“Without Sakeenah, no place is liked by me,” “A house without Sakeenah would not be worth living in!”, these were some sayings often heard from Al-Imam Al-Hussein (A) indicating great love and high position of his most beloved daughter Sayyedah Sakeenah (A) in his eyes.

Four-year-old Sakeenah (A) was the youngest daughter of Holy Prophet (S)’s grandson, Chief of Martyrs and Master of Youths of Paradise Al-Imam Al-Hussein (A) and Omm-e-Robab (A). She was used to sleep on the Holy chest of her father Al-Hussein (A).

There was a special bond between Sakeenah (A) and her paternal uncle Abol Fazl Al-Abbas (A). He loved her more than he did his own children. If Sakeenah (A) asked for anything, Abbas (A) would not rest until he satisfied her desire. There was nothing that Abbas (A) would not do to make Sakeenah (A) happy. Sakeenah bint-ol Hussein (A) loved her uncle just as much.

On the Day of Ashura, after giving her water bag to her uncle Abbas (A) –commander of Husseini army - for bringing water she along with other children was standing on the door of tent waiting for her uncle. As soon as she saw Al-Imam Al-Hussein (A) bringing the blood drenched 'alam (standard) she knew that her uncle Abbas (A) had been killed. From that day on Sakeenah never complained of thirst. She never again asked anyone for water. Her aunt Sayyedah Zaynab bint-e-Ali (A) would urge her to take a few sips, but she herself would never ask for water or complain of thirst!!!

She was that beloved child of the holy Prophet (S)’s family that Shimar (L) slapped at her delicate cheeks only because she was most beloved to Hussein (A). Her earrings were snatched by the Yazidi men making her ears bleed and soaking her shirt in blood. She, like her mother, aunts and sisters was tied in ropes.

History tells that in the court of Yazid (L) when Sakeenah (A) asked the Holy Head of her beloved father Al-Imam Al-Hussein (A) in the name of her love to come to her lap from a tray in which it was placed by Yazid (L), it raised and came to in her lap.

In the prison of Syria she would stare at the flock of birds flying to their nests at sunset and innocently ask Sayyedah Zaynab (A), “Will Sakeenah be going home like those birds flying to their homes?”

Prior to his martyrdom, Al-Imam Al-Hussein (A) took Sakeenah (A) in her lap, wiped her rolling tears and said: “O Sakeenah! I inform you that after my martyrdom you will weep for long, and you would remain shedding tears for long in the grief of orphanage.”

For her father, she wept day and night.

Sayyed Muhammad Ali Shah Abdul Azmi writes in Iqaa and also Al-Allamah Tareehi narrates that one night Sakeenah (A) saw her father in dream while he was severely wounded and raising voice of Istaghasaa (seeking help). She at once woke up and said to her aunt and brother: “My father is calling for help … brother Sajjad! My father is besmeared with blood … he is alone.” All chaste ladies began mourning; similarly cries of Sakeenah (A) went on rise. When Yazid (L) heard the voices of cries, he inquired into the matter and was told that the little daughter of Hussein (A) has seen her father in dream and since then she is weeping bitterly. He (L) ordered that holy head of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (A) be taken to her. His (L)’s slaves put the holy head in a tray, covered it with a cloth and brought to the prison. When it was brought to Sakeenah (A) she said, “I want to see my father and you give me food!” her Aunt Saani-e-Zahraa (A) said it is not food, remove this handkerchief and see your father has come to meet you. The moment she removed the cloth and saw her father’s head besmeared with blood and dust, she screamed and fell on it. Cries of all chaste ladies mounted. Sakeenah took the holy head in her lap and wailed: “…O father! Would that I don’t have eyes and I would not see your head, O father! Would that I was buried and would not see your blood-stained holy beard.”

She then put her face on the dry parched lips of her father and went to him forever. It was 3rd of Safar, the second Islamic month. She was buried by her brother Al-Imam Zayn-ol Abedeen (A) in the same prison. Reports indicate that this little daughter of Hussein (A) was buried while she was wearing the same bloodstained shirt.

She’rani notes in his book Al-Manan on the authority of his trustworthy persons that once because of water logging it was decided to shift Sakeenah bint-ol Hussein (A)’s holy body, but no one had courage. At last, Sayyed Ibn-e-Mortaza, from the progeny of Sayyeda Fatimah Az-Zahraa (A), was asked to accomplish it. When he opened the grave, women found black stains of whips on her back, and that she was buried in her shirt without shroud. The writer says that when he told this event to one of his friends, the later confirmed it by telling him the same narration with reference to one of his scholarly teachers.

Peace be upon you O daughter of him whose blood compensation is demanded by Allah,

Peace be upon you O daughter of Chief of Martyrs

Peace be upon you O part of Master of Youths of Paradise …

Peace be upon you O Who was scholar in little age,

Peace be upon you O generous dignified

Peace be upon you O oppressed martyr

Peace be upon you O who was far from her country

Peace be upon you O who was detained and moved to city after city

Peace be upon you O who was successful in great trial and who sacrificed herself for her father after delivering best speech and said O father who oppressor has made me orphan in this little age, O father who has cut your jugular vein

Peace be upon you who died in great love for Chief of Martyrs …