Lineage
Aminah was the daughter of al-Husayn ibn Ali, born in the fourth decaed from the Prophet’s migration. Her mother was al-Rabab, from the Banu Kalb tribe. She was named after her grandmother Aminah bint Wahab, the mother of the Prophet. Her mother soon nicknamed her Sakinah (Arabic for ‘tranquility’) upon noticing that people would experience tranquility and affinity in her presence due to her generous soul and light-hearted nature.
Upbringing and Scholarly Rank
She grew up in the Prophetic home, the home of his grandson, al- Husayn ibn Ali. She was close to her father, who found tranquility in her presence. She would clear his mind of worries and make him feel at peace. Sakinah had a unique personality, formed by being raised in a house full of sacred knowledge and virtuous deeds. Her father would only be in the company of those who sought his knowledge and listen to hadiths of Prophet Muhammad from him. Upon reaching womanhood, she turned into one of the respectable ladies of the Quraysh society, earning her a high reputation. In addition, she was one of the female successors who had memorised and narrated the hadith of the Prophet.
Marriage
Sayyidah Sakinah married Musáb ibn al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam. She was a great wife and mother. She performed house chores and raised her children using the Prophetic guidance, which she learned from her father. After marriage, she shone even more brilliantly and earned widespread fame in the Islamic territories for her knowledge, morals and the way she took care of her family.
Characteristics and Knowledge
Sayyidah Sakinah (R.A.) was blessed with a sharp intellect, enlightened mind, and a broad perspective. She was also a person of profound insight who memorised the Qur’an and acted according to its dictates. She would devote herself wholly to Allah (SAW); body, mind and soul. She devoted her mind to sacred knowledge through learning and teaching. Sakina was awe-inspiring, strong of character, steadfast, patient in facing crises, and she never gave up to despair. She was renowned for her poetic taste and literary appreciation as she was one of the eloquent women of Quraysh and Banu Hasim. Sakinah was fluent, eloquent and well-spoken and mentally alert. She was also renowned for the respect she showed towards scholars of her time.
We can emulate the qualities of Sayyidah Sakinah (R.A.) in our lives by having a strong faith in Allah (SAW), devoting ourselves completely to Allah (SAW) ; our mind, body and soul, and having and showing respect to all scholars and people around surrounding us.
Importance of Female Leadership
Female leadership has been vital to the development of the Muslim society, throughout Islamic history there have emerged pioneering examples of women who have performed and active role in the advancement if Islamic civilization, and hence contributed in a large way to shaping the events in the Muslim world and positively influencing its civilization trajectory motivated by their strong sense of responsibility towards building the society.
Umm Salamah is one of the female leaders of the Muslim society in history who, like Sayyiday Sakinah (R.A.), was an exceptional wife to her husband (The Prohphet (SAW)), carried out and completed all of her religious duties and reared her children in accordance to with the Prophetic guidance.
Death
Sayyidah Sakina was nearing eighty, having reached a level of knowledge and excellence that set her apart from women of her time, when she passed away in Medina on a Thursday in year 117 AH. Her funeral prayer was attended by a large number of Muslims. May Allah have mercy on her and her forefathers.
Sakina Bint Al Hussein 