“That is not for you...

“That is not for you,” said the Commander of the faithful, “Let her choose a person from the Muslims.” She walked till she put her hand on the head of al-Husayn, peace be on him.[^1] Some historians have mentioned a report similar to this account. They said: “Yazdigird had two daughters. They were taken prisoners during the time of ‘Umar. Thus, the Commander of the faithful (Imam ‘Ali), peace be on him, took them. Of these he had given Imam al-Husayn and she bore him Zayn al-‘Abidin.

He had given the other to Muhammad b. Abi Bakr and she bore him al-Qasim.[^2] Ibn Kullakan has mentioned a similar report to this. However, he has added that they were three (daughters). So he (the Commander of the faithful) had given the third to ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar.[^3] B. At the Time of ‘Uthman Al-Sadu’q has reported: “When ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar conquered Khurasan (Iran) during the days of ‘Uthman, he took the two daughters of Yazdigird prisoners. He sent them to ‘Uthman.

Of them the latter had given to al-Hasan. He had given the other to al-Husayn.[^4]” C. At the Time of the Caliphate of the Commander of the Faithful A group of the historians and the narrators has reported: “When the Commander of the faithful (Imam ‘Ali), peace be on him, had assumed the caliphate, he appointed Hurayth b. Jabir over part of the eastern provinces. The latter had sent him two daughters of Yazdigird b. Sharyyar.

Of these he had given his son al-Husayn, peace be on him, Shahzanan and she bore him Zayn al-‘Abidin, peace be on him. He had given the other to Muhammad b. Abi Baker and she bore him al-Qasim, the famous jurist.” These are the reports which have been mentioned of her marriage to Imam (Husayn), the Lord of martyrs, peace be on him. Worth mentioning, the last two reports have not mentioned the capture of Mrs.

Shahzanan with her two sisters, rather they have mentioned that they were sent to the Caliph. But the first report is clear in mentioning their capture. Checking the Reports We must check these different reports. We think that the first report is incorrect for the following reasons: Yazdigird was alive throughout the caliphate of ‘Umar. He died after his death. He was killed in Maru in the year 30 A.H. That was in the sixth year of the caliphate of ‘Uthman.

We firmly believe that Shahzanan and her two sisters disappeared after the murder of their father till the caliphate of the Commander of the faithful (Imam ‘Ali). The Commander of the faithful appointed Hurayth b.