Al-Huda
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the Message Continues ... 8/174
Newsletter for May 2016
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IMAM ALI (AS) and
LADY FATIMA ZAHRA
DAUGHTER, LADY ZAYNAB
According to the Sharia
(revealed law) of Allah, women
are hidden treasures, neither to
be displayed nor advertised.
Theirs is a subtle, fundamental
and discreet domain. And hence
the accurate information about
birth, death, marriage and
number of children cannot be
ascertained. Imam Ali (AS) asked
Bibi Fatima (SA) “who are the
best among women?” Bibi replied
“those who do not see men nor
are seen by them”
Bibi Zaynab (SA) was born in the
year 5 AH. Angel Jibra’il
brought the name of the little
girl to the Holy Prophet (P) and
wept. On enquiry he explained
“this girl will be entangled in
trials and tribulations in this
world. She will be separated
from you and later on she will
suffer the loss of ImamAli (AS),
Bibi Fatima (SA), and Imam Hasan
(AS). The events of Karbalawill
turn her hair grey and her back
will be bent”
She grew up in extraordinary
environment among the exemplary
personalities to learn from.
After the death of her
grandfather, she lost her
beloved mother when she was 7
years old. From early on, she
developed an unbreakable bond
with Imam Husayn (AS).
She reflected the best
attributes of those who raised
her. In sobriety and serenity,
she was likened to
Umm-ul-Momineen Khadija (SA); in
chastity and modesty to her
mother Fatima (SA), in eloquence
to Imam Ali (AS), in forbearance
and patience to her brother Imam
Hasan (AS); and in bravery and
tranquility of the heart, to
Imam Husayn (AS).
She was married to her cousin,
Ja’far Tayyar.
She used to hold regular
meetings for women in which she
shared her knowledge of Qur’an.
She became known as Fasiha
(skillfully fluent) and Baligha
(intensely eloquent)
When Imam Ali (AS) became
caliph, she and her family moved
to Kufa and continued her
sessions of teaching there. Imam
Zainul Abedin (AS) called her “Aalimah
Ghayr Mu’allimah”, she who has
knowledge without being taught.
After the assassination and
martyrdom of Imam Ali (AS), she
was submerged in grief and later
returned to Medinawith her
family.
Some 10 years later, she was
again stricken with a grievous
loss of her brother, Imam Hasan
(AS) who also fell victim to the
schemes of power hungry Bani
Umayya.
Mu’awiya appointed his son Yazid
as his successor and pressurized
Imam Husayn (AS) to pledge
allegiance to him. Imam Husayn
(AS) was compelled to leave
Medina in 60 AH.
The Imam, his family and
companions arrived at Karbalaon
2nd Muharram. Water
was cut-off from 7th
and on the day of Ashura by Asr,
this small band of warriors of
Islam was martyred. Women’s
veils were snatched and the
tents looted and set on fire.
Now she was the in charge of the
widows and orphans as Imam
Zainul Abedin (AS) was sick and
unconscious. Next day, the
prisoners were made to sit on
camels without seats and were
led towards Kufa. People were
jubilant but some of them
realized the sins they had
committed and were crying. She
addressed them with a piercing
eloquence and said:
“Praise be to Allah and
blessings be on my grandfather
Muhammad (P) and his purified
and chosen progeny. So now, O
people who deceive forsake and
contrive, it is you who weep.
May Allah not stop your tears
and may your chests burn
incessantly with the fire of
grief and sorrow. Your example
is that of a woman who
assiduously prepare a strong
rope and then untwines it
herself, wasting her own hard
labor.
The victory of the voyage from
Medinato Mecca to Karbalato Kufa
and finally to Damascus was
achieved when Yazid came out in
true colors. All along, the
Yazidi army was telling people
that some one revolted against
the government hence they were
killed and their women are the
captives.
When the caravan-e-Karbala
entered the court, Yazid was
hitting the lips of Imam Husayn
(AS) and said “My ancestors who
were killed at Badr have been
avenged today.
Now it is clear that Bani Hashim
had just staged a play to gain
power and there was never any
divine revelation.” Bibi Zaynab
stood up boldly and said “Praise
be to Allah, the Lord of the
worlds and blessings on my
grandfather, the chief of divine
Prophets”
O Yazid, Allah says “Then evil
was the end of those who did
evil because they rejected the
communications of Allah and used
to mock them (30:10)”
She further said “O son of the
freed slaves, is this your
justice that you keep your
daughters and slave maids veiled
while the daughters of Prophet
of Allah are being paraded from
place to place exposed” O Yazid
what ever you have done proves
your revolt against Allah and
your denial of His Prophet (P)
and of the Book and Sunnah. Your
deeds should not cause amazement
because one whose ancestors
chewed the liver of martyrs, who
fought against the chief of
divine prophets, should
conspicuously excel all Arabs in
unbelief, sinfulness, excesses
and enmity against Allah and His
Prophet (P).
O Yazid, you are striking the
lips of Imam Husayn (AS) while
these very lips used to be
kissed by the Prophet (P) of
Allah. By my life, by killing
the chief of youths of Paradise,
the son of the chief of Arabs
(Imam Ali) and the shining sun
of the progeny of Abdul
Mutallib, you have deepened our
wounds and uprooted us
completely.
O Yazid it is not seeming for
you to swell with joy after
slaying the Prophet (P)’s
progeny. ‘Reckon not those who
are killed in Allah’s way to be
dead, nay they are alive and are
provided sustenance from their
Lord; rejoicing in what Allah
has given them out of His grace
(3:169-170)
By the fearless and eloquent
speeches of Bibi Zaynab (SA),
there was a general awakening in
the masses and signs of revolt
were apparent hence Yazid
decided to release the captives.
A separate house was arranged to
mourn the martyrdom of Imam
Husayn (AS) and his family and
friends and thus first Majlis
was founded by Bibi Zaynab (SA).
On their way to Medina, this
caravan stopped at Karbala.
The exact date and place of her
martyrdom is not known, but
probably she died six months
after her return in 62 AH. |
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