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Zaynab bint Ali

Zaynab bint Ali was the daughter of the Islamic caliph, Ali (Ali ibn Abu Talib), and granddaughter of Islamic prophet, Muhammed through his daughter Fatimah. In Muslim views, she is a great figure of sacrifice and strength. In Iran, her birthday is recognized as Nurse's Day.

Zaynab was the third child of Ali and Fatimah. She was born in Medina during the life of Prophet Muhammed. Zaynab was named by Muhammed just as with her two elder brothers, Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn. Zaynab means "the adornment of her father" as a reference to Imam Ali. Zaynab lost her mother when she was only three years old. She grew extremely close to her Hasan and Husayn.

When Zaynab grew up, she married to her cousin Abdullah, son of Jafar, a nephew of Ali, in a simple ceremony. Although Zaynab's husband was a man of means, the couple is said to have lived a modest life. Much of their wealth was devoted to charity.

The marriage of Zaynab did not diminish her strong attachment to her family. Ali also felt a great affection for his daughter and son-in-law and when he became caliph and moved the capital from Medina to Kufa, Zaynab and Abdullah joined him. Zaynab bore four sons - Ali, Abbas, Aun and Mohammad; and one daughter, Umm Kulthum.

In 680, the Sunni Caliph Muawiyah died. He named his son Yazid as his successor, warning him about possible rebellion from Husayn. Yazid moved quickly to secure allegiance from Husayn. Husayn refused. Major confrontation was inevitable. Husayn was forced out of Mecca due to the assassins that were sent by the new tyrant. He went to Mecca during Haj to see if there was any support for him. There was none. Yazid’s men had order to kill Husayn during pilgrimage. Thus Husayn left Mecca and headed to Kufa whose people had invited him assume his right to rule and to lead them against Yazid.

Zaynab accompanied Husayn, as did most of his household. Husayn travelled with his family, men women and children. He had some friends. Total party numbered less then 110. Husayn’s family was ambushed in the desert by Yazid’s army. Except one ill son of Husayn, the rest of the males were massacred one by one by General Umar bin Saad. Only the females survived. They were taken hostage and led to Yazid as trophies of war. Zaynab, other lady survivors and some children of Husayn's expedition were marched to Damascus.

Books say Zaynab, already in anguish due to the death of her brother Husayn and her sons Aun and Muhammad, was forced to march unveiled. This was an extreme indignity to inflict on a high-ranking Muslim woman, the granddaughter of Prophet Mohammed.

Yazid boasted of his victory over Husayn. Yazid glorified his pagan forefathers who were killed by Prophet Mohammad as they fought wars against Islam. He said that he had taken revenge for the blood his family on the blood of the family of Muhammed. Zaynab could not remain silent. Bound by ropes and standing in the royal court of Yazid, she stood and condemned his evil deeds in front of domestic and foreign ambassadors. Brave and bold, Zaynab's words revealed the horror of what Yazid has done to the holy family. Her short speech shooks the very foundation of Yazid's empire abnd evetually brought down the Omeyya Dynasty.

Eventually Yazid released his captives, and they returned to Medina.

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