Museum of Passion: Role of Women in Karbala
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By Shahana Naqvi , Copy Edited By Adam Rizvi, The India Observer, TIO:
(Contributions of the women in the tragedy of Karbala )
Introduction
(Contributions of the women in the tragedy of Karbala )
Islam asserts the rights of women. Such is the position given to women that, in its holy book, the Holy Qur’an, an entire chapter is named Surah An-Nisa — The Women. The Holy Qur’an affirms that men and women possess equal dignity.
A woman is a completely independent personality and is entitled to inherit in her capacity as a mother, wife, sister, and daughter. She has full liberty to live a happy, honourable life.
The pagan society of pre-Islamic Arabia held an irrational prejudice against female children, going so far as to bury them alive.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) upheld the cause of women, especially widows — and most of his wives were widows. He married an independent and chaste woman, Bibi Khadija, from whom he had a daughter, Fatima.
Bibi Fatima was the epitome of a perfect daughter, wife, and mother. It is through her sons, Hasan and Hussain, that the lineage of the last Prophet of Islam continues. Shia Muslims follow this bloodline — especially the Ithna Ashari (The Twelvers), although there are several sub-groups within the Shia community, including Khojas, Bohras, Ismailis, Zaidis, and others.
MUHARRAM
Muharram is the month in which the Battle of Karbala was fought. It is a time of reflection and remembrance — especially for Shia Muslims — of the tragic events that took place on the scorching desert plains of Karbala (in present-day Iraq) in 680 CE, during which Imam Hussain and his small band of 72 loyal companions were martyred by the forces of the ruling caliph, Yazid.
Yazid represented everything contrary to Islamic morals — a corrupt yet powerful leader of his time. All he desired was the bay’ah (allegiance) of Imam Hussain to solidify his claim as the rightful leader of the Muslims. Imam Hussain firmly opposed this demand and refused to submit.
In his intoxication with power and arrogance, Yazid devised an evil plan to murder Imam Hussain during Hajj. This plot was foiled when Imam Hussain chose to convert his pilgrimage into Umrah, as he never wished for bloodshed in the sacred House of God — the Kaaba.
BATTLE OF KARBALA
Despite the risks involved, Imam Hussain took his entire family — including his wives, children, sisters, and relatives — on the journey towards Karbala (Iraq), where he was forcibly surrounded by the evil forces of Yazid and once again pressured to give in to their demands. Imam Hussain firmly refused.
He took his family along because he knew that the noble women of his household (Ahlul Bayt) would play a vital role after the tragedy of Karbala, especially his sister Bibi Zainab, whom he entrusted with the responsibility of caring for the women and children after his martyrdom.
Bibi Zainab played a very crucial role in bringing to light the atrocities inflicted upon Imam
Hussain, his women, and children in the aftermath of the gruesome Battle of Karbala.
The Battle of Karbala has a universal appeal. It is unlike any other battle fought in the history of mankind, which were typically waged for land, treasures, or women. The Battle of Karbala is unique in the sense that it was fought to uphold human rights and values — a battle between truth and falsehood. Among its martyrs were not only men, but also women and children.
WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE
It is worth mentioning the fact that both men and women of the Prophet’s household played a significant role in this battle, wherein the men displayed their physical strength while the women stood behind each one of them in supporting their leader, Imam Hussain. They were mothers, daughters, nieces, and relatives, and each one of them displayed tremendous strength of character — so much so that history has mentioned them in golden words.
These noble ladies saw their men — brothers, nephews, children, and relations — brutally murdered right before their very eyes. They were harassed without food and water, their tents were burned, and they were terrorised by the 3 lakh–strong evil army of Yazid.
Although they lost their protectors and hope, yet they kept their values and dignity intact. These noble ladies sacrificed all that they had (in terms of worldly possessions) to uphold the truth and surrendered themselves to the will of God.
“Salaam khak nasheenon pe sogwaron ka”
This solemn salaam is recited every year in honour of the women and children of Imam Hussain’s camp on the night of Ashura (10th Muharram), which is also called Shaam-e-Gharibaan or “Night of the Mourners.” This salaam pays tribute to the helplessness of these noble ladies and their children.
