As Ab ʿAbd All h al-Ḥusayn, son of ʿAl and F ṭima and grandson of Muḥammad, moved inexorably towards death on the field of Karbal ʾ, his sister Zaynab was drawn ever closer to the centre of the family of Muḥammad, the 'people of the house' (ahl al-bayt). There she would remain for a few historic days, challenging the wickedness of the Islamic leadership, defending the actions of her brother, initiating the commemorative rituals, protecting and nurturing the new Im m, al-Ḥusayn's son ʿAl b. al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAl b. Ab Ṭ lib, until he could take his rightful place. This is her story.