Birth Anniversary of Lady Zaynab bint Ali (p), 1447 A.H.

Tuesday, October 28th 2025, is the 5th of Jumada al-Ula, 1447 A.H., and marks the birth anniversary of Sayyida Zaynab bint Ali (p)

The Scholar Who Needed No Teacher

As we mark the birth anniversary of Lady Zaynab (p), we remember a woman whose brilliance, strength, and devotion have inspired generations. Among the most powerful attestations of her status is the statement from her nephew, Imam Zayn al-Abidin (p) when he says, “My aunt, you are, by the grace of God, a scholar who has not been taught [by anyone else] and one who understands without having to be explained” [Al-Ihtijaj, al-Tabarsi, vol. 2, page 31]. In it, he affirms that her knowledge was not merely acquired. It was gifted, innate, and divinely inspired.

A Light of Knowledge and Clarity

Lady Zaynab was not only the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp), but also a pillar of wisdom, eloquence, and divine insight. In an age and culture where women’s voices were often dismissed, Lady Zaynab (p) stood as a beacon of clarity and courage. Her understanding of the Quran, Islamic law, and the events surrounding her came not from formal training, but from a heart illuminated by faith, proximity to the Ahl al-Bayt (p), and divine grace.

The hadith from Imam Zayn al-Abidin (p) recognizes this remarkable reality. She was a scholar whose insight required no explanation, and whose understanding transcended ordinary learning.

Courage in Karbala, Wisdom in Captivity

Nowhere is Lady Zaynab’s divinely gifted understanding more evident than in her role during and after the tragedy of Karbala. On the Day of Ashura, she bore witness to the brutal martyrdom of her brother, Imam Hussain (p), and the suffering of his companions. But her mission did not end there. In the courts of Yazid, it was Lady Zaynab who fearlessly defended the truth, dismantling the narrative of tyranny with her unwavering words. Her sermons remain among the most eloquent expressions of justice and resistance in Islamic history. Her ability to stand firm, speak truth to power, and preserve the legacy of Karbala is a living embodiment of Imam Zayn al-Abidin’s testimony: she saw with the light of God.

May her light continue to guide generations to come, and may we strive to embody even a fraction of her dignity, patience, and understanding.

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