Zubaidah bint Ja'far facts for kids

Zubaidah bint Ja`far ibn al-Mansur (Arabic: زبيدة بنت جعفر بن المنصور) was a famous princess from the Abbasid dynasty. She was the wife and cousin of Harun al-Rashid, a powerful ruler. Zubaidah is best known for building a series of wells and pools. These helped Muslim pilgrims traveling from Baghdad to Mecca and Medina. This important route was even named the Darb Zubaidah in her honor. Stories about Zubaidah and her husband are part of the famous book The Thousand and One Nights.

Early Life and Family

Zubaidah's exact birthdate is not known. She was born in the Abbasid Caliphate, which is now Iraq. Her father, Ja'far, was the brother of the Abbasid ruler al-Mahdi. Her mother, Salsal, was the older sister of al-Khayzuran. Al-Khayzuran was a very important wife of al-Mahdi. She was also the mother of future rulers, Musa al-Hadi and Harun al-Rashid. This means Zubaidah and Harun al-Rashid were cousins.

Her Name

Zubaidah was a nickname given to her by her grandfather, Caliph al-Mansur. It means "little butter ball." Her real name at birth was Sukhainah or Amat al-'Aziz. Later, she was also known as Umm Ja'far. This name means "Mother of Ja'far" and showed her royal family connections.

Marriage and Children

Zubaidah married her cousin, Harun al-Rashid, in 782 CE. She was his first wife. Their son, Muhammad, was born in April 787. He later became the ruler al-Amin. Harun also had another son, Abdallah, with a different mother. Abdallah was born in 786 CE. After his mother passed away, Zubaidah raised Abdallah as her own son. He later became the ruler al-Ma'mun.

Zubaidah's Great Achievements

Zubaidah was known for her kindness and for helping people. She made a huge difference in the lives of many.

Improving Water for Pilgrims

During her fifth trip to Mecca, Zubaidah saw that there was a severe water shortage. The Zamzam Well had very little water. She decided to help. She spent a lot of money, over 2 million dinars, to improve the water supply in Mecca. She ordered the well to be dug deeper. She also built an aqueduct, which is like a water bridge, from a spring far away. This project helped bring water to Mecca and the surrounding areas. When her engineers worried about the cost, she said she would continue the work even if "every stroke of a pickax were to cost a dinar."

A gold coin (dinar) from the time of Harun al-Rashid, minted in Baghdad in 800 CE.

The Darb Zubaidah Road

Zubaidah also improved the long desert road between Kufa and Mecca. This road was used by pilgrims traveling to Mecca. She had the road paved and cleared of large rocks. She also built water storage tanks along the way. These tanks collected rainwater and provided water for travelers. An explorer named Ibn Battuta later said that "every reservoir, pool or well on this road... is due to her generous gift." He said the road would not be usable without her help.

Her Palace and Lifestyle

Zubaidah lived a very grand life. Her palace was magnificent, with a large hall supported by pillars made of ivory and gold. Verses from the Qur'an were written on the walls in gold letters. Her palace also had a beautiful garden with rare animals and birds. She even had a pet monkey dressed like a soldier! She had many servants, including one hundred women who had memorized the entire Qur'an. Zubaidah also started new fashion trends, like wearing sandals decorated with jewels.

Later Life and Death

Zubaidah's husband, Harun al-Rashid, passed away in 809 CE. Their son, Muhammad al-Amin, became the next ruler. However, a civil war broke out between al-Amin and his half-brother, al-Ma'mun. Sadly, al-Amin was killed in 813 CE. After this, al-Ma'mun became the ruler. Even though al-Ma'mun was her stepson, he treated Zubaidah with great respect.

Zubaidah passed away in 831 CE in Baghdad.

A drawing of Zubaidah's tomb near Baghdad, made around 1818.

Images for kids

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  A gold coin (dinar) from the time of Harun al-Rashid, minted in Baghdad in 800 CE.

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  A drawing of Zubaidah's tomb near Baghdad, made around 1818.