In the aftermath of the tragic battle of Karbala, came the night of tenth of Moharram the Shaam e Ghareebaan. That night, the sky was red like blood. It was the hardest night for the family of the Prophet. In the emptiness of the desert, they faced...
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"How was Sakina buried? Zainab held the still child as Imaam Zain ul 'Abideen dug a grave in the cell. As the grave was being filled up after the burial the mother let out a scream! How could anyone console Bibi Rubaab? What could they say? They huddled around her, and the prison walls began to shake with the cry: "ya Sakina, ya madhloomah!!" Bibi Rubaab put her cheek on Sakina's grave and cried out: "Speak to me, Sakina! Only a word, my child! Speak to me!!"Aza' al-Husayn in ShaamThe tragedy of Karbala' had begun to arouse great sympathy for the Ahlul Bait in Hejaaz and Iraq. Even in Damascus some people began to ask whether it was necessary to inflict so much sufferings on the members of the family of the Holy Prophet.
When the charming little Sakina died and the people of Damascus came to learn about the death of the little girl whom they had seen and come to admire, they began to talk openly about Yazid's cruelty. Yazid feared that the people might rise against him. He was now anxious to get rid of the prisoners.He called Imaam Zain ul 'Abideen and told him that he was prepared to free them, and compensate them for the death of the martyrs. He also asked the fourth Imaam whether they wanted to remain in Damascus or return to Madina.
Imaam Zain ul 'Abideen replied that he would consult his aunt Zainab.When Imam spoke to Bibi Zainab she was grief stricken at the audacity of Yazid in offering compensation. She said, "Tell Yazid to talk of compensation with the Holy Prophet. We would certainly return to Madina. But first Yazid should provide a house so that we may hold mourning ceremonies for the martyrs in Damascus. We shall then go to Madina via Karbala' to visit the graves of the martyrs."Imaam Zain ul 'Abideen conveyed the message to Yazid who after some hesitation agreed.
In asking for a house to mourn the martyrs in Damascus, Bibi Zainab scored a major victory over Yazid. When the house was made available the ladies held Aza' al-Husayn for seven days in the very city which was the capital of Yazid who had murdered Imaam Husayn.The women of Damascus poured in to offer their condolences and Bibi Zainab and the other ladies would tell them of how the martyrs had been killed, how they had been denied water, how young children had been crying al-atash, how Imaam had taken Ali Asghar and pleaded for a few drops of water and how the baby had been slain.
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These tales so moved the ladies of Damascus that they would break into sobs and begin wailing and beating their chests. Thus in the very house of the murderer, Bibi Zainab laid the foundation of Aza' al-Husayn. This is so much like the story of Hazrat Musa (A.S.). Firaun orders all the male children of Banu Israel to be put to death. Allah's miracle is that his Prophet of wahdaniyyah finds refuge in the palace of the very Firaun who had plotted to kill him! These majlises have continued to this day. Every Muharram Shiahs all over the world gather together to mourn the tragedy which took place more that 1,350 years ago. These majaalis have a great meaning for us. Firstly, they mean that we love our Imaam and grieve for the suffering to which he was subjected.
