Caravan of Zainab bint Batul

Virtuous Life of Zainab is a moving episode of a courageous lady who demonstrated tremendous serenity on every turbulent occasion. She showed patience while daringly supporting the oppressed and confronting the oppressors. Whether it was the demise of the grandfather, the occurrence of Fidak or the death of her beloved mother, Syeda Zainab bint Imam Ali stayed calm but expressed her emotions in a dignified manner. The assassination of her father and ten years later the poisoning of her brother's eldest brother was hurtful events in her life although the greatest tragedy of Karbala was yet to come. As was prophesized by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about the martyrdom of Imam Hussain ibn Imam Ali, she kept the company until they researched the plains of Karbala in Iraq. She witnessed the merciless slaughter of 18 male members of her household and 90 supporters of Ahlul Bayt by 18,000 strong heavily armed and fully trained Syrian army units. This unfortunate incident shattered her profusely as she had also lost two innocent sons in the encounter. She was made captive along with just over twenty women and three dozen children. When presented at the court of Obaidullah ibn Ziyad, her thunderous voice and boldness succeed in humiliating the governor of Kufa who had committed an unforgivable sin by shedding the blood of the praiseworthy youth of Banu Hashim. her next address was at the palace of Caliph Yazid bin Mu’awiya in Damascus. Syeda Zainab delivered a memorable speech in which she reminded him of hell fire for his unprovoked acts of bloody aggression against the family of the Prophet of God. Her roaring speech challenged the conscious audience at the court. She led the Caravan and headed back to Medina where she resumed her sermons attended by thousands of women. Being fearful of rebellion, Yazid ordered her expulsion from Medina and two years later she quietly passed away in Damascus in 62 Hijra. Her shrine is visited by millions of Muslims from all over the world. Indeed, it is a painfully truthful and utterly absorbing tale of a pious Arab woman who endured tribulations with unstinted bravery, captivating resilience, and imposing fortitude.