, nephews and even her brother Imam Husayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم being martyred, who was beloved of her more than her life but even then, she did not express impatience even for a moment. She did not deviate from the path of steadfastness even slightly, as if she was a mountain of patience who was not moved by any storm of pain and grief.
Ghar lutaana jan dayna koi tujh say seekh jaye
Jan-e-‘aalam ho fida, ay khandan-e-Ahl-e-Bayt
(Zauq-e-Na’at, pp. 73)
In difficult times, having patience becomes easy by remembering the difficulties faced by these pious personalities. When a Yazeedi once taunted, making the apparent success of Karbala an evidence of his victory, Sayyidatuna Zaynab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا silenced him with her highly convincing reply. Then, she praised Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for His blessings in the following way: ‘All praise is due to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ Who blessed us with respect through Sayyiduna Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ and blessed us with great purity.’ (Al-Kamil fit-Tareekh, vol. 3, pp. 435)
Two days after the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Imam Husayn رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ , the captives of Karbala were taken to Kufa. When they passed through the plain of Karbala while returning from Kufa, the hearts of the honourable women of Ahl-e-Bayt became restless and they could not suppress their painful emotions after seeing the blessed bodies of martyrs over there, drenched with blood. At that time, Sayyidatuna Zaynab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہَا humbly said in the blessed court of Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ : ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ ! May the Salat of the angels of the sky be on you. Please see! He is Husayn, lying in the plain [of Karbala]. He is drenched with blood and his body is split into parts. Your daughters [i.e. granddaughters] are captives; your descendants have been martyred and the wind is blowing dust over them.’ (Al-Kamil fit-Tareekh, vol. 3, pp. 434)
O the devotees of Ahl-e-Bayt-e-Athaar! Following these pious personalities, present Istighaasah in the blessed court of Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ if you face a difficult situation; it is a deed greatly liked by Shari’ah and if Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ wills, difficulties also come to an end by its blessing.
Wallah! Woh sun layn gey, faryad ko pohanchay gey
Itna bhi to ho koi jo ‘ah’ karay dil say
(Hadaiq-e-Bakhshish, pp. 143)
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