Exemplary Children
Even the little children of Imam Hussain’s camp were brave and strong in character. Without food and water for three days in the hot desert plains of Karbala, these children showed immense patience and resilience, for there is no mention throughout history that any one of them ran away or even begged for water.
In fact, they were willing to sacrifice their lives to uphold truth and save Islam from falsehood. Worth mentioning are Aun (8) and Muhammad (7), the sons of Bibi Zainab, Janab Qasim (14), the son of Imam Hasan, and many more.
All this throws light on the fact that tarbiyat (values) imparted by the noble ladies to these honourable children played a vital role — and how well they were brought up under their mothers’ guidance and upbringing. These brave children can be role models and inspiration for generations to come.
History has recorded different statistics regarding the number of ladies and children in the caravan to Karbala. Sheikh Abbas Qummi (a renowned Shia scholar) states that there were around 20 ladies and children, while a prominent book Maali-us-Sibtain records around 42 of them.
Whatever the figures suggest, it is important to note that many children lost their lives in Karbala — especially the infant, suckling son from Imam Hussain’s camp, Hazrat Ali Asghar (4 months old), who was so thirsty that the Holy Imam had to ask the evil forces to give water to the parched infant. The response came in the form of an arrow — the kind used to kill wild beasts and animals.
Such was the audacity employed by the evil forces that they did not even spare the infant child of the holy household. In their thirst for worldly goods, they forgot to differentiate between right and wrong and committed the most heinous crimes in the history of mankind.
These noble ladies bravely faced and bore patiently the innumerable atrocities hurled upon them by the evil forces of Yazid.
After the battle of Karbala, these noble ladies and children were taken prisoners and kept in the dungeons of Yazid’s palace. The trauma the little minds endured in the wake of such oppression resulted in irreparable casualties—especially Imam Hussain’s most special and beloved daughter, Bibi Sakina, who passed away at the tender age of four in the dark rooms of those prisons, lamenting her homeland, her beloved brothers, and her loving father, Imam Hussain.
The role of women and children is crucial in the tragedy of Karbala because it highlights the fact that the women of Prophet Muhammad’s family (Ahlul Bayt) were capable of turning the tide towards the right path.
They exposed the evil face of the enemy, giving rise to the idea that we should never surrender ourselves to zulm (oppression) in any form—be it physical or emotional.
Umm al-Masaib (Mountain of Patience)
Bibi Zainab
“Guzar gayi dil-e-Zainab pe kya, Khuda jaane,”
These lines from a noha recited every year shed light on the insurmountable pain and suffering endured by the daughter of Imam Ali and Bibi Fatima, Bibi Zainab, during and after the tragedy of Karbala—pain so profound that no one can even begin to fathom it.
She sacrificed her two sons, witnessed the brutal massacre of her young nephews, loving brothers, and her most precious and beloved brother, Imam Hussain, on the day of Ashura. After the massacre, she was cursed and humiliated; the head coverings (hijab) of the noble ladies were snatched away by the evil forces, and they were taken captive on camelback—walking and mourning their loved ones under the unforgiving desert heat across a journey spanning over 1,000 kilometers.
Marching through small towns, villages, capitals, and cities—where the prisoners (including women and children) were paraded under the false propaganda that “a rebel has risen against the empire”—Bibi Zainab unmasked the enemy by speaking the truth along the way.
Her powerful sermons, delivered in the courts of Yazid and Ibn Ziyad, shook the foundations of Yazid’s empire. Fearing rebellion, Yazid was forced to release the captives and send them back to their native place, Medina (now in Saudi Arabia).
Bibi Zainab played a key role in supporting Imam Hussain and his family for the sake of upholding human values. It was she who universalized the message of the Husaini Revolution and laid the foundation of mourning, which is still observed during Muharram throughout the world.
The Astane Hussaini (Management of the Imam Hussain Shrine) at Karbala, Iraq, has proposed a project to revive the ancient route taken 1,400 years ago by the family of the Holy Prophet (Ahlul Bayt). Crossing four countries, this 1,000 km treacherous path runs from Karbala (Iraq) to Damascus (Syria).
