Messenger Of Allah (S) Wept For Khadijah (S.A.)

God forbid, the relationship between the Holy Prophet (S) and Lady Khadijah (s.a.) was not based on lowly animal desires and lust. Thus such points are meaningless. Lady Khadijah (s.a.) was fifteen years older to the Prophet (S).

Hence, after she passed away, the Prophet (S) used to respect her greatly whenever there was a mention of her. Many a times, he used to have tears in his eyes, which was unbearable to Ayesha.1

Since Ayesha was young and she was proud of her youth she once told the Prophet (S), “An old woman is not as important as you consider Lady Khadijah.” The Prophet (S) replied, “What are you saying? Khadijah was completely different.”2

Lady Khadijah’s (S.A.) Will To Asma

Women had gathered behind the room, in which the newly-married Imam Ali (A) and Lady Az-Zahra (s.a.) were present on their wedding night like it happens in many rural areas today also. The Holy Prophet (S) ordered that no one had the right to sit behind the room and that the women should vacate the place.

After some time, the Holy Prophet (S) passed by that place and found Asma Bint Umais sitting near the room.

The Holy Prophet (S) said, “Didn’t I say that no one should sit here. Why are you sitting here?” Asma said, “Messenger of Allah! Lady Khadijah had willed me:

‘I am worried about my daughter a lot because she is young. I think she would need me on her wedding night because there are certain circumstances in which every daughter needs her mother on that night. Thus, it is my will to you that you take care of Fatimah on her wedding night’.”

Asma says that the eyes of the Prophet (S) were filled with tears on hearing Khadijah’s name. He told her, “Stay here only.” She said, “Messenger of Allah! I will stay here only, so that if Az-Zahra calls out and asks for something I can fulfill her need.”3

Imam Al-Husayn’s (A) Love For Lady Rabab And Sakina

Lady Rabab4 was one of the wives of Imam Al-Husayn (A). Only this lady was present in Karbala. She was the mother of Sakina. Imam Al-Husayn (A) was so proud of the loyalty of this wife that he used to quote the following verses in her honour:

“I swear by a friend who is dearer than life. I like to live in a house where Rabab and Sakina are present. I love both of them very much. I feel like spending my entire wealth on them and no one should stop me from doing this.”5

Did you see how the relations of the people of truth are? It is about such wives that the Holy Qur’an says:

ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ أَنْتُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ تُحْبَرُونَ

Enter the garden, you and your wives; you shall be made happy.( Surah Zukhruf 43:70)

Rabab Mourns For Imam Al-Husayn (A)

Lady Rabab neither sat under shade nor had good food for a long time. She used to cry often. When she was asked why she wasn’t sitting in shade, she used to say, “When I saw my husband’s body lying in the hot sun6 (Ustad Mutahhari cries), I vowed never to sit in shade.”

There was such a pure bond between this lady and Imam Al-Husayn (A) that she became the evidence of the verse:

ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ أَنْتُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ تُحْبَرُون

Enter the garden, you and your wives; you shall be made happy. (43:70)

“Daughter Sakina, Do Not Make My Heart Suffer More”

As evident from the abovementioned verses Imam Al-Husayn (A) loved Sakina very much. This love was two-way. Sakina also loved her father very much. History proves that Sakina’s love was a great test for Imam Al-Husayn (A). This was a beloved daughter of Imam Al-Husayn (A) and he could not live without her even for a moment. When Imam Al-Husayn (A) came to bid farewell and Sakina began to cry, the Imam said:

“Sakina, my dear! Do not cry now. You have to cry a lot after me. Do not shed tears as long as I am alive. Hold your tears to be shed after me. O the dearest one of your father! Don’t you know that my heart is filled with sorrow on seeing your tears? So don’t make my heart suffer more.”7

“Of course, it is upto you to cry as much as you want after my soul has departed from my body. However, O daughter! As long as your father is alive, his heart is distressed on seeing your tears.8 Hence, you are most rightful of crying after me.”9

• 1. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol 16. Pg 1-81.
• 2. Serat e Halabiya, Vol 3, Pg 313. Kohlul Basar. Pg 70.
• 3. Bihar Al-Anwar, Vol. 43, Pg. 138.
• 4. Imam Zayn al-Abidin’s (A) mother, Lady Shaharbano had passed away at the time of her delivery. Ali Akbar’s mother, Lady Laila was also not present in Kerbala. It is not known whether she departed with the caravan in Medina or not. However, it is certain that she was not present in Kerbala. (Ustad Mutahhari)

  Only Rabab Bint Imrul Qais Kalbi was present among the wives of Imam Husayn (A) along with him in Kerbala. Refer Tarikh Ashura, Pg. 199 by Dr. Ibrahim Ayati, published by Jame Taalimaat al-Islami.

• 5. Damaus Sujum, Pg. 311; Mausuat al-Kalimat al-Imam al-Husayn, Pg. 825.
• 6. Muntahai ul-Amaal, Vol. 1, Pg. 819.
• 7. In some books of history daa’ani is substituted with dahaani.
• 8. In some books of history taa-teenahu is substituted with taa- teenanee.
• 9. Damaus Sujum, Pg. 184; Mausuat al-Kalimat al-Imam al-Husayn, Pg. 491.