Encyclopedia of Islam

Further reading: Heinz Halm, Shiism. Translated by 

Janet Watson (Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh 

Press, 1992); Wilferd Madelung, Religious Schools and 

Sects in Medieval Islam (London: Varirum Reprints, 

1985); Brinkley Messick, The Calligraphic State: Textual 

Domination and History in a Muslim Society (Berkeley: 

University of California Press, 1996); G. vom Bruck, 

“The Zaydi Sadah of the Yemen: The Temporalities 

of Religious Tradition,” Oriente Moderno 18 (1999): 

393–411.

Zaynab bint Ali ibn Abi Talib

 

(627–682)  

granddaughter of Muhammad widely venerated by  

Shii Muslims

Commonly known as Sayyida (or Sitt) Zaynab, 

Zaynab bint Ali ibn Abi Talib was the granddaugh-

ter of m

Uhammad

 and, as a witness to the Battle of 

k

arbala

, played a seminal role in the history and 

development of s

hiism

. She is now an important 

role model for many Shii Muslims (especially 

women) in both their political and their personal 

lives.

Sayyida Zaynab was born to F

atima

, the 

daughter of Muhammad, in Medina in 627. Her 

father Ali became the fourth 

caliph

 (r. 656–661) 

after Muhammad’s death and is considered by 

K  720