The Role of Women in the Event of Karbala
Author: kanizane zahra
The tragedy of Karbala is not merely an account of a brutal massacre on the tenth of Muharram in 61 A.H. — it is the eternal chronicle of resistance, faith and unshakable moral courage. While the blood of the martyrs carved the path of justice on the desert sands, it was the voices, tears and strength of the women that ensured those sacrifices echoed through time. The women of Karbala were not silent mourners; they were resilient narrators, moral guardians, defenders of truth and active participants in the revolution of Imam al-Husayn (a). Their actions during and after Ashura gave life to the message of Karbala making them vital pillars of the Hussaini mission.
Among these noble women, Sayyida Zaynab al-Kubra (sa) stands as the towering emblem of spiritual resistance. Her eloquence before tyrants, her firm leadership of the caravan of captives and her resolute dignity in the aftermath of unfathomable loss inspire millions even today.
Zaynab (sa) was the beating heart of Karbala’s message — unbroken in the court of Yazid, unwavering in the ruins of Damascus. With unmatched poise, she exposed the brutality of the oppressors and preserved the sanctity of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) legacy.
Other women, too played pivotal roles. Umm Kulthum, Fatimah al-Sughra, Fatimah bint al-Husayn (as) and Fatimah bint al-Hasan (as) were among those who not only endured captivity but courageously narrated the injustices they had witnessed. Al-Rabab, the wife of Imam al-Husayn (as), mourned beside his grave and rejected comfort and remarriage, saying, "I will never have another father-in-law after the Messenger of Allah (s)." Her poetry lamenting the
Imam’s death reflects a love both personal and theological, echoing her spiritual depth.
Young girls like Ruqayyah (sa) and Sukaynah (sa), though only children, faced the harshness of Yazid’s prison with dignity beyond their years. Sukaynah’s rebuke to Yazid — “You dare to imprison the daughters of the Prophet (s)?” — is a reminder that truth can resound even from the lips of a child. These daughters of Karbala are everlasting flames of purity and defiance.
The martyrdom of Umm Wahab, who refused to leave the battlefield and was killed beside her husband, is an unparalleled account of a woman achieving martyrdom in Karbala. Her act of valor shatters all notions that courage is gendered. Similarly, Dulhum, the wife of Zuhayr ibn al-Qayn, encouraged her husband to meet Imam al-Husayn (a), leading to his eventual martyrdom. Taw‘ah, who gave refuge to Muslim ibn Aqil when all others abandoned him, showed what it means to protect truth despite overwhelming danger.
Even those who were not in Karbala played significant roles. Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet (s), mourned the Imam upon witnessing the prophesied soil of Karbala turn to blood. Women like Zaynab bint Jahsh, Safiyyah bint Abd al-Muttalib and Wishah bint Abu Bakr were among those who had received prophetic knowledge of Husayn’s (a) martyrdom and later narrated these traditions to others.
The women of Kufa and Medina expressed collective grief with heartfelt mourning when the captives passed through. Their laments were not just emotional responses but spiritual alignments with the cause of Imam Husayn (as). A Kufan woman even descended from her
home to provide the prisoners with clothes and scarves to restore their dignity. A woman from Banu Bakr ibn Wa’il courageously condemned the plundering of the Prophet’s family, crying out in moral protest. The women of Hamdan, Rabī‘ah, Kahlan, and al-Nukhā‘ even influenced
political decisions, turning public opinion against ‘Amr ibn Sa‘d’s appointment due to his involvement in Karbala.
Mothers also emerged as beacons of faith and consequence. Marjanah, the mother of the criminal ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad, reportedly rebuked her son for his role in the murder of Imam al-Husayn (a). In contrast, Riya, the old nurse of Yazid, openly condemned him for desecrating the head of the Imam. Even within the enemy's house, resistance burned quietly. Hind, the wife of Yazid himself, reportedly chastised him for his crime, offering a rare moment of conscience within the heart of tyranny.
Others, like Maryam, hosted gatherings in Basra to support the Hussaini cause, while the unnamed woman who gave shelter to two children of the Prophet’s family exhibited bravery, risking her life to protect descendants of the Ahl al-Bayt. Al-Nawar bint Jabir, the wife or sister of a killer of Burayr, severed ties with her own kin in disgust over his actions, proving that moral clarity often lies with the women.
From the battlefield to the courts of Damascus, from homes in Kufa to secret gatherings in Basra, the women of Karbala each embodied a unique form of resistance. They were mourners,
martyrs, protectors, poets, orators and activists. Their devotion to the truth remains unmatched. Their faith under pressure, love in the face of loss and ability to turn sorrow into strength make them eternal torch-bearers of the Hussaini legacy.
Conclusion
The women of Karbala were not merely participants in a historical tragedy — they were the lifeblood of a divine mission. Their grief ignited revolutions. Their sermons silenced tyrants.
Their sacrifices inspired centuries of resistance. In a world that often discounts the power of women, Karbala is a resounding testimony that women are the protectors of truth, the guardians of memory and the architects of justice. Their voices continue to call us to courage, their tears continue to soften hardened hearts and their example continues to illuminate the path of every seeker of truth. In honoring them, we honor the message of Imam al-Husayn (a) — a call to
never bow to falsehood, no matter the cost.