SAKINA DAY
Azadaraan- e- Hussein, Salamun Aleikum. Alhamdullillah, we have all gathered here to commemorate Sakina Day. But who is Sakina?
Bibi Sakina (AS) was the youngest daughter of Imam Hussain (AS). Her mother was Umme Rubab, daughter of Amr al-Qays. According to certain traditions, Sakina was barely five but she was the apple of her fathers’ eye. There are some verses attributed to Imam Hussain (AS) about Umm Rubab and Sakina which quote Imam saying “Indeed I love the house where Sakina and Rubab there be, I love them both and would bestow on them all my wealth, and for that no-one can deride me”. Nafsal Mahmoon (pg 527)
In Kitab al-Irshad p.379 Shaykh Mufid (AR) gives details of the children of Imam Hussain and mentions Sakina (Sukayna) as one of his daughters. It is possible that her name was Ruqayya, in which case the girl we know as Sakina is the girl who died and lies buried in the prison cell in Damascus.
Sakina is one who when the ears hear her name, the heart feels pain inside and the eyes shed tears for this madhluma, who died watching the birds flying back to their nests but she did not go home…
Sakina, your servants have gather here today in your remembrance and feel sorrow for what has happen to you and remind themselves of the tragedy that befell upon you in kerbala & Sham through the play we are about to watch.
Narrator: Maryam is reading the final page of her book called tears and tribute when her friend Almas pays her a visit, let’s listen to them.
Almas: Hey Maryam, Salaamun Aleikum.
(Maryam looks sad)
Maryam: Wa aleikum salaam.
Almas: What’s the matter why are you sad and you look like you have been crying?
Maryam: I was reading this book called the tears and tributes. I’m on my last page and I have never felt so sad after reading a book like I have felt having red this one.
Almas: Why? What’s the book all about?
Maryam: It’s about the tragedy of Kerbala, it’s about Imam Hussein’s sacrifice. It’s about the thirst of Ali Asgher, the sadness of Sakina… (pause, cry.)
Almas: Maryam why are you craying, tell me why did you cry when you mentioned Sakina?
Maryam: I found her story the saddest. Oh Sakina!
Almas: Maryam, please tell me the story of Sakina.
Maryam: Bibi Sakina (AS) was a cheerful child, full of love and happiness. Everyone loved her. She was also a very religious girl. She enjoyed reading the Holy Quran and never missed her prayers. From the age of two she took great care to make sure that her head and face were properly covered when in public.
Then came the time when the earth shook and Bibi Sakina (AS) became an orphan. (pause here)
Almas: Can you read to me what has happen to Sakina?
Maryam: When the day of Ashura was ended, and the enemy had killed all the men of the household of Imam Hussein(as), except Imam Zainal Abedeen (as) who lay in the tent hot with fever. Sakina could hear the sounds of the soldiers coming towards the camp. They started looting everything and burning the tents one after the other until there was only one tent left … the soldiers attacked the ladies and children as they ran out of the tent.
Almas: What happened to Sakina?
Maryam: She was slapped around her face, her earrings were snatched away from her..... ( Putting your hands over your ears) Blood poured from her torn ears. Sakina looked towards the battle field and cried out:
Sakina’s voice: “Is this what it means to be an orphan?”
Maryam: When the flames from burning tents crackled in the evening sun and the night was approaching Sayyida Zeinab, the aunt of Bibi Sakina called all the children to her and started counting each of them. Sakina was missing… Bibi Zainab and umm Kulsum started searching for Sakina but they could not find her anywhere. Desperate, bibi Zainab run towards the battlefield where the body of Imam Hussein lay she cried out:
Bibi Zainab’s voice: “Hussien, my brother, I cannot find Sakina…”
Maryam: As Zeinab came nearer Imam’s body, the moon came out from behind the clouds and she saw that Sakina was fast asleep on the dead body. Gently she woke the child up , picked her up in her arm and said
Bibi Zainab’s Voice: “ Sakina tell me what made you came here, oh my child how could you find your father beheaded body in this dark night?”
Maryam: Sakina said she had come to complain to her father of how she was beaten, her earring which he had given to her with love snatched away and when she cried with pain she was mercilessly slapped.
Bibi Zainab took Sakina, hand in hand they returned to the camp. Soon afterwards a group of people came towards the burnt camp. It was Hurr’s widow who came to give condolences to Bibi Zainab. She brought trays of bread and water jugs for the ladies and children.
Zainab remembered the parting wish of her brother Hussein, who told her if she got water after his death, she should first give it to Sakina. So, with the beaker of water, Bibi Zainab went to Sakina and woke her up saying:
Bibi Zainab’s voice: “Sakina, my child at last there’s water for you”
Maryam: The innocent child asked:
Sakina’s voice: “Dear aunt, you too have remained thirsty for days. Why did you not drink first before waking me up?”
Maryam: Zainab replied:
Bibi Zainab’s voice: “My child, it is usual to give food and drink to the youngest first. Since you are the youngest here I have brought it for you”
Maryam: Hearing this Sakina took the beaker filled with water and run out of the tent. Zainab rushed out after her shouting:
“ Sakina tell me where are you going in this dark?”
