30/06/2025
5th Muharram 🏴
Bibi Zainab is with her two sons, ‘Aun - Muhammad.
“My sons, ‘Aun - Muhammad, tomorrow is the day of battle. Your uncle, Husayn's life will be in danger. My darlings, if anything happens to Uncle Husayn, while you are still alive, I will be filled with shame. My ‘Aun - Muhammad, I will not be able to face your grandmother, Bibi Fatimah, on the Day of Judgement. Please, my dearest sons, don't let me down. Be the first ones to sacrifice your lives.”
‘Ashura’ came.
‘Ali Akbar gave the Adhan. Imam Husayn led the Fajr prayers.
The day was already very hot. The battle began.
Imam Husayn's army of 72 thirsty and hungry men, against 20,000 of Yazid's men.
Hurr went to the battlefield and was martyred by Yazid's beasts.
One-by-one, Husayn's companions went to the battlefield and were killed.
Since dawn, Bibi Zainab was watching the bodies being brought to the tent - one-by-one.
She called her sons, ‘Aun - Muhammad.
“My sons, what are you waiting for? Why have you not been to the battlefield yet? Go and fight the enemies of Islam.”
“Mother, since dawn, we have been to Uncle Husayn many times for permission to fight. He keeps refusing us. Mother, you help us. Ask Uncle Husayn to give us permission to fight Jihad.”
Bibi Zainab called her brother, Husayn, to her tent.
“Brother Husayn! I have been like a mother to you, haven't I? Husayn, your mother is begging you to let ‘Aun - Muhammad go to the battlefield.”
“Zainab, my sister, Jihad is not wajib on children. How can I let my sister's sons be killed while I am still alive? No, Zainab, no!”
“Husayn, my brother! If ‘Ali Akbar dies before ‘Aun- Muhammad, how will I be able to face our mother on the Day of Judgement. My brother, I will be filled with shame. Please, brother! Let them go.”
Husayn saw the disappointment on Zainab's face. Her eyes were filled with tears.
Husayn put his arms around ‘Aun - Muhammad and led them to their horses. He kissed them and helped them mount their horses.
“Go, go and show those beastly men that you have the blood of Ja’far and ‘Ali in your veins.”
‘Aun - Muhammad looked at their mother and said:
“ Fi aman Allah, mother! Fi aman Allah, mother!”
“Fi aman Allah, my sons.”
‘Aun - Muhammad rode out on to the battlefield. They fought bravely together. They were the grandsons of Ja’far and ‘Ali. They pushed the enemies back. Hundreds of Yazid's men were killed.
‘Abbas and Husayn watched the two brothers fight so fiercely despite being thirsty for three days. ‘Abbas, who had trained ‘Aun - Muhammad in the art of sword fighting, was filled with pride.
Umar Saad, Yazid's commander, got worried. He ordered his soldiers to separate the two brothers and then attack them from all sides.
‘Aun - Muhammad were separated. Each one was then surrounded by Yazid's soldiers.
The two brothers were attacked by horsemen running from one side to another. ‘Aun - Muhammad were attacked with arrows, swords, spears and daggers from all sides.
How much can two young children, thirsty and hungry for three days take? As they fell, they called out for their uncle.
'Uncle! Came quickly! Uncle, come and help us.”
Husayn and ‘Abbas rushed to the battlefield.
The children were severely wounded. They were taking their last breaths.
“Uncle, give our salaam to our mother. Uncle, please tell our mother that just as she had told us, we did not go towards the river”.
Imam Husayn and ‘Abbas carried the two young bodies to the tent.
‘Ali Akbar cried out:
My brothers, ‘Aun - Muhammad, have been killed.”
Zainab heard the cry from her tent. She did not cry. She laid her muslah and performed a sajdah.
Ya, Allah I thank you for accepting my sacrifice. Ya, Allah! I am proud of my two sons who have given their lives for Islam!”
‘Aun – Muhammad’s bodies were laid on the floor. The ladies gathered around. They cried and did matam.
“ Ya ‘Aunna, ya Muhammada! Ya ‘Aunna, ya Muhammada!”
Zainab did not cry. She did not do matam for ‘Aun- Muhammad.
Let us give pursa to the Holy Ahlebait (as).
Inna lillahe wa inna ilaihi wa rajaoon!
وہ دو پھول زینب کے، سر راہِ قربان ہوئے
تسبیحِ صداقت لے کر دینِ حق پہ نچھاور ہوئے💔
