Lady Zaynab (s.a.) in Traditions

For her high position, Lady zaynab was mentioned in a number of traditions ascribed to the Holy Prophet and the Ahl al-Bayt (s). We have already referred to the Prophet's saying that weeping for her is as same as weeping for her two brothers.

Shaykh Sulayman al-Hanafi in his famous book entitled Yanabi' al-Mawaddah Section 58, records the following- we except only the point of dicussion:

Rabi'ah al-Sa'di reported: As I asked Hudahyfah about a number of matters, he said, "Listen to this, understand it, and convey it to people. I have seen the Messenger of Allah and heard him with my ears when al-Husayn ibn 'Ali came to him on the minbar and he seated him on his shoulders and said:

O people! This is al-Husayn; his granfather and grandmother are the best people. His grandfather is the Messenger of Allah and master of Adam's descendants ... And this is al-Husayn whose father, mother, brother, and sisters are the best of people... and his sister are Zaynab and Ruqayyah ... and his two sisters shall be in Paradise...1

This prophetic saying is a clear-cut proof on the exceptional position of Lady Zaynab as she is added to the Prophet and the and the Imams and is regarded as the best of people.

Shaykh al-Saduq in his Ikmal al-Din wa Itmam al-Ni'mah, reports the following -we excerpt only the point of discussion:

'Ali ibn Mahziyar said that Abu al-Husayn Muhammad ibn Ja'far al-Asadi said that Ahmad ibn Ibrahim said:

In the year 262, I visited {Lady} Hakimah daughter of Muhammad ibn 'Ali and sister of Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari and asked her about the religion... She then said," This is what al-Husayn ibn 'Ali had done when he appointed his sister Zaynab as his representative he appointed his sister Zaynab as his representative openly, and he openly , and hence any item of knowledge that was said by 'Ali ibn al-Husayn was ascribed to zaynab.

This is another proof on the high position of Lady Zaynab in the sight of Imam al-Husayn as he appointed her to carry the weighty ingeritance of Imamate.

Shaykh al-Mufid records the following narration:

During the Battle of the Camel, 'Aishah gathered children and bondmaids, gave them drums, and ordered them to chant some poetic verses aganinst Imam 'Ali. When Ummu Salamah, the Prophet's widow, was informed about this, she decided to go there and reproach 'Aishah and the gathering women.Lady Zaynab asked to do this instead of Ummu Salamah since she knew these women very well. Hence, she disguised herself and her bondmaids and left towards these children and women. When she reached there, she noticed their vainness and futility. She then showed her reality to 'Aishah and said, "It is not strange from you and your companion (i.e. Hafsah) to help each other against Amir al-Muminin , since it was both of you who helped each other against his brother, the Messenger of Allah, until you were reproached by the Holy Qur'an,"2 'Aishah felt ashamed and excused that these women had done this out of their ignorance.

This tradition gives a clear idea about the sagacity and wisdom of Lady Zaynab who participated in the defense of Islam with her father and brothers.

The following tradition is recorded in al-Tiraz al-Mudhahhab as qouted from Nasikh al-Tawarikh:
One of the miracles of the Holey Prophet (s) was that he used to put his tongue in the mouths of Fatimah's sukling children and they were satiated. Zaynab and Ummu Kulthum were engaged in this virtue besides al-Hasan and al-Husayn.

This is in fact a sufficient honor for Lady Zaynab.

The following is recorded in Bihar al-Anwar, as qouted from Ma'ani al-Akhbar:

Muhammad ibn 'Imran asked Imam Ja'far al'Sadiq (a) whether it is true that the Holy Prophet (s) had said that because Fatimah guarded her chastity, Allah shall forbid Hell to take her progeny. Imam al-Sadiq (a) said, "yet, it is, Her progeny are al-Hasan, al-Husayn, Zaynab, and Ummu Kulthum."

The previous are only small excerpts of the traditions in which Lady Zaynab is mentioned. It has been already mentioned that she herself was a trustworthy narrator of prophetic traditions and incidents that she lived or heard from her mother.

____________

1- This hadith is reported by Abu al-Shaykh Ibn Hayyan in al-Tanbih al-Kabir and is also recirded by Jamaluddin Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Zarandi in Durar al-Simtayn.

2- The story of 'Aishah and Hafsah's having hatched plots against the Holy Prophet (s) is very famous, since it is mentioned in the Holy qur'an in details. see all books of tafsir regarding the surah of al-Tahrim.

Adopted from the book : "Lady Zaynab" by : "Ansariyan Publications"