ISLAMIC BIOGRAPHY

LINEAGE

Sayyida (our mistress) Sukayna was a blessed daughter of our master Imām Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī ibn Abī-Ṭālib and Lady Rabāb, may Allāh be pleased with them all, and a princess of the family of the Prophet ṣall-Allāhu ʿalaihi wa-sallam. Bibi Sakina (AS) was born on the 1st of Rajab in Madina in 57 A.H.

Her birth name was Amīna, but her mother gave her the title Sukayna and that became her name afterwards. Later, the pronunciation of the name changed to Sakīna which is more popular today than the original Sukayna. She was also given the name “Sakina” as she was a living representation of the meaning of her name which is “tranquillity”. She was a vivacious child full of love and happiness and spread tranquillity to whoever who was in her presence, although she was actually named Aminah after her grandmother, Aminah bint Wahb.

RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING & SCHOLARLY RANK

Sayyeda Sakinah grew up in the vast family house of the Prophet, particularly in the Prophet’s nephew Al Hussein bin Ali’s home, may Allah have mercy on them. She grew up on the prophet’s teachings and manners. She and her father were very close and used to pursue peace and serenity in the company of each other.

She was a lively child, full of love and happiness. Being the daughter of the holy Imam, she was different from other children of her age in many ways. She was very religious and enjoyed reading the Holy Quran and never missed her prayers. From a very early age, she took great care to make sure that her head and face were properly covered when in public. She was a hafiz e Quran at four years old.

She earned a high reputation for politeness, intelligence, and morals when she became an adult and turned into a Quraysh family woman. In addition, she had memorized and narrated Rasoolullah’s hadiths (PBUH) depicting her fidelity to Islam. She was the best poet of her age. The great poets of Quraysh used to learn from her.

CHARACTERISTICS & ATTRIBUTES

She had inherited all the virtues and qualities of her ancestors. 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. Her generosity was a manifestation of her noble grandparents. She always had a sweet and cheerful smile and a very friendly nature. She was very generous and always shared whatever she had with others. 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.”

Her mother, Rabab, nicknamed her Sakina because she was a source of peace and comfort to all her family members due to her merriness and liveliness. It was said that her father, Imam Husayn said about her;

By my life, I love the house wherein Sakina and Rabab live

I love her and for her would all my fortune sacrifice,

without blame.

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.

The majority of the narrators and historians unanimously agree that Lady Sakina married three times: first to Mus’ab ibn al-Zubayr, followed by Abdullah ibn Uthman ibn Abdullah, and then Zayd ibn Amr ibn Uthman ibn Affan.

HER PASSING AWAY

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

Sakina (AS) sacrificed her whole family for Islam. She showed bravery and patience at all times .She was a source of strength for the other children. Another great leader was Lady Zainab. She was a really accurate representation of the meaning of her name which is 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.

Allah (SWT) 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.