Text:Debate of Lady Zaynab (a) with 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad

The debate of Lady Zaynab (a) with Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad refers to the conversation that took place after the tragedy of Karbala between Lady Zaynab (a) and Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad, the governor of Kufa. The famous statement "I saw nothing but beauty" was uttered by Lady Zaynab (a) in response to Ibn Ziyad during this dialogue.

Entry of the Captives of Karbala into the Palace of Kufa

The debate of Lady Zaynab (a) with ʿUbayd Allah b. Ziyad took place in Muharram of 61 AH/680, after the tragedy of Karbala, in the palace of Ibn Ziyad in Kufa. After the captives and the heads of the martyrs of Karbala were paraded through the city of Kufa, Ibn Ziyad sat in his palace and held a public assembly. The head of Imam al-Husayn (a) was placed before Ibn Ziyad, and the women and children of Imam al-Husayn (a) were brought into the assembly. While Lady Zaynab (a) was wearing her modest garments and was surrounded by women and maidservants, she entered the gathering anonymously and sat in a corner.

Assembly of Ibn Ziyad and the Beginning of the Debate

It is said that Ibn Ziyad held such a gathering in order to demonstrate his power and to intimidate the people. He summoned the notables of the city and his commanders to this assembly. According to researchers, ʿUbayd Allah b. Ziyad convened this assembly to counter the sermon of Lady Zaynab (a) in Kufa, to terrify the captives of Karbala, and, through disputation and sophistry, to present himself as victorious and to depict the movement of Imam al-Husayn (a) as defeated.

With logical and reasoned speech, Lady Zaynab (a) invalidated the false claims of Ibn Ziyad. These responses are regarded as having enraged Ibn Ziyad and made him feel defeated in his propaganda campaign against the Ahl al-Bayt (a).

Text of the Debate

'Ubayd Allah asked: "Who is this woman who has withdrawn herself while the other women have gathered around her?" Zaynab (a) did not reply. 'Ubayd Allah repeated his question. One of the maidservants said: "She is Zaynab, the daughter of Fatima, the daughter of the Noble Prophet."

Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad: Praise be to God, who disgraced you, killed your family, and showed that what you claimed was nothing but lies.	-
Zaynab (a) replied: "Allah be praised for He blessed our family with His prophet, who was of our family, and purified us. No one would be disgraced, but those who are transgressors, and would not lie but a wicked person, which is others (addressing 'Ubayd Allh and his followers) rather than us, and all praise belongs to Allah".	-
'Ubayd Allah said: "Did you see how Allah dealt with your family?"	-
Zaynab (a) replied: "I saw nothing but beauty! Allah ordained them to be killed, and they obeyed and hurried after their tombs, and soon Allah will gather you and them (on the Judgement day), and they will complain of you to Allah. Now, I look forward to whom would win the claim. May your mother mourn your death, O son of Marjana!"	-

Her strong language offended 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad, and he was about to make an adverse decision before Amr b. Hurayth al-Makhzumi said: "O commander! This is just a woman, and no one blames a woman for what she says".

'Ubayd Allah addressed Zaynab (a) again: "Allah soothed my heart by your disobedient brother, and his rebellious family and troops being killed".	-
Zaynab (a) said: "By Allah you killed my master; you cut down my sapling and uprooted me. You are soothed then, if that is by what you get soothed".	-
'Ubayd Allah said with anger and sarcasm: "Same as her father, she is an orator. By my life, your father also was a poet and used rhymes".	-
Zaynab (a) replied: "What does a woman have to do with rhymes? (It is no time to use rhymes, my mind was occupied with other concerns, and, moved by the burning in my heart, words flowed to my tongue and I spoke.)	-

References

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