In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

The Best Worship

The key to success for every distinguished human being is worshiping and obeying Allah (SWT), since the purpose of creation of mankind is nothing but worship. However, worship has a broad meaning and is not restricted to praying or fasting. In his book of “Mufradat”, Raghib Isfahani states that “Worshiping and obedience means to express humbleness and humility”. It means that worship has a more inclusive meaning which is ultimate humility and humbleness.

Fatimah, daughter of Imam Hussain (PBUH), has narrated the situation of Lady Zainab (PBUH) on the night before Ashura as follows:

“On the night before Ashura, my aunt Zainab was standing in her place for worship and was supplicating to Allah (SWT). On that night, no one amongst us got to sleep and the voice of our cries was never interrupted”.

Worshiping, with its inclusive meaning, is observed in all the behaviors and characteristics of Lady Zainab (PBUH). She remained patient in all the difficulties and tragedies that happened to her to the extent that patience became impatient over her patience, and all these were considered as acts of worship for her. Is there any act of worship greater than offering two beloved children for the sake of the Holy Quran and the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT), and becoming mournful over losing six brothers such as Imam Hussain (PBUH) and Hadrat Abbas (PBUH)? Is there a greater act of worship than wearing the veil of captivity in which she was examined tens of times and she passed all successfully?

And finally, is there any act of worship greater than continuing the rising of her brother, delivering fiery sermons in the path of Kufa and Syria, and awakening ignorant people who were deceived by poisonous propaganda of Yazid and martyred Imam Hussain (PBUH) as a man who was out of Islam! Her sermons created a movement in Kufa and Damascus which shook the bases of Yazid’s kingdom and even Yazid’s son refused to replace his father as the king, and after a while, quitted the government while disgracing the oppressing dynasty of Umayyads.  

In her sermon, Lady Zainab (PBUH) warned Yazid about the Hereafter and said, ”Fear the day on which the judge is Allah (SWT), and Muhammad (PBUH&HP) himself will plead for justice. O Yazid! On that day the organs and members of people will testify against them, and it is on that day that the punishment of the oppressors will be realized”.

Of course, the greatest act of worship of Lady Zainab (PBUH) was preaching and giving advice with which she continued the tradition of the Prophets (PBUT) and the infallible Imams (PBUT).

(Selection taken from “Lady Zainab (PBUH) (The Practical Character and Behavior of Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT))”, by Sayyed Kadhim Arfa')

The Roshd Website offers condolences to you dear friend upon 15^th of Rajab, the anniversary of the demise of the symbol of worship and sacrifice, Lady Zainab (PBUH).

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