At the time when Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (PBUH) was pregnant with Lady Zaynab, the Noble Prophet of Islam (PBUH) was not in Medina; he had set out on one of his journeys. When that oppressed lady (Lady Zaynab) entered the world from the realm of the womb, Lady Fatimah (PBUH) sent word to Imam Ali (PBUH), saying: “My father is on a journey and not present — please name this daughter.” Imam Ali (PBUH) replied: “I will not precede your father in this matter. Be patient, for he will return soon, and whatever name he deems best, he shall give her.” After three days, the Messenger of God returned.
Imam Ali (PBUH) came to him and said: “O Messenger of God! God Almighty has granted your daughter a daughter; please determine her name.” The Prophet replied: “Although the children of Fatimah are my children, their affairs rest with the Lord of the Worlds. I await revelation.” At that moment, the Archangel Gabriel descended and said: “O Messenger of God! Your Lord sends you greetings and says: ‘Name this newborn Zaynab, for this name has already been written in the Preserved Tablet.’” The Prophet (PBUH) asked for the blessed infant to be brought to him. He held her to his chest, kissed her, and named her Zaynab. Then he said: “I advise all of my community — those present and those absent — to honour this girl with great respect, for she resembles Khadijah al-Kubra.”
Even in her early childhood, Lady Zaynab (PBUH) possessed lofty and profound understanding. One day, she asked her father, Imam Ali (PBUH): “Father, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, of course.” Then she said: “Two loves — the love of God and the love of one’s children — cannot dwell together in the heart of a believer. Thus, the foundation of this affection is that true and pure love belongs to God, while compassion and tenderness belong to one’s children; therefore, this love is for the sake of God.” Imam Ali (PBUH) affirmed and praised her words.
Such deep understanding, especially in childhood, reveals the profound inner knowledge that existed within Zaynab al-Kubra. On the Day of Ashura, when she brought her young son before Imam Husayn (PBUH) and pleaded with him to accept the child for sacrifice, she said: “If fighting and struggle had been made obligatory upon women, I would have gladly sacrificed a thousand lives for the Beloved.” What depth of insight this was — that it moved her to offer her own child, with her own hands, in the path of God. It is clear that what made her the eternal symbol of patience and self-sacrifice was her exalted knowledge and recognition of the Almighty God and His divine representative.
5 جمادی الاول 1447
27 October 2025