hazrat robab peace be upon her

Life

Lady Rubab (peace be upon her) was the daughter of Amru al-Qays al-Kalbi, the third daughter of a Christian man who converted to Islam during the time of the second caliph and married Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). She is reported to be the only wife of the Imam who was present at Karbala. Lady Rubab (peace be upon her) had a daughter named Sakina and a son named Abdullah, famously known as Ali Asghar (peace be upon him), who was an infant. When Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) raised the infant to ask for water from the enemies, hoping to guide some of them away from misguidance, the child was struck by an arrow from Harmala and died in his father’s arms.

Historical evidence clearly shows that Lady Rubab was a noble and significant woman of Karbala and one of the most beloved and esteemed wives of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). She was a renowned, virtuous, and loyal woman of her time. Lady Rubab had a special knowledge and love for Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) and was a faithful and good wife to him. Her poems and elegies mourning Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) reflect her profound knowledge and admiration for the martyrdom of Sayyid al-Shuhada (peace be upon him).

Lady Rubab (peace be upon her) was an educated, learned, and distinguished woman who held a high status with Imam al-Hussein (peace be upon him). The depth and extent of anyone’s status can be gauged from the words of the great figures, especially the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). The expressions of Imam al-Hussein (peace be upon him) about her reveal the elevated position of this great lady.

She understood the greatness of Abu Abdullah’s position and accompanied Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) to Karbala.

After the Ashura event, Lady Rubab (peace be upon her) was taken captive like other women of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and was part of the caravan of captives taken to Kufa and Damascus. It is reported that in Kufa, in the presence of Ibn Ziyad, Lady Rubab (peace be upon her) became distraught upon seeing the head of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him); she approached it, took it from the basin, embraced and kissed it, and then sang:

“Oh Hussein! I shall never forget you; the enemies targeted you with their spears.

They left you lying dead in Karbala; may God not provide water to that land after you.”

Lady Rubab (peace be upon her) was constantly grieving and mourning for Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him); it is said that after the Ashura event, she never stayed under a roof until, after a year, she became ill due to her intense grief and sorrow over Imam Hussein’s (peace be upon him) martyrdom and passed away in the year 62 AH in Medina.

Virtues:

It is well understood among the scholars that the love and animosity towards the Imam (peace be upon him) are not merely personal or emotional; rather, hatred towards an infallible Imam signifies the utmost wickedness of a person, while love for the Imam reflects the spiritual greatness and nobility of the individual. Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) loved Rubab (peace be upon her) deeply; when she became his wife, she achieved a significant status in terms of her inner qualities and became greatly loved by him. Some sources report that Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) expressed his profound love for her in these verses:

“By your life, I swear that I love a house where Sakina and Rubab live.

I love them both and would give all my wealth for them, and reproach from others is neither just nor fitting.”

In “Wafi al-Wafayat,” Safadi writes:

“Rubab was one of the best, most beautiful, and most virtuous women.”

Ibn Asakir in “Tareekh al-Damashq” mentions:

“She was among the most beautiful and wisest of women.”

Sayyid Mohsen Amin also describes Lady Rubab (peace be upon her) in “Ayan al-Shi’a”:

“She was among the best of women in terms of beauty, manners, and intellect.”

Hisham al-Kalbi says:

“Rubab was one of the best and most virtuous women.”

The virtues and scholarly achievements of Lady Rubab are well-known. The holy figures of God, in reaching the highest status, are often tested with more challenging trials from the Most Merciful. It might not be an exaggeration to refer to her as “Zaynab al-Thani of Karbala,” as her actions during and after the Karbala event are profound, reflecting a role akin to a divine representative and mediator in conveying significant divine matters, similar to what is attributed to Lady Zaynab (peace be upon her) and Lady Maryam (peace be upon her), who were also considered divine representatives in certain important matters.

May God’s peace and blessings be upon her and all pure and chaste believing women throughout history, especially those present in Karbala, and all the companions of the master and martyr leader, peace be upon him, on the day they were born, the day they were martyred, and the day they will be resurrected.