2nd
Muharram (ARRIVAL IN KARBALA )
Bismillahir
Rahmanir Raheem
Today is
the 2nd night of Moharram.
On the 2nd
day of Moharram, Hussain(a.s)'s caravan reached Karbala. Thousands of
Yazid's soldiers were already there, having arrived long before the
Imam.
The small
tribe living in Karbala gathered around Hussain(a.s)'s caravan. Imam
Hussain(a.s) enquired about the price of the land in Karbala. He then
bought the entire land.
Then, he
first spoke to the menfolk of the tribe.
"O,
menfolk of Karbala! We have not come here to fight. Yazid's soldiers
will fight with us and we will be killed. They will not bury our bodies
and our bodies will be left to the wild animals of the desert. I request
a favour from you. Please, bury our bodies.
Imam
Hussain(a.s) then turned to the womenfolk of the tribe.
"Ladies of
Karbala! Your menfolk, out of fear of Yazid's soldiers might not bury
our bodies. Ladies! When your men are working in the fields, please come
out of your houses and bury our bodies.
Somehow
Imam Hussain(a.s) did not feel the men nor the women would carry out his
request.
Sadly, he
turned to the children who had gathered and spoke gently to them.
Children!
If your father or your mother are unable to bury us, I beg you to throw
a fistful of sand over our bodies while you are playing in the fields.
That way, children, our bodies will slowly get buried."
Then, he
turned to everyone who had gathered around and spoke again.
"My second
request to you all is to look after the people who will come to visit
our graves after our death. They will be my guests so please look after
them and feed them for three days."
Imam then
ordered the tents to be pitched by the river. It was very hot in Karbala
and the supply of water was absolutely essential for survival.
Abbas(a.s),
commander of Hussain(a.s)'s army, with his men, started to pitch the
tents by the river. The commanders of Yazid's army ordered their men to
pull out Hussain(a.s)'s tents. They stopped Hussain(a.s)'s tents from
being pitched by the river.
Abbas(a.s)
became very angry. He pulled out his sword and wanted to kill the
enemies.
Abbas(a.s),
the lion son of Ali(AS), was like his father. He was very brave and
strong. The enemies feared him. If he wanted the tents to be pitched by
the river, then Yazid's men even though in thousands, would not be able
to stop him.
Hussain(a.s) saw what was happening and quickly intervened. He knew his
brother's temper and strength.
"Abbas(AS),
My brother Abbas(AS), Put your sword back. Abbas(AS), we have not come
here to fight. Later on, people will say that we started the battle for
water. Abbas(AS)! My brother Abbas(AS)! Calm down and put your sword
back! Let us move away from here. We will pitch our tents elsewhere."
Abbas (AS)considered
his brother to be his master and always obeyed his commands. He(AS) put
his sword back and ordered his men to pitch their tents away from the
river.
This was
the 2nd of Moharram. As nights and days passed by, the scene in Karbala
changed.
Day by day
Yazid's army increased in number. Nearly 20,000 of Yazid’s soldiers
surrounded Hussain(a.s)'s tents.
Why so
many to fight no more than 72 men in Hussain(a.s)'s army?
Despite
having so many men in Yazid's army, his commanders were still worried
because the 72 men in Hussain(a.s)'s army were no ordinary men. They
were brave, faithful and did not fear death.
Yazid's
soldiers knew this and therefore thought of a way to weaken
Hussain(a.s)'s army.
On 7th
Moharram, Yazid's commanders ordered their men to stop water from
reaching Hussain(a.s)'s tents.
There were
many ladies and children with Hussain(a.s) and they suffered a lot
without water and food.
For three
days, one could hear children crying for water.
"AL-ATASH!
AL-ATASH! AL-ATASH! WATER! WATER! WATER! THIRST! THIRST! THIRST!"
Abbas (AS)could
hear this. He could hear his beloved Sakina (SA)crying for water.
Abbas(AS) loved Sakina (SA)dearly and always got her anything she
wanted.
Everytime
Abbas(AS) heard Sakina(SA) crying for water, he shook with grief.
Abbas(AS)!
Poor Abbas(AS), could not bear to hear Sakina(SA) crying.
"AL-ATASH!
AL-ATASH! AL-ATASH!" echoed through the land of Karbala for three days
and nights. Many little children died from thirst and hunger.
SYEDA
ZAINAB ABBAS. |