Name :

Sakina ( also known in Arab world as Rukkaya)Father :

Imam Hussain (a.s.)Mother :

Bibi Umm-e-Rubab (a.s.)Birth :

20th of RajabDeath :

5th Rabi-ul-Awwal, at Damascus, Syria

Bibi Sakina (asws) (also known as Bibi Ruqayya - asws) was the youngest daughter of Imam Hussain (asws). Sakina is a derivative of "Sakoon" meaning "Peace".

Imam Hussain (asws) was often heard saying, "A house without Sakina (asws) would not be worth living in".

According to different historical accounts, between the 3rd and 13th Safar is the day when we remember the martyrdom of Bibi Sakina bint-al-Hussain (asws) - the 4-year old beloved daughter of Imam Hussain (asws) who died in the zindaan of Damascus after the family of the Prophet Mohammad (asws) were made prisoners after the event of Karbala and detained in the zindaan of Damascus.

When from the 2nd of Muharram the armies of Yazid bin Muaweyah(L.A) began to gather at Kerbala, Imam Hussain (asws)

said to his sister Bibi Zainab (asws), "The time has come for you to get Sakina used to going to sleep without my being

there".

On the day of Ashura - the 10th of Muharram, she gave her mashk to Hazrat Abbas (asws) to get some water for her and the other children. When Hazrat Abbas (asws) went to fetch water, the children gathered round Bibi Sakina with their little cups, knowing that as soon as Hazrat Abbas brought any water, Bibi Sakina would first make sure that they had some before taking any herself. When Bibi Sakina saw Imam Hussain (asws) bringing the blood drenched 'alam she knew that her uncle Abbas had been martyred.

Kufa saw her as a little girl lost in thought. Quite often she would sit up at night. When asked if she wanted anything, he would say, "I just heard a baby cry? Is it Asghar (asws)? He must be calling out for me!"

Knowing that her weeping upset her mother, Bibi Sakina (asws) would cry silently and quickly wipe away her tears! In the prison in Damascus she would stare at the flock of birds flying to their nests at sunset and innocently ask Bibi Zainab (asws), "Will we ever be going home like those birds flying to their homes?"

When bibi Sakina (asws) cried for her father, instead of comforting words, Shimr (L.A) slapped bibi Sakina(asws)'s face

and pulled off earrings from her ears. Blood poured from bibi Sakina(asws)'s ears. Surely they would stop now. But they

did not. One-by-one they set fire to the tents. All Sakina wanted was her dear father (Imam Hussain - asws).

On the night of Ashura (also known as Sham e Ghreeban), when Imam Hussain (asws) and his companions were lying headless

in the battlefield, back in the tents, Bibi Zainab (asws) was gathering all the children and the ladies together.

She noticed that bibi Sakina (asws) was missing.

She asked Bibi Rubab (asws), but even she did not know where Bibi Sakina (asws) was. The two masoomas ran out of the

tents looking for her.

The two masoomas searched everywhere for bibi Sakina(asws). Finally, in desperation, Bibi Zainab (asws) went to the

place where the body of her brother Imam Hussain (asws) lay and cried, "O my brother, Sakina, who you left in my care,

is nowhere to be found. Where shall I look for her in this wilderness?"

Just then, the moon came out from behind a cloud

and Bibi Zainab (asws) saw that bibi Sakina (asws) lay on her father, sleeping on his chest like she always used to.

She shook the child awake and said, Oh, Sakina! How did you recognize your father? A person can be recognized by their

face or the clothes they wear. Your father has neither. Bibi Sakina (asws) replied innocently, I wanted to tell my

father about what the people had done to me.

I wanted to tell him how Shimr (la) had robbed the earrings that my father had so lovingly given me. I wanted to tell

him how he had ripped them from my ears leaving my earlobes torn and bleeding. I wanted to tell him how the beast had

mercilessly slapped me when I cried in pain. When I was running aimlessly in the desert I thought I heard my father's

voice telling me he was here.

I followed the voice and I found him lying here. I told him everything and then I felt like sleeping on his chest the

way I always did, for the last time. So I kept my head on his chest and slept till you came.

The night of sham-e-gareeba had come all the lights had gone they had lost everything. Their men and

children had been martyred. In this desolate desert the fourth Imam, Imam Zain-ul Abideen (asws), the

women and the remaining children are huddled where only a few hours earlier stood their camps that have now been

burnt. Mola abbas (asws),Shehzada Qasim (asws) and Shehzada Ali Akbar (asws) were all guarding the camps.

The daughters of Imam Ali (asws) and Bibi Fatima-tuz-zahra (asws), Bibi Zainab (asws) and Bibi umme Kulsoom

(asws), are awake to make sure that Imam Zain-ul Abideen (asws) and the children were not attacked.

