Imam Sadiq Online Seminary offers heartfelt condolences on the occasion of 15th of Rajab, the demise anniversary of Lady Zainab (peace be upon her), Daughter of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him)
 
To fully comprehend the message of Karbala one has to fathom two thoughts. One is the rising of Imam Hussain (as) and the other is the rising of Lady Zainab (a). Lady Zainab (a) was an outstanding figure in the history of Karbala endowed with divine steadfastness and fortitude. After the martyrdom of her brother and her two sons in the battle of Karbala, Lady Zainab stood tall and said: "O my Lord! Accept our humble sacrifice to You."

The calamities that befall upon this lady were to the extent that she received the title of Umm al-Masaib (Mother of Misfortunes). Apart from witnessing the calamities which befell on her parents, Imam Ali(a) and Lady Fatimah(a) and also her brother she went through severe distress in the event of Karbala. Yet, when she was bought to the palace of ibn Zyad, and ibn Zayd tried to affront her by saying, “How did you find the way Allah treated your brother and your family?”, Lady Zainab (a), with a tone full of pride and power, indicating her faith and submission towards Allah (s), answered:

“I saw nothing but beauty. …They rushed towards their graves (with honor). But know that Allah will judge between you and them, and He will call you to account; so be worried about the winner on that day (either it will be you or them). O son of Marjanah! May your mother be mournful for you.”

Some of these misfortunes that she saw in a period of about a month:
- She saw al-Hurr ibn Yazid force Imam al-Husayn to stop and put down camp in a desolate place.
• She saw the Imam with a few companions in comparison to the great numbers in the enemy’s army.
• She saw most of the Imam’s so-called partisans abandon him and join his enemies.
• She saw the women of the household fear and worry when they had to camp in Karbala.
• She saw the enemies deprive her people and her of water.
• She had to take care of the children and women while they were crying out of thirst.
• She had to witness her brother’s feelings of disappointment and loneliness.
• She had to witness the martyrdom of her two sons, as well as the other relatives and companions who were martyred one by one. The martyrdom of al-Abbas, however, was the most disastrous for her.
• She saw how Imam al-Husayn (a) was without any supporter or helper, while he was seeking help.
• She saw the head of Imam al-Husayn (a) cut off and then being raised on spearheads.
• She saw the enemies attack her brother’s caravan and women, trying to set fire to the tents.
• She had to gather the children and women who dispersed and fled to everywhere in that desert.
• She had to pass by the dead and severed body of her brother while gathering the women and children of the family.
• She had to ride on lean, unsaddled camels and to help the children and women to mount on such animals.
• She had to exert all efforts for taking care of her ill nephew and consoling him.
• She had to go through the scenes of being made captive, then being driven from one town to another while people were looked at them as rebels.
• And many more…
It is narrated that the Holy Prophet (S) once said, “To weep for the misfortunes of Zaynab is as same as to weep for her brothers; al-Hasan and al-Husayn.”