Zaynab al~Munajjimah

The persona story of Zaynab al~Munajjimah

Salaam Alaikum dear stranger.

Ah, so you are traveling to the holy land. Well please, come and warm yourself by the fire. You haven't much further to travel. Has it been a long journey? My, then let me tell you my story as you rest. My mother and father are blessed to be of Persian decent and even more blessed to be of the bloodline that will eventually known as Romani. We are nomadic which means that we don't have a set place of residence. We make our home wherever we go. There had been news of a Kurdish Warrior known as Salah Al Din leading an army against the heretic Crusaders invading from the west.

Our family travels with more of our kin. We were heading west. Why west you ask? Why, because we had come from the east. Where else would we go? but that is of no consequence. As I was explaining, we were traveling towards the land of the holy when we were overcome by soldiers. Our encampment was destroyed and they took us captive. The men were taken away to be soldiers. Salah Al Din treated his slaves with cultured chivalry. We were brought to the camps and the women were put to work as dyers and launderers. None of the women were raped and beaten under his control.

There thy gave us new names. I was given the name of Zaynab Al~Munajjimah. Zaynab was the name given to the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. The Imam gave me the name when I first arrived. We Dom have names that we use amongst ourselves. But That is another story for another time. Al~Munajjimah means fortune teller. The great Salah Al Din once said that I should be honored that I was blessed by Allah with the gift of prophecy. Divining the future is a talent that has been used in our family as long as I can remember. It was my mother that encouraged me to use my gift. It didn't take long before I had become known for it. I started prophesying for the soldiers and it wasn't long before I was brought into the Great Leader's personal quarters to give insight into what would come. I told him of what I saw in my visions. I saw the holy land of Jerusalem free of the Crusaders and at peace. Because of my talents I became a favored slave and was given freedoms which is how you came to find me tonight.

Ah, so it was the low lying tents that drew your attention my way. Since Salah Al Din took control of Jerusalem it has been safe for me and my people to come and live just outside the gates. Ah, so you also heard our singing. We raise our voices singing, dancing and rejoice in our freedoms and our fortunes. Yes, we are poor and treated poorly by most but we are of the lucky fortunes to have been born of the Romani bloodline, which is why we are so jubilant.

Oh of course dear pilgrim, please don't let me keep you from your travels. I pray that your road will be smooth without troubles. May Allah shine his fortunes upon you.