ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Maqtal al-Husayn The Seventh Day On the seventh day, the siege around the Master of Martyrs (‘a) and those with him intensified, and they were blocked completely from reaching the water. Their water supply had already depleted, so each one of them had to deal with the flames of the thirst on his or her own. Naturally, the children were moaning on account of the pain of thirst.

Some of them were pleading for water while others were trying anything they could think of to quench their thirst. All of this was taking place before the eyes of Abu ‘Abdullah and the honourable ones of his family and companions. But what could he have done since swords and lances stood between them and the water? Yet the man who quite often served water to the thirsty could not tolerate that condition any longer.

Should the daughters of Fatima ever be in pain And against the pain of thirst to him complain With sighs high as the current of the Euphrates? Had he sought al-Majarra river to quench his thirst, It would surely have raised itself and done so first, It would have turned its current into a ladder to reach Had Double-Horns closed it against him, His determination would have surely undermined it.

In his left hand is a watering bag, In his right hand a trained sword, Like a cloud he aimed to reach Fatima's offspring, But the foe was certain to stone him with everything...[^1] At that juncture, al-Husayn (‘a) assigned his brother al-’Abbas to shoulder this responsibility. The latter had already been burning with the desire to do just that. Al-Husayn (‘a) asked him to bring water for the ladies and the children, giving him command over a detachment of twenty men each carrying a water bag.

They went to the Euphrates at night paying no attention to those who were charged with guarding the watering place. After all, they were in the company of the lion of Muhammad's Progeny (‘a). Nafi’ Ibn Hilal al-Jamli advanced, so ‘Amr Ibn al-Hajjaj shouted at him to identify himself.

He said to him, “We came to drink of this water from which you have prohibited us.” “Drink then and cool your eyes,” said he, “but do not carry of it to al-Husayn.” Nafi’ said, “No, by Allah, I shall never drink one drop while al-Husayn and the with him and their supporters are thirsty.” He then called upon his companions to fill their water bags. It was then that those under the command of Ibn al-Hajjaj attacked them.