Hadrat Zainab virtues were to such an extent that she was given titles by these meanings: the wise woman of (the tribe of) Bani Hashim, the trustworthy, the knowledgeable, the virtuous, and the ideal. The name "Zainab" has been taken from the two root words “Zain” and “Ab”, which means ‘the beauty of father’.
Lady Zainab (PBUH)was born to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (PBUH) and Lady Fatimah (PBUH) in the fifth of Jamadi al-Ulaa, year 5 A.H.
She was the third child of the family i.e. she was born after Imam Hussain (PBUH).
Lady Zainab (PBUH) is the message bearer of the martyrs in Karbala and the companion of Imam Hussain (PBUH) in the important rising of Ashura.
Imam Hussain (PBUH) would show great respect for Lady Zainab (PBUH) when she would come to see him. Lady Zainab (PBUH) has narrated many sayings from her grandfather Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP), from her father Imam Ali (PBUH), and from her mother Lady Fatimah (PBUH).
Lady Zainab (PBUH) had a strong heart and eloquent language. She was brave, ascetic, pious, modest and very courageous. When Imam Hussain (PBUH) denied paying allegiance to Yazid, he left the city of Medina to go to Mecca. Lady Zainab (PBUH) accompanied him with her two children.
She devoted herself to the movement of Imam Hussain (PBUH). She supervised the captives of the caravan after Ashura, took care of Imam Ali ibn Hussain (PBUH) when he was ill, and revealed the true evil character of the Umayyad Dynasty through her sermons.
Describing the divine virtues and spiritual qualities of Hadrat Zainab (PBUH), Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic once said in a historic message as follwoing:
The Lord of the Martyrs, his followers and the members of his household taught us our duty: sacrifice on the field of battle, propagation off it.
The sacrifice made by Imam Husayn (PBUH), upon whom be peace, was of great value before God the Blessed and Exalted and helped advance his movement. So too, almost to the same degree, the sermons delivered by Hazrat Sajjad and Hazrat Zaynab (PBUH) were just as effective.