In the heart of historic Cairo, the mausoleum and mosque of Sayeda Zeinab (6-62 hijri), the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad, stands at the centre of a square and a district that hold her name.
Sayeda Zeinab is known among Egyptians as Om Hashim (Hashim’s mother), since she was the one who took care of the wounded and martyred members of her tribe during the battle of Karbala.
She is also known as al-Tahra (The Pure) and as “Om El-Awagez” (mother of the disabled) because she attended to elderly and disabled women.
Egyptians also know her by the title al-Mushira (The One to Consult) and Raeisat Al-Diwan (The chief of diwan) because she opened her house for the people who sought her guidance and proclaimed her the head of her diwan of spiritual guidance.
Born in the sixth year of Hijra in Madina, this bright and beautiful girl was known for her sound mind and intellect and was often referred to as Aqilat Bani Hashem (The sound mind of the tribe of Bani Hashim).
She got married and had four boys and two girls. She became known for her gatherings on Islamic jurisprudence, where she shared her knowledge. She lived a simple, pious life until she witnessed the harshest moments in Islamic history.
When she came to Egypt with her family, almost all Egyptians came out to greet her. She was greatly honoured by the Egyptian people who visited her and consulted her constantly on her premises at Qanater Al-Sibaa (The Lions Barrages), approximately the current location of El-SayedaZeinab’s mosque and mausoleum.
According to Ali Pasha Mubarak’s series Al-Khetat Al-Tawfiqia, Sayeda Zeinab Street was named after Sayeda Zeinab, daughter of Imam Ali, bless be upon him, because this is where her mausoleum is situated in a golden copper compartment with an embroidery silk cover underneath a high dome that is situated inside Al-Zainabi mosque near Qanater Al-Sibaa.
The mosque was renovated by Prince Ali Pasha Al-Wazir in 955. Then, it was renovated and enlarged during the reign of Prince Abdel-Rahman Katkhuda in 1173. The mosque is always full of visitors.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi inaugurated yesterday Al-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque, marking the completion of its renovation.
The step is part of the Egyptian government’s plan to revitalise the mausoleums of Prophet Muhammad’s family (Ahl Al-Bayt) and the surrounding areas to restore historic Cairo.
Al-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque is the third to be renovated, after Al-Hussein and Al-Sayeda Nafisa mosques during the previous two years.
Her neo-Mameluke mosque, built during the Fatimid period, houses her shrine and stands in majesty in a populous square in historic Cairo.
The Egyptian government envisions transforming the popular Al-Sayeda Zeinab District into a capital for religious tourism by developing tourism infrastructure in the area.
Al-Sayeda Zeinab died in year 62 of Hijra, with conflicting stories surrounding her burial.
Some say she was buried in Madina. Others say she was buried in Egypt. But the fact remains that she came to Egypt and that her presence is still felt, appreciated, and celebrated. People still refer to her for spiritual guidance.
Her annual moulid, one of the largest and most iconic, takes place on the 28th of Ragab in the Hijri year.
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