Maqam of Sayyida Zainab (AS) — Damascus
مَقَامُ السَّيِّدَةِ زَيْنَبَ
The shrine of Maulatona Zainab bint Ali (AS) — the daughter of Imam Ali (AS) and Syedatona Fatema (AS), and the sister of Imam Husain (AS). After the tragedy of Karbala on Ashura, Zainab (AS) was taken captive along with the women and children of the household. She was brought to the court of Yazid in Damascus, where her historic and defiant speech before Yazid ibn Muawiya resounded as one of the most powerful proclamations of truth in Islamic history. She spent time in Damascus before being permitted to return to Medina, and later (by many accounts) to the surroundings of Damascus where she passed away. Her golden-domed shrine in the Damascus suburb that now bears her name has become one of the most visited Shia pilgrimage sites in the world.
Why it Matters
Maulatona Zainab (AS) is one of the central figures of the Karbala narrative — it was through her testimony, strength, and eloquence that the message of Imam Husain (AS) was preserved and transmitted to the world. Without her, the story of Karbala might have died with its martyrs. She is revered as 'Aqilat Bani Hashim' — the wise woman of the Hashimite clan — and 'Umm al-Masa'ib' — the mother of sorrows. For Bohras, her courage at Karbala and her speech before Yazid are celebrated in marsiya and majlis.
Dua when visiting
السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكِ يَا بِنْتَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكِ يَا أُخْتَ سَيِّدِ الشُّهَدَاء
Also in this region
4- Jannat al-Baqi — Cemetery of the Prophet's family Madina al-Munawwara Ahl al-Bayt جَنَّةُ البَقِيع
- Jannat al-Mualla — Sacred Cemetery of Mecca Mecca Ahl al-Bayt جَنَّةُ المُعَلَّى
- Shrine of Hazrat Abbas ibn Ali (AS) Karbala Ahl al-Bayt مَرْقَدُ العَبَّاسِ
- Masjid al-Aqsa — The Third Sacred Mosque Jerusalem (al-Quds) Anbiya الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَ