Sayyidah Zaynab bint ʿAli (Arabic: الـسَّـیّـده زَیـنـب بـنـت عـلی, Also: ‘Zainab’) was the daughter of the first Shia Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah bint Muhammad. The Prophet Muhammad was her maternal grandfather, and thus she is a member of his Progeny. Therefore, she is often revered not only for her admirable characteristics and actions, but also for her membership in, and continuation of, the biological line of Muhammad. Like other members of her family she became a great figure of sacrifice, strength, and piety in Islam – in the Sunni and Shi‘i sects of the religion. Zaynab married ‘Abdullah ibn Ja‘far, and had three sons and two daughters with him. When her brother, Imam Al-Husain, stood up against Yazid ibn Mu‘awiyah in 680 CE (61 AH), Zaynab accompanied him. She played an important role in protecting the life of her nephew, Imam ‘Ali ibn Al-Husayn, and because of her sacrifice and heroism, she became known as the “Heroine of Karbala”. Zaynab died in 681 CE, and her Masjid is located in Damascus, Syria.
