BIOGRAPHY

Sakina Bint al Hussein

She is Amina the daughter of al-Husayn, the son of Ali, the son of Abu Taleb (may Allah be pleased with them all). Bibi Sakina (AS) was born on the 1st of Rajab in Madina in 57 A.H. Her mother is Rabab Bint Umri’ al-Qays, the son of Adiyy, the son of Aws, the master of Banu Kalb. She was a vivacious child, full of love and happiness.

Religious Upbringing

She grew up in the prophet’s expensive family house. She grew up on the prophet’s teachings and manners. She was the best of the noble ladies of her time, the most beautiful among them, the most elegant, and the nicest in mannerism. Even though she was so young, she was very patient in the face of suffering and hardship. She was the best poet of her age. The great poets of Quraysh used to learn from her. She was a hafiz e Quran at four years old.

Marriage

When she grew up, she was married with Muṣʿab ibn Zubayr, son of the well known companion Zubayr ibn al-ʿAwwam raḍiyAllāhu ʻanhu. From him, she had a daughter named Fāṭima. In 72 AH, her husband Muṣʿab was killed by the tyrant Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf, who sent his head to his brother ʿAbdu’llāh ibn Zubayr who had assumed the position of caliph. By some historical accounts, she married a number of men after the martyrdom of her first husband. These include Ibrāhīm son of the great companion ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf.

Characterstics

She had inherited all the virtues and qualities of her ancestors. She faced extreme hardships throughout her life but faced them with patience and forbearance. Her generosity was a manifestation of her noble grandparents. One day, many poets had gathered at the door of her house, including the well known Jarīr and Farazdaq. She ordered her maid to give away one million dirhams to them. Her beauty was unparalleled in the women of Arabia, to the extent that people would often exemplify a beautiful woman by saying that she had “the forehead of Sukayna.”

Death

She lived most of her life in Madīnah. The journey of her life ended in the month of Rabīʿ al-Awwal 117 AH in Madīnah according to the strongest opinion of historians. Her body was scented with thirty dīnārs worth of perfume. Her funeral prayer was led by Shaybah ibn Naṣṣāḥ, and she was buried in the Baqīʿ cemetery.

Importance of female leadership in a Muslim society.

She showed bravery and patience at all times .She was a source of strength for the other children when they were waiting for Hazrat Abbas (AS) to return with water . Sakina (AS) sacrificed her whole family for Islam. Lady Zainab, daughter of Imam Ali (peace be upon them both): For those who know the story and events of Karbala and Ashura, a few seconds of thought about what the name “Zainab” means to us can go something along the lines of: bravery, courage, strength, passion, dedication, love, leader, and most prominent for most, sacrifice.
Lady Zainab was all of those things, and more, and there really cannot be enough words to describe this woman’s contribution to the spreading of Islam throughout the world due to her distinct and elevated character. This shows that Allah has given everybody strength and power, regardless the gender. These noble women leaders show that women are no less than men. This also shows that when you have good intentions towards something, Allah is always there to help you out no matter what.