Lady Zaynab (a)
Birth & Lineage
Zaynab was born in Medina around 6 AH, the eldest daughter of Imam Ali and Fatima al-Zahra and granddaughter of the Prophet. Raised in the household of revelation, she was known for her knowledge, eloquence and devotion, and taught the women of Kufa.
Karbala & Captivity
She went with her brother Imam Husayn to Karbala, where she lost her two sons, her brothers, and Husayn himself. After Ashura she became the guardian of the survivors — the women, the children, and the ailing Imam Zayn al-Abidin — and was led captive to Kufa and then to the court of Yazid in Damascus.
Her Sermons & Legacy
In the courts of Kufa and Damascus, Zaynab delivered fearless sermons that exposed the crime of Karbala and turned the tyrants’ victory into disgrace. Her words preserved the message of Husayn so his stand would never be forgotten. She passed away around 62 AH; her shrine is traditionally visited in Damascus (and, by another account, in Egypt).