Description

LINEAGE

Sakina (R.A) was born in Medina, but her birthdate is not known with certainty. Sakina (R.A) was born to the first wife of Imam Hussain (R.A), Rubab (R.A), who was the daughter of Imra’ al-Qays ibn Adi, a chief of the Banu Kalb tribe. After remaining childless for some years, Sakina (R.A) was the first child of the couple and possibly Imam Hussain’s (R.A) eldest daughter.

LIFE

Imam Hussain (R.A) denounced the accession of the Umayyad caliph Yazid ibn Muawiyah in 680. When pressed by Yazid’s agents to pledge his allegiance, Imam Hussain (R.A) first left his hometown of Medina for Mecca and later set off for Kufa in modern-day Iraq, accompanied by his family and a small group of supporters. Among them was Sakina (R.A), a young child at the time, aged between five and twelve.

Their small caravan was intercepted and massacred in Karbala, near Kufa, by the Umayyad forces who first surrounded them for some days and cut off their access to the nearby river Euphrates. As a young child, Sakina (R.A) is often the narrator of Karbala in Shia ritual commemorations, and a common narrative in commemoration of the massacre is that Sakina (R.A) threw herself in front of Imam Hussain’s (R.A) horse when he was leaving for the battlefield to spend a few more seconds with her father before he was killed. When Imam Hussain (R.A) was beheaded, the Umayyad soldiers pillaged his camp and severed the heads of Imam Hussain (R.A) and his fallen companions, which they then raised on spears for display. Another common commemorative narrative is that Sakina’s (R.A) earrings were violently torn from her ears during the pillage. The women and children were then taken captive and marched to Kufa and later the capital Damascus. The captives were paraded in the streets of Damascus and then imprisoned for an unknown period of time. Out of modesty, Sakina (R.A) may have asked Sahl ibn Sa’d, a companion of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW), to convince the soldier carrying his father’s head to walk at some distance to avoid the gazes of the onlooking crowds in Damascus. The captives were eventually freed by Yazid. They were allowed to return to Medina or were escorted there.

LEGACY

Hazrat Sakina (R.A) epitomized patience and resilience in the face of adversity. Despite the harsh conditions of captivity after the Battle of Karbala, she remained steadfast in her faith and trust in Allah. Her unwavering patience and fortitude inspire Muslims to endure trials with grace and perseverance.

Sakina’s (R.A) compassion and empathy towards others, even in her own suffering, are legendary. She would share whatever little she had with other children and comfort them in times of distress. Her acts of kindness amidst turmoil serve as a timeless example of the importance of compassion and caring for others. Overall, Sakina bint Hussain’s (R.A) legacy is one of resilience, compassion, and unwavering faith. Her life serves as a beacon of inspiration for Muslims striving to uphold the values of Islam amidst challenges, reminding them of the enduring power of patience, compassion, and devotion to God.