Dr. Wafaa Abbas Fayyad – Department of Arabic Language – University of Karbala

“When I recall that there was a woman who remained alone and vulnerable, armed only with the weapon of words, truth, and the correct belief, shaking the thrones of the oppressors, I realize that we are still at the beginning of the path.

No two people can disagree that Sayyida Zaynab, the daughter of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon them), was a partner, co-participant, and companion of Imam Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon them) in his path, cause, and his message of struggle, as well as in his enduring epic. The reasons for the noble family’s departure with Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) may still be unknown to us even to this moment. Anyone who reads about this important historical event finds much that could be said.

However, we are absolutely certain that every word spoken by the Master of Martyrs before and during the Battle of Karbala was heard by the Sayyida of Banu Hashim, understood deeply, and fully acknowledged and safeguarded. How could it be otherwise? As her nephew, Imam Zain al-Abidin (peace be upon him), described her: “You, my aunt, are by God’s grace an educated woman, not taught by anyone, and an understanding woman, not misunderstood.”

Undoubtedly, when Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) said, “And I am more deserving of change,” Sayyida Zaynab was with him in this truth, and that was extended through her continuation of the struggle beyond the battlefield of Karbala. It was another kind of battle—a battle of words and improvisation with speech after speech, constantly reaffirming “I am more deserving of change.”

It was a battle of peaceful protest, which became inevitable after the crimes committed by the Umayyad brigades against the Prophet’s grandson and his family and loyal companions. The mission was to spread the truth of what happened in that besieged part of the Umayyad army’s stronghold to the ears of all people—whether those aligned with the government to condemn them, or those opposed to it to use this as an argument for rising against the corrupt group who usurped the seat of the Prophet’s Caliphate. We believe that the journey of the captives, led by Imam al-Sajjad and his aunt Sayyida Zaynab, caused a great shock that awakened the sleeping ones! What could be more precious than what Hussain gave, and here is his sister and the rest of his family before their eyes?

There is no doubt that Hussain, along with his sister Zaynab, knew that the military battle would result in martyrdom; thus, the sacrifices were immense and not limited to one aspect. One of those sacrifices was the journey of the captives, taken from place to place, later becoming a burden on Yazid and the Umayyad regime through awakening the dormant souls and reviving the dead wills. This was a sacrifice aiming to sustain further sacrifices and carry them to other grounds, leading to the collapse of the Umayyad state.

Thus, success was achieved by giving the appropriate opportunity for this heroine to continue his path and lead a new opinion for the nation. The mission he started was completed. One of the key moments that proved Zaynab’s worth and her leadership in the new phase was her confrontation with the tyrant Ibn Ziyad and her courageous response to his provocation regarding the killing of her brothers and loved ones, saying, “I saw nothing but beauty,” which was clear evidence of her steadfastness and courage before the enemy. This great spirit and high morale she exhibited in that moment reveals her complete faith in the vision for change that Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) had drawn. His jihad was through combat, and hers was through words, denying her enemies the pleasure of victory.

Her journey of transformation continued when she stood before the other tyrant, Yazid ibn Muawiya, with her famous words: “Plot your plot, and make your utmost effort, for by God, you will not erase our memory, nor kill our revelation, nor cleanse your shame. What is your opinion but folly, your days but numbered, your assembly but scattered, the day when the caller will cry, ‘May the curse of Allah be upon the wrongdoers.'” Her words, “By God, you will not erase our memory, nor kill our revelation,” refer to the survival of the authentic Muhammadan path that she belongs to, and to the survival of those who carry and defend this path throughout the ages.

This was further emphasized when she responded boldly and defiantly when faced with his wicked words: “Your father and brother left the religion?” She replied, “I was guided by the religion of God, and the religion of my grandfather, father, and brother, and you and your father were guided if you were Muslims.” This was her official declaration that he entered Islam either unwillingly or out of compulsion, or not at all—adding yet another scandal to his disgrace in front of the public.

Her positions were not limited to these two tyrants; she had dozens of stances along the path of dignity and resistance from Karbala to Kufa and from there to Sham, correcting misconceptions, clarifying the objectives set by Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), and revealing the oppression suffered by the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). She was their defender and the protector of the law of her great grandfather… Her cries and protests continue to resonate through the ages, and the free people draw inspiration from her contributions.

Her work did not stop here; it continued even after her return from the captivity journey to her grandfather’s city (Medina), where she gathered people and exposed the plots of the Umayyads and those who supported them among the powerful forces aiming to destroy the Muhammadan Islam and its pure path.

This is the Sayyida of Banu Hashim, in her doctrinal aspect, carrying the blood of martyrdom, preserving the great Hussaini epic, and exposing the deceit of the impostors and their offspring who openly commit injustice and corruption. In her psychological and social aspect, she is a symbol of dignity, reverence, modesty, and chastity, a model of pride, honor, and elevation at its finest, and a role model in prayer, steadfastness on principles, and patience… Our final words: All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace be upon Muhammad and his pure family.”