In Karbala Sukayna bint Husayn

on 2nd of muharram, yazid s army began gather @ karbala. husain said sister zaynab, time has come sukainah used going sleep without me. sakinah follow father @ night, , al-husain had gently take zaynab or rubab.

on 7th of muharram, order of yazid, army prevented husain getting water euphrates. water became scarce in camp of husain. sakinah shared whatever little water had other children. when there no water @ all, thirsty children looked @ eyes full of hope. situation got bad lips parched thirst. soon, sayyedah sakinah came out holding dried mashq (arabic: مـشـق‎, water bag), leading 42 other children, each holding dry water bag. children shouting if in chorus, al atash, ya ammahu! (the thirsty, o uncle!). walked al-‘abbas , told him children had come asking water. see thirst, aggravated scorching heat of desert, squeezing young lives out of them. al-‘abbas went al-husain , requested permission go , water sukainah , other children. husain rejected request once again, saying him army s commander, , because of that, not go , fight. abbas used sakinah s request gain al-husain s permission, , husain agreed. abbas put sakinah s mashq on ‘alam (arabic: عـلـم‎, flag), mounted horse, , rode husain.

when abbas went water, children gathered around sakinah little cups, knowing abbas brought water, first make sure had before taking herself. sakinah standing next husain, eyes fixed on flag of abbas. abbas reached river bank, fighting yazid s men tried block way, killing spear tried stop progress. thousands of yazid s men avoided abbas while going towards river, , whole army of yazid disappeared because scared of abbas – bravery known among arabs. bent down fill mashq, flag disappeared sight. sakinah frightened , looked @ father, said, sayyedah sakinah, uncle abbas @ river bank. smiled , said, al-Ḥamdu lillāh (arabic: الـحَـمـدُ لله‎, praise allah), , called out children welcome abbas.

with water bag filled, abbas wanted water anxiously waiting children possible. seeing him gallop towards camp of husain, umar ibn sa‘ad shouted enemy ranks if single drop of water reached al-husain s camp, impossible fight them on battlefield. when arrows coming sides, abbas had 1 thought in mind, how protect water bag. lost both arms during attack, trying save water bag. flag fell onto ground. sayyedah sakinah not see longer. looked @ father, turned face away. sakinah began tremble fear , eyes filled tears. raised hands , prayed, o god! not let them kill uncle abbas, not ask water again, , ran inside tent mother.

after al-husain , army martyred, forces of yazid, among whom shimr, came tents. looted belongings of husain , supporters, including ladies hijabs. when sakinah cried father, instead of comforting her, shimr slapped face , pulled earrings ears, leading them bleed. fire set tents, , sakinah s dress affected it. ladies , children ran 1 tent another. sakinah ran battlefield screaming: father, you? father, father, speak me, father.

as night descended, since al-husain s head cut off yazid s army, zaynab took on herself protect women , children. gathered women , children 1 small space in between gutted tents. ali zaynul-abidin lay on ground surrounded widows , orphans. eventually, there no fire , no light, except of moon. however, zaynab noticed sakinah missing. asked rubab, did not know sukainah was, panicked, , ran out of tents looking her. eventually, in desperation, zaynab went place body of al-husain lay, , cried, o brother, sayyedah sakinah, left in care, found. shall in wilderness? then, moon came out behind cloud , zaynab saw sakinah lying on father s body, sleeping on chest used to. shook child awake , said, oh, sayyedah sakinah! how did recognize father? person can recognized face or clothes wear. father beheaded , clothes covered red scars of blood. sukainah replied innocently, wanted tell father people had done me. wanted tell him how shimr had robbed earrings father had lovingly given me. wanted tell him how had ripped them ears leaving earlobes torn , bleeding. wanted tell him how beast had mercilessly slapped me when cried in pain. when running aimlessly in desert thought heard father s voice telling me here, ilaiya ilaiya sakinah. followed voice , found him lying here. told him , felt sleeping on chest way did, last time. kept head on chest , slept till came.

zaynab took jug of water , went sakinah, had fallen fretful sleep, , stroked uncombed hair. sakinah opened eyes. , zaynab said, here water sukainah, please drink little. have been thirsty long. on hearing word water , sayeda sakina cried out hopefully, has uncle abbas come back? when told hurr s widow had brought water, got up, went hurr s widow, thanked her, , asked zaynab, have drunk water? zaynab shook head. sakinah asked, why ask me drink water? zaynab said, because, dear, youngest. sakinah replied, no, asghar youngest.