Journey from Karbala to Madina

Glimpses of Zindan e sham Syria Damascus and Voice of SAKINA bintey Husayn.

Let us view the place where Yazidi army kept the family of Prophet Muhammad s.w.a.s, 

this is the place called Zindan dungoun where the youngest granddaughter of holy Prophets died remembering her father Imam Husayn a.s 

Voice of Bibi Sakina  binte Husayn a.s 

"I Sakina Bint Hussain[as] from Zindan, Damascus, My Little Introduction so when you are blessed to perform my ziyarat in sham, your tears will have a Marifa, then you will understand my way I missed my father, then you will sit a little bit near my tomb. When all of my father's followers got martyred in Karbala, my father prepared himself to go to the battlefield, but first, he gathered all the women and children and told them with calmness, "Make yourselves ready for affliction and hardship. Be sure that Allah (swt) is your protector. He will soon save you from the enemy and you shall have a fine destiny. And your enemies will experience all kinds of torture and suffering. Instead of these sufferings, Allah (swt) will grant you many blessings and treat you with generosity. So do not complain about anything and do not say the thing that decreases your dignity."After this, we were all sure that my father would be martyred. I said, "Father, have you surrendered yourself to death?" Then I burst into tears and cried and cried. 

 I did not want to act impatiently, but I no longer had the power. I was not the only one that was restless. Even my aunt, Zainab(sa) who tried to comfort us, was wiping away her tears.Father hugged me and said: "Sweetheart, how can someone with no allies not surrender to death?"I started sobbing again and said: "Under whose care, you will put us?"Father wiped my tears with his hands and after kissing my wet eyelashes said, "I put you under the care of Allah (swt) and His blessings; He who supports you in this world and the afterworld. Have patience, my daughter, about the things that Allah (swt) wants and don't complain, because this world will come to an end soon but the afterworld remains forever."I did not complain and I was not ungrateful, but I cried and cried. How could I not cry, while my father, the best father in the world, was going to the battlefield all-alone to face thousands of enemies? Father said farewell to everybody and stroked the children's hair affectionately. Then he whispered things to my aunt Zainab(sa) that we could not understand. After that, he told her to bring him an old garment. We were all surprised and asked, "Why do you want an old garment?" Father answered: "The enemy is an unmanly one. After killing me, they will take my clothes as spoils. I want to wear an old garment under my clothes so my body will not be bare after I am martyred."

It was as if father was going to a splendid ceremony. He put on his clothes, fastened his sword and armour, wiped the sweat off his forehead with his turban, then tidied his grey beard and prepared to go towards a savage enemy that was awaiting him with barbaric shrieks.None could prevent him from going and even if he did not go, the enemy would come to our tents. No one could prevent him from going, because he had foretold his death before this day and he had said that Islam would only survive if he were martyred. No one could tell him, "Father, don't go!" "Uncle, don't go!" "Brother, don't go!"Because he was the Imam of all, and we all knew that the Imam only does what Allah (swt) wants. However, we only wanted him to stay with us one more moment, so we could see him, speak with him and listen to his voice a little longer.My aunt Zainab(sa), trembling, cried out with tearful eyes, "Not so fast dear brother, not so fast."Father stood and for one last time looked at the crowd of distressed women and children who were crying after him. If anyone other than father had seen this scene, he would have surely slowed his pace; but there was no change in my father's faith and decision and he did not slow his pace. He just gave us an affectionate wave with his hand, put us under the care of Allah (swt), and hurried towards his horse.

  I could not bare it any more. I, who in a few moments would lose such a good father and become an orphan. I stood up involuntarily and without father seeing me, ran towards his horse Zuljana. Father was sitting firmly on his horse and was getting ready to go. However, the horse did not move because I had clasped my hands tightly around its legs. The horse was staring into my eyes and was crying with my cries. Father got off his horse and held me tight to his chest. He wiped my tears and said, "Oh my daughter, my dear daughter, Sakinah." 

 I said, "Oh father when uncle Muslim ibn Aqeel was martyred, you hugged his orphan daughter and patted her head. If you go and I become an orphan who is going to pat my head?" Father's eyes filled with tears. I could feel his heart breaking. While fighting back his tears, he slowly whispered to me, "Sakinah, my daughter, please do not cry, because after I go you will shed many tears. While I am here, while I am still alive, do not set my heart ablaze with your tears."

Oh, best daughter in the world, truly after I go you have the most right to cry. "I knew it was impossible, but I don't know why I said, "Father, take us back to the city of Medina beside the shrine of our grandfather, the Prophet Muhammad (saww)."Bibi Sakina (sa)Father turned his innocent look towards the enemy and said, "You know it's not possible my daughter, Sakinah(sa)." The shrieks and screams of the enemy were becoming louder and father has to go. Father set off and I could still feel the warmth of his dried lips on my cheeks. Now I can hear the clanging of swords and the neighing of horses and the savage screams of the enemy. We are standing beside the tents; we are holding our breaths and shivering with fright.Oh, I think this is my father's horse Zuljana, coming back towards us without a rider, its head and mane covered in blood.

to be continued with the further journey and sufferings in our next chapter stay

tuned, explore History of Islam.

May you all be blessed for giving your precious time,

surely reward will be given by Almighty.