Maryam: Sakina replied:
“I am taking water to my brother Ali Asgher, he is the youngest amongst us….
( pause here let people cry and compose themselves )
Narrator:
Now came the time when the woman and children were taken to the courts of Yazid (malawun) in Damascus. Lets us remember the words of Our 4th Imam, Imam Zainul Abedeen (AS) who said : As- sham as-sham as –sham, whenever he was asked to describe the atrocities of kerbala he would weep in remembrance of Sakina.
Maryam:
When the caravan reached the main bazaar there was such a big crowd that it became difficult to make way through to the court of Obeidullah ibne Ziad. Sakina was repeatedly asking for water. Zainab knew that it was useless to request the guards for water. It is said that even the animals were given water but Sakina could not have water.
Seeing the plight of Sakina, a lady who was standing in her balcony rushed from her house with a cup of water. She offered water to Sakina. With gratitude Sakina took it from her and wanting to drink but the lady looking up at her said:
“I know you are extremely thirsty and you appear to have suffered terribly. Before you drink this water, I request you pray to God that he may protect my children from a fate such as yours and the members of your family.”
Sakina compiled with the request however, the words of this lady recalled to her, the stark reality. It is possible that she remembered the thirst of her 6 month old brother Ali Asgher, whose thirst was never quenched or she must have remembered her brave uncle Abbas who went to fetch water never to return. She must have recalled the cries of al attash al- attash and the dry water bag must have brought back pain and sorrow to the little heart.
(pause here, people may be crying, let them recompose)
Maryam: As the prisoners marched towards the court, Sakina kept lifting her feet off the ground and covering her face with her hands.
Almas wispers:
“ By God as if I can see the prisoners passing in front of my eyes”
Short backround marthia.
Maryam: Yazid asked
Yazid voice:“ Oh child why are you lifting your feet? Why are you covering your face with your hands? Why is there blood on your shoulders?”
Maryam: Sakina bintel Hussein replied:
“Oh yazid! your men have tied my neck to the older women. When they move I get pulled off my feet.
Yazid, my hair is not as long as my mum’s or my aunts and your men have snatched away our veils( hijaabs) so am covering my face with my hands.
Yazid! I am the daughter of he who gave generously, but your men did not ask, they snatched my earrings tearing my years”
Maryam: Yazid did not have any answer to give.
Narrator
While in the prison it said that Sakina would cry day and night in remembrance of her beloved father. Knowing that her weeping upset her mother, Bibi Sakina (AS) would cry silently and quickly wipe away her tears. In the prison of Damascus she would stare at the flock of birds flying to their nests at sunset and innocently ask Bibi Zainab (AS), (pointing at the picture of the cell)
"Will Sakina ever be going home like those birds flying to their homes?"
Almas: Did Sakina ever go home?
Maryam: No, Sakina did not go home.
Almas: What happen to Sakina?
Maryam: One dreadful night Bibi Sakina (AS) went to bed on the cold floor of the prison. For a long time she stared into the darkness. The time for the morning prayers came. Bibi Sakina (AS) was still lying with her eyes wide open. Her mother called out:
"Wake up, Sakina! Wake up, it is time for prayers, my child."
There was only the painful silence. Our fourth Imam Zain-ul-Abideen (AS) walked up to where Bibi Sakina (AS) lay. He put his hand on her forehead. It was cold. He put his hand near the mouth and the nose. Bibi Sakina (AS) had stopped breathing. In between sobs Imam Zain-ul-Abideen (AS) said:
"INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAYHI RAAJI'OON."
(pause here, both cry and let people cry after a while)
-------------------------------------option to end the play here or continue*------------------------
Almas: Oh Maryam, I forgot about your present. I brought to you the CD by the helpers of Almahdi, you wanted this, didn’t you?
Maryam: ( crying sobbingly) present?
Present… Did you know that the cries of Sakina could be heard in the silent of the night, Yazid could not sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he could hear the muffled sobs. He sent his soldiers to find out where the noise was coming from, he was told it was Sakina, daughter of Hussein, who could not bear the parting from her father. Hearing this Yazid said:
“ I know what will quieter her”
Maryam: Yazid sent a present to Sakina, when Sakina lifted the cover from the plate she saw the head of her father. Taking it in her arms she cried herself to sleep. Bibi Zainab (AS) held the still child as Imam Zain-ul-Abideen (AS) 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 (AS). They huddled around her, and the prison walls began to shake with the cry:
Background voice by all the children: "Ya Bibi Sakina (AS), YA MAZLOOMAH!!"
Maryam: Bibi Rubaab (AS) put her cheek on Bibi Sakina (AS)'s grave and cried out:
"Speak to me, Sakina! Only a word, my child! Speak to me!!"
Almas Hugs Maryam and both say:
“Salaams to you oh madhlum bibi who did not go home even after your death. On this occasion we extend our heartfelt condolences to Imam-e-Zamana (AJ) and to all the Muslims and Shia’hs of Ahlul-Bayt (AS).”
Matam - e - Hussein