The tragedy of Karbala is remembered for the martyrdom of Imam Husain AS and his 72 brave soldiers, who faced insurmountable odds, yet never wavered in their resolve to stand against tyranny and injustice. They fought with such bravery and courage that, even in martyrdom, their message of resistance triumphed. They defended the message of sacrifice and forbearance, not just with armors and shields, but with belief, ideology, knowledge and patience. They followed Imam Husain into death, knowing full well that their sacrifice would inspire generations of mankind on the path of righteousness and forbearance.
But, the message of Karbala was not just the one delivered on the battlefield. It was also the one endured by those whose struggles began after the swords fell silent. After the glorious displays of loyalty and valour by the likes of Maulana Abbas AS and Maulana Ali Akbar AS, their legacy was now in the hands of the haram of Imam Husain AS. How would the legacy of Karbala survive and how would the message of Imam Husain AS reach the world? That would now be decided by – THE WOMEN OF KARBALA!
Islam has exempted women from the duties of combat on the battlefield. Not because women are weak, but because women have a much bigger responsibility. Men may have the physical strength and bravery to conquer the field, but women have the emotional endurance and mental resilience to deal with the aftermath of war. That is why, as Imam Husain AS willed the men to be brave on the field, he willed Maulatona Zainab AS and the other women to be patient and steadfast. Thus, after the men fell in the field, the women picked up the mantel of resistance, and carried forward the message of patience and forbearance in the face of relentless assault.
Thus, each woman in the haram of Imam Husain AS played a pivotal role in shaping the legacy of Karbala and carrying forward the message of resilience that was so valiantly defended by the martyrs on the field.
MAULATONA FATEMA AS
Maulatona Fatema AS was the daughter of Prophet Mohammed SAW and the mother of Imam Husain AS. She passed away years before the tragedy of Karbala took place. Yet, she is one of the women of Karbala.
The Prophet SAW had informed her about Imam Husain’s AS martyrdom and she had spent her life preparing him and her daughters for those fateful days. So much so that she had left a pehran for Imam Husain AS to wear in his last battle. It was by the name of Fatema that Imam Husain prepared his sister Zainab to face the atrocities that would befall her and his family after his martyrdom.
MAULATONA ZAINAB AS
Maulatona Zainab AS was the daughter of Maulana Ali AS and Maulatona FatemaAS and the sister of Imam Husain AS. She was the matriarch of Imam Husain’s AS household and the one who, along with Imam Ali Zainulabedeen AS, guided the survivors of Karbala through the perilous journey from Karbala to Madina. But she had a pivotal role even while the battle was raging.
Her first role was that of a mother. As a mother she prepared her two sons Oan and Mohammed to sacrifice themselves for Imam Husain’s AS cause. Not only that, she also helped them get permission from Imam Husain AS to attain martyrdom and fulfil their duties on the battlefield.
But she didn’t stop to mourn her sons. She had to look after the critically ill Maulana Ali Zainulabedeen AS, the successor of Imam Husain AS. She stayed with him and took care of all his needs.
Along with that, she supported the other women of the haram and kept their morals high. She helped Imam Hasan’s AS wife to prepare her son for marriage and then consoled her when the newly married groom was martyred.
She brought the 6-month-old Ali Asger to Imam Husain so that he could fulfil his destiny of martyrdom.
She held the horse, and her tortured heart, as Imam Husain AS rode into the battlefield, never to return.
She consoled Maulatona Sakina AS as she bade farewell to her beloved father.
But her real test was what would befall her after the martyrdom of Imam HusainAS. She was the only member of the Ahl e Bait who witnessed the martyrdom of Imam Husain AS, thus a reliable source of history. But she didn’t have the luxury to bereave her beloved brother because she was the one who was now entrusted with guiding and protecting the survivors.
She was the one who tried to stem the bleeding ears of Sakina when Shimr snatched her earrings. She was one who helped when the enemy burnt the seat of Ali Zainulabedeen AS. She was the one who advised the women to cover their faces with their hair when Yazeed’s minions took away their veils. She was the pillar that emanated strength for the entire haram.
But her greatest service, to Imam Husain and his lineage, was to defend Imam Ali Zainulabedeen AS in the court of Yazeed. Her eloquent and fierce speech, reminiscent of her revered mother, stopped the enemy in his tracks. She not only protected Imam Ali Zainulabedeen AS from execution, she articulately dismantled the enemies’ ideological arguments, thus proving to the world that Imam HusainAS was unjustly martyred.
And, today, it is the accounts narrated by Maulatona Zainab AS that have kept the message of Imam Husain AS and the tragedy of Karbala alive in the hearts of mourners. It is Zainab whose anguished wails echo through the centuries and recount each atrocity endured by Imam Husain AS and his haram in Karbala. It is Zainab AS who shines bright as a beacon of unconditional sacrifice and steadfast faith for every woman.