This route was walked by the prisoners of Karbala, including women and children, and many children lost their lives along the way.
Although the project is still in the pipeline, it aims to identify, discover, and revive the works of the Ahlul Bayt and highlight the role of women in spreading the rightful teachings of Islam through their sacrifice and struggle.
Lessons Learned
“Kull yawm Ashura wa Kull ard Karbala,” or “Every land is Karbala, every d“ay is Ashura”—this quote, attributed to Imam Jaffer Sadiq (the sixth Imam), signifies that the battle between good and evil continues endlessly and isn’t confined to a specific time or place.
If we reflect on the messages of Karbala and analyze the tragedy, it holds deep and profound lessons for humanity.
These teachings can be applied to help human beings coexist and live in harmony, tolerance, and peace. It is no wonder that millions who recognize the supreme sacrifice of Imam Hussain flock to his mausoleum in Karbala (Iraq) to pay their tributes—especially during Arbaeen, the 40th day after Ashura.
Though not much has been highlighted about it, Arbaeen has been acknowledged as the largest peaceful march on Earth, with 20 million people flocking to the holy shrine irrespective of their caste, colour, or religion. The young, old, disabled, injured, and patients—all walk towards the holy shrine, breaking the borders of human bondages and pledging their allegiance to the Holy Imam for standing against oppression, showing resilience in the face of terrorism, patience in adversity, humility, giving preference to the needs of others, speaking and supporting the truth… and countless other teachings that are beneficial for building a just society.
Karbala teaches us how to live together as a family unit, with the young respecting the needs of elders and elders loving and blessing them in return.
Sadly, these values and traditions are disappearing from the modern world. As such, it is important for us to revive them for our children, and nothing can be more effective than narrating stories from history — and the story of Karbala is powerful enough to empower young hearts and minds.
The brave ladies of Imam Hussain’s camp showed the world that a woman’s role is not only defined within the four walls of a house. If need arises, she can bring about necessary revolution in society for its betterment — like Bibi Zainab, who became an instrument to unmask the evil face of the enemy and speak the truth.
The noble ladies of the Ahlul Bayt played an exemplary role, as it showed how bold and educated Muslim women were fourteen centuries ago, and how they consolidated the rightful Islamic teachings with their sacrifice and conduct.
In the study of Karbala, we come across many magnanimous women who rose to support truth with perfect sincerity, in spite of being oppressed and tortured. Their names and contributions have found mention in history and will remain as long as humanity is alive.
The inner conscience of a man is the spirit of God within him; it helps in differentiating between right and wrong. The tragedy of Karbala is powerful enough to trigger human emotions and deeply move even hard-hearted human beings. A true Hussaini would never harm any human being (physically or emotionally), animals, or for that matter, any of God’s creation.
Dedication
I consider myself a very small entity among the mountains of strength the brave and noble ladies of Prophet Muhammad’s household (Ahlul Bayt) portrayed before us in the wake of the Tragedy of Karbala. I dedicate my writing as a humble tribute to their strength, endurance, and patience in the face of terrorism and tyranny, displayed in its worst form the world has ever seen.
“Karbala jab bhi yaad aayegi, insaniyat sharmayegi”
(Whenever the saga of Karbala is remembered, humanity will bow its head in shame.)
Acknowledgements
My sincere tributes to Bibi Umme Kulsum (sister of Bibi Zainab and Imam Hussain), Bibi Fizza, Bibi Ummul Baneen (mother of Hazrat Abbas), Bibi Rabab (mother of Hazrat Ali Asghar), the brave ladies of the Bani Asad tribe who were instructed by Imam Hussain to bury the bodies of the martyrs of Karbala — he purchased the land from them and gave it back to them again — and to all those sincere and brave ladies and children who lost their purpose and lives for the Will of God.
We will not let humanity forget your names …
Picture from Amari procession Badagaon (Jaunpur) India dated 1965.These have Amari or palanquins on camel backs that are annually taken out in memory of the caravan of Karbala that returned from the prison’s of Yazid in Damascus (Syria) to Medina (Saudi Arabia ) .
Also Read more from this Author: Museum of Passion: Balaposh-The scented quilt
Curated by Humra Kidwai
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