The next day, the caravan was made to start traveling towards Kufa. Imam Zain-ul Abideen (asws), was bound in

heavy chains and forced to walk barefooted as the Ladies, including the grand-daughters of the Prophet (pbuh),

were forced to sit on bare backs of the camels and with their necks and hands tied tightly in ropes.

The caravan suffered the tortures of the journey and when they reached Kufa they were forced to march through

public roads and through the streets of Kufa without any parda or hijab.

Suddenly the camel on which the holy daughter of Imam Hussain (asws), Bibi Sakina (asws) and the holy sister of

Imam Hussain (asws) , Bibi Zainab (asws) were seated, stopped near a house. Bibi Zainab's (asws) eyes fell on

Bibi Sakina (asws) and immediately knew that she had something to say.

She asked her and Bibi Sakina (asws) answered, I am about to say something, I know my dear aunt, that at this

moment it is impossible for you to fulfill it. When Bibi Zainab (asws) insisted, Bibi Sakina replied, O my dear

aunt my throat is so dry I do not think I can endure my thirst anymore.

Bibi Sakina's words were heard by the women who were on the top of the houses so that they could see the holy

caravan march clearly. Among these women, a goodhearted lady immediately got up from the crowd and rushed home

to bring water for Bibi Sakina (asws).

But when she came near the camel and near Bibi Zainab (asws) she asked for a favour in return and said to Bibi Zainab (asws) that when this thirsty child has tasted this water I want her to pray for me. On hearing this Bibi

Zainab (asws) prevented Bibi Sakina (asws) from tasting the water and said to her, Dear Sakina, first fulfill this lady's request.

Bibi Zainab (asws) asked the lady what Bibi Sakina (asws) should pray for and she answered that, My first wish is that may my children never be orphan, please pray for me oh my dear child , I see that you are an orphan and I am aware of that God always listens to the prayer of an orphan. Bibi Sakina (asws) raised her hands and prayed for

the lady.

Then Bibi Zainab (asws) asked her about her second wish? The lady answered, My second desire is that I wish to

visit Madina, please pray for me that God will give me the opportunity to visit the holy city. On hearing the

name of Madina, Bibi Zainab (asws) asked the lady why she wanted to go to Madina.

She answered, Because it is my wish to visit the Holy prophet's (pbuh) zarih and I would also like to meet my

holy lady Bibi Fatima-tuz-zahra (asws). Bibi Zainab (asws) replied, But don't you know Bibi Fatima-tuz-zahra (asws)

is no longer there? So what, the lady said, I have also served her holy daughters Bibi Zainab (asws) and Bibi Umm-e

Kulsoom (asws).

I will go to Madina to have my last chance to have the honour to meet them. Now Bibi Zainab (asws) asked her one

final question.

Dear Momina, if you would see your lady Zainab (asws) would you recognize her? She immediately answered, Of course

I would. Bibi Zainab (asws) removed her hair from the face and cried, Then your prayer has been answered,Umm-e Habiba,

it's me Zainab (asws), then why don't you recognize me, don't you recognize us all?

Umm-e Habiba began to cry and said, Oh God, what crime have they committed so that they are being tortured this brutally?

Bibi Zainab (asws) continued, We are the children of the Holy prophet (pbuh), your master Imam Hussain (asws) has been

martyred along with his devotees and left unburied on the burning sand in Karbala, their heads have been taken and

raised on the lances .

Look ahead Umm-e Habiba, your master's head is in front of you, the head which lips are reciting the holy Quran.

From the time when Imam Hussain (asws) fell in the battle field, Sakina forgot to smile. Kufa saw her as a From Kufa,

the next phase of the journey started for the masoom (asws). This journey was to take them to Damascus, in Syria.

Bibi Sakina (asws) was tied, with a rope, on a bare camel. At one point in the journey, Bibi Sakina (asws) fell from

her camel. The caravan didn't stop. No one, apart from the masoom (asws), noticed the fall of this masoom (asws). sober

masoom lost in thought.

After this incidence, the wretched army changed the formation of the masoom (asws). Imam Zain-ul Abideen (asws), was already tied with chains.

The wretched army tied his son, Imam Mohammed Baqir (asws)- the fifth Imam, on Imam Zain-ul Abideen's (asws) back and

then the same rope was tied on his sister, Bibi Sakina's (asws) neck, so that Imam Zain-ul Abideen (asws) could not

stand straight. If he did stand straight, the rope used to get tight and strangle Bibi Sakina (asws).

Regards,

Syed Zaighum Jaffri

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