Rajab 15 marks the martyrdom anniversary of Seyyedah Zainab (pbuh) who safeguarded the religion of Islam - which is the best religion in the sight of Allah according to a Quranic verse “in-nad-dina indallah-il Islam” - by conveying the message of the martyrs of Karbala through her eloquent speeches.

The life and example of Seyyedah Zainab (pbuh) crystallized the figure of the ideal woman in Islam. Her versatile and innumerable virtues and sublime personality, modesty, chastity and knowledge reminded one of her mother, Mistress of the Women of the World Seyyedah Fatimah (pbuh).

In her character she reflected the best attributes of those who raised her. In sobriety and severity, she was likened to Umm-ul-Muminin Hazrat Khadija (pbuh) - her grandmother; in chastity and modesty to her mother Fatima-tuz -Zahra (pbuh); in eloquence to her father Imam Ali (pbuh); in forbearance and patience to her brother Imam Hassan (pbuh) and in bravery and tranquility to Imam Hussein (pbuh). Her face reflected her father’s awe and her grandfather's reverence.

She had ability to impart the teachings with such clarity and eloquence that she became known as Fasihah (Skillfully fluent) and Balighah (intensely eloquent). The depth and certainty of her knowledge earned her epithet given to her by her nephew Imam Zayn-ul-Abidin (pbuh) of ‘Aalimah gheyr Mu’allamah’ - she who has knowledge without being taught by anyone.

She was that great woman that Imam Hussein (pbuh) revealed his secret will to her before attaining martyrdom. In a bid to safeguard the life of the 4th Imam (pbuh) who would take over the Imamate after Imam Hussein (pbuh), he called Zainab (pbuh) his successor for a while.

Her speeches delivered in the Court of Yazid and Ibn-e-Ziyad in Kufa and Syria, when taken as a captive, still echo throughout the Muslim World. In a speech in Damascus at Yazid’s court, she said:

“O Yazid! You are an oppressor and have inherited cruelty and atrocity from your ancestors. You are the grandson of “Hind” who disemboweled the martyr of Ohud (referring to Prophet’s uncle, Hamzah) and ate his liver. Hence, we cannot expect more than this from you. I regard confronting you as a shame. Now that I have been brought here at your court as a captive you and your gaudy court seem so worthless to me and I still curse and rebuke you with all my might.”