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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Hidden Truth about Karbala Chapter 20: Seventh and eighth of Muharram The water stored in Imam Husayn’s camp was exhausted by the night of the sixth of Muharram and in the extreme heat of the desert; the whole seventh day and the following night were spent by the children in crying for water. On the eighth day of Muharram, Imam Husayn’s brother and trusted friend Abbas (S) tried to dig a well in several places, one after another.

Unfortunately, they faced a sheet of solid rock at every place, shattering the hope of providing water to the thirsty children in Imam Husayn’s camp.[^1] Ali Nazari Munfared and some others write, “Nineteen steps away from the tents facing the Qibla, Imam Husayn (a.s.) dug in the ground and a gush of water erupted from which everybody drank and water bags were filled.

After this, the water disappeared without leaving any sign.”[^2] This is quite contrary to the reports received from the infallible Imams (a.s.). Even non-Shia sources do not record any such incident, except perhaps in much later interpolations during the long rule of the Umayyads and the Abbasids. From the Shia traditions, it is established beyond doubt that no water was available in Imam Husayn’s camp from the seventh until the night of the tenth of Muharram, 61 AH.

Unable to see small children crying for water, Imam Husayn’s companion Yazid bin Hussayn al-Hamadani took the Imam’s permission to talk to and persuade Umar ibn Sa’d to allow them to bring water from the river. When he met ibn Sa’d, he did not greet him with the customary salutation. Ibn Sa’d asked, “ Why did you not greet me? Am I not a Moslem ?” Al-Hamadani replied, “ You have assembled to kill the Prophet’s grandson.

With what excuse will you plead before the Prophet (S) for whose intercession you hope on the Day of Judgement? You have denied water to children that even an infidel will not do. How do you then call yourself a Muslim ?” Umar ibn Sa’d said, “ For the present, I am not worried about the Day of Judgment.

What concerns me is the Governorship of Ray which is waiting for me after I am finished with Husayn .”[^3] Then, Imam Husayn (a.s.) called Abbas (a.s.) and asked him to take some companions and try to fetch water from the Euphrates. Abbas (a.s.) took twenty horsemen, and when they reached the riverbank, they were challenged by al-Hajjaj who was guarding the river with his platoon.