Seerah

The life of the Prophet's family was highly flourishing with the existence of the two Imams al-Hasan and al-Husayn (a) who occupied their grandfather's heart completely. Their two sons before them and as they saw the Prophet's love for them. Once, he (s) expressed his love for these two sins by saying:

"These two are my only basils that I take from this world."1

In the midst of this delightful atmosphere, Lady fatimah al-Zahra' became pregnant for the third time. Everybody, including the Messanger of Allah (s), was waiting for the new baby.2

With more delight and pleasure, Lady Fatimah gave birth of a she-baby who would exceed all Muslim women in fields of faith, honor, chastity, and perseverance on the principles. The ahl al-Bayt and the Prophet's companions received the new of the birth of Lady zaynab with gladness.

Imam 'Ali (a) hurried to take his newborn, kissed her frequently, and held the Shariite ceremonies of newborns. The Imam (a) recited azan3 in his newborn's right ear and iqamah4 in the left. Hence, the first voice that penetrated the newborn's hearing was her father's, shouting:

Allahu Akbar ---Allah is the Greatest...

La ilaha illa (a)llah ---there is no god but Allah.

These great words found a strong ground in the inner self of lady Zaynab. They, later on, became the most significant elements of her personality. In the future, she would adopt the calling to the true application of these words for which she would encounter horrible adversities.

As soon as he was informed about the news of the giving birth of this newborn, the Prophet (s) hurried to his daughter's house, embraced the newborn to his chest warmly, and began to weep. It was a surprising view for the mother, Fatimah al-Zahra, to see her father's tears drop on his face, "What for are you weeping, father?" asked she.

"Fatimah," said the father (s) with sad tone, "you should know that this daughter will have to suffer horrible misfortunes and tragedies after my and your demise."5

At these moments, the Prophet (s) perceived the horrifying hardships that would afflict his granddaughter. Naturally, Fatimah al-Zahra (a) participated in her father's griefs at these moments. Then the close friend of the Ahl al-Bayt, Salman, came to congratulate on that occasion but he found the household sinking in griefs and unhappiness. Hence, he also participated in that ceremony of consolation.6

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1- See kenz al'Ummal; 7/110, al-Bukhari's al-Sahih; Cahpter: Kitab al-Adab, Majma' al-Zawa'id; 9/181, Ibn 'Asakir's at-Tarikh; 13/39.

2- Through some historians say that the first she-baby of Lady Fatimah al-Zagra' was ruqayyah, nicknamed Ummu kulthum, most of historians have proved Lady Zaynab's having been Lady Fatima's first she-baby. As evidence, in the reign of the Umayyad State when the Ahl al-Bayt and their partisans were persecuted, anyone who wanted to relate something to Imam Ali, would say, "Father of Zaynad said do-and-so." See Ibn Abu al-Hadid, Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah.

3- Azan is the call to prayer.

4- Iqamah is the prefatory statements of the ritual prayer.

5- See At-Tiraz al-Mudhahhab; 38.

6- See Batalatu Karbala; 21.

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