MAULATONA SHEHRE BANU AS
Maulatona Shehre Banu AS was the daughter of the Emperor of Qisra and the wife of Imam Husain AS. She chose to marry Imam Husain AS, knowing full well that he was destined for martyrdom. She was the mother of Imam Husain’s AS successor Imam Ali Zainulabedeen AS. She remained by his side till the very end and sacrificed her beloved son Maulana Ali Akbar AS in Karbala. On the intervening night of Ashura, as she prepared Maulana Ali Akber AS for martyrdom, she said: O my son! I had the desire to see you get married. But, as you know, tomorrow’s day will be very perilous for your father Husain. I bequeath you to always stay by his side. Protect him at all costs. As long as you are there, no harm should come to Husain!
As a mother, how difficult would it be to prepare your own son for death? Is there a greater sacrifice than this that a woman can endure?
MAULATONA SAKINA AS
Maultona Sakina AS was the young daughter of Imam Husain AS. The heart wrenching account of what she endured in Karbala can make a stone weep in anguish!
On the Day of Ashura, Imam Husain AS solemnized her marriage, as per the last wish of his brother Imam Hasan AS. But, a few moments later, her betrothed was martyred.
She then asked her uncle, the commander of Imam Husain AS, Maulana Abbas AS, to bring her some water. Maulana Abbas AS, the greatest of warriors, was killed in his quest for water. Sakina watched from the entrance of her tent as the enemies overwhelmed her uncle and cutoff his arms as he fell in the field.
But the worst pain she suffered was the martyrdom of her beloved father Imam Husain AS! She had tried to stop him from going into battle by wrapping herself on the leg of his horse! But Imam Husain AS chose his martyrdom over his grieving daughter.
After Imam Husain’s AS martyrdom, the enemies forced their way into the tents as Shimr slapped Sakina and tore the earrings from her ears!
Even though Sakina endured such physical and mental assaults she didn’t lose her resolve.
Maulatona Sakina’s greatest act of benevolence towards the mourners of Imam Husain AS was that she stopped Ibn Ziyad from burying the martyrs of Imam Husain AS with the casualties of the enemies.
When Ibn Ziyad commanded his troops to dig a huge grave and bury all the dead in it, Maulatona Sakina had the courage, in spite of her immense grief, to stand up to him and ask him to not bury the martyrs of Imam Husain AS with the enemies. The courage of young Sakina, under such devastating circumstances, compelled the enemy to grant her, her request!
MAULATONA UMME KULSUM AS
Maulatona Umme Kulsum AS was the daughter of Maulana Ali AS and the younger sister of Imam Husain AS. On the intervening night of Ashura, Maulatona Umme Kulsum AS was inconsolable, not because of the tragedy that lay ahead, but because she had no means of sacrifice on the battlefield of Karbala. Her sister Zainab was preparing her sons for martyrdom, so were Maulatona Shehre Banu and the wife of Imam Hasan AS. Seeing her anguish, her brother Maulana AbbasAS pledged to sacrifice himself on behalf of his sister.
Maulatona Umme Kulsum AS was also the one who prevented the surviving children of Imam Husain’s family from accepting sadaqah from passersby. She stopped them from bowing or breaking to hunger and torture and kept the spirit of Imam Husain’s AS resistance alive.
MAULTONA RUQAIYAH AS
Maulatona Ruqaiyah AS was the 3-year-old daughter of Imam Husain AS. Since the day of his martyrdom, she wept and asked to see her father. Hearing her cries, Yazeed sent her the head of her martyred father. The 3-year-old child lost all control and displayed such mourning for Husain that she passed away in her grief. Maultona Ruqaiyah AS is an example for every mourner of Husain to aspire towards!
These are but a few accounts of a few women in Karbala who faced up to tyranny and injustice and kept fighting off the battle field. Their veils were removed, their dignity was outraged, they were made to sit on saddleless camels, they were denied food or basic shelter, yet these strong women refused to break or even bend before the enemy. Not only did they endure the atrocities inflicted upon them after the martyrdom of Imam Husain AS, but they stood up to the enemy and never wavered from the path of sacrifice chosen by Imam Husain.
Today, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS is recognized as the Dai al Fatemi. He is the successor of the Duat Mutlaqeen who have been appointed by Maulatona Hurrah al Maleka AS with the permission of the Fatemi Imam, Imam Amir be Ahkaam al Allah AS.
Just as the women in Karbala kept the legacy of Imam Husain AS alive, today, the Duat Fatemiyeen are keeping the flag of Imam Husain’s mourning flying high. And, keeping that tradition alive, this year Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS will convene the Ashara Mubrakah 1447H in the Indian city of Chennai.
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS will narrate the events of Karbala. From the 2nd of Muharram, when Imam Husain AS reached Karbala, to the 10th of Muharram when he was martyred. In this narration, we will find that Imam Husain AS was the embodiment of every tenet of Islam. The 72 martyrs and the women of his household were shining examples of every teaching imparted by his grandfather Prophet Mohammed SAW. Thus, in the citations of Karbala we can find the true meaning of Islam and the true meaning of humanity.