Zaynab bint Ali
The Lineage of Lady Zainab al-Kubra, Daughter of Ali
Lady Zainab al-Kubra's lineage can be traced as follows: She is the daughter of Ali, the son of Abu Talib, belonging to the Hashemite lineage – may they be blessed. Her mother is Fatimah al-Zahra, the daughter of the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him. Zainab is a descendant of the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him – and she is the sister of Hasan and Husayn, the grandchildren of the Messenger of Allah – may they be blessed.
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani – may Allah have mercy on him – included her among the female companions in his book "Al-Isabah fi Ma'rifat al-Sahabah". He quoted Ibn al-Athir – may Allah have mercy on him – stating that she was born during the time of the Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him.
Marriage of Lady Zainab, Daughter of Ali, and Her Children
Lady Zainab married her cousin Abdullah, the son of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib. From this marriage, she bore Ali, Awn al-Akbar, Abbas, Muhammad, Um Kulthum, and Ruqayyah. However, she passed away before they reached adulthood, along with her son Ja'far.
Virtues of Lady Zainab
Lady Zainab was a wise and discerning woman known for her sound judgment. She held a high and esteemed position, being eloquent and firmly principled. Additionally, she was well-versed in knowledge, having narrated hadiths from her mother, Fatimah al-Zahra – may Allah be pleased with her – and from her husband's stepmother, Asma bint Umays – may Allah be pleased with her.
She also transmitted hadiths from some of the Prophet's followers, such as Tuhman or Dhakwan, and narrated the hadith of the sanctity of alms for Muhammad and the family of Muhammad. Several scholars have reported her narrations, including Muhammad ibn Amr and Ata ibn al-Sa'ib. Among the women, her niece, Fatimah bint al-Husayn, also narrated from her. Imam Ibn Hajar – may Allah have mercy on him – described her as "a wise, discerning, and eloquent woman".
Note: The Arabic text mentions "Tuhman" or "Dhakwan," but these names are not well-known, and the specific individuals referred to may not be easily identified.
The Death of Lady Zainab
Lady Zainab passed away during her marriage to Abdullah ibn Ja'far in Damascus. There are differing accounts regarding the exact time and place of her death:
- Some sources state that she died in the year 62 AH in Medina and was buried in Al-Baqi'.
- Others claim that she was buried in Egypt.
- Some suggest that she was buried in Damascus.
It is important to note that there is no definitive and conclusive evidence to support any of these claims. Some scholars have pointed out that there is no mention of Zainab's journey to Egypt, and historical sources do not provide clear information about her departure from Medina. Therefore, the most reliable opinion among these scholars is that she passed away in Medina and was buried in Al-Baqi'.
