Book excerpt: "As Abãu °Abd Allãah al-òHusayn, son of Alãi and Fãaòtima and grandson of Muòhammad, moved inexorably towards death on the field of Karbalãa , his sister Zaynab was drawn ever closer to the centre of the family of Muòhammad, 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 Imãam, al-òHusayn's son °Alãi b. al-òHusayn b. °Alãi b. Abãi òTãalib, until he could take his rightful place. This is her story"--