Put your sword back.

Put your sword back. ‘Abbas, we have not come here to fight. Later on, people will say that we started the battle for water. ‘Abbas! My brother ‘Abbas! Calm down and put your sword back! Let us move away from here. We will pitch our tents elsewhere.” ‘Abbas considered his brother to be his master and always obeyed his commands. He put his sword back and ordered his men to pitch their tents away from the river. This was the 2nd of Muharram.

As nights and days passed by, the scene in Karbala’ changed. Day by day Yazid's army increased in number. Nearly 20,000 of Yazid’s soldiers surrounded Husayn's tents. Why so many to fight no more than 72 men in Husayn's army? Despite having so many men in Yazid's army, his commanders were still worried because the 72 men in Husayn's army were no ordinary men. They were brave, faithful and did not fear death. Yazid's soldiers knew this and therefore thought of a way to weaken Husayn's army.

On 7th Muharram, Yazid's commanders ordered their men to stop water from reaching Husayn's tents. There were many ladies and children with Husayn and they suffered a lot without water and food. For three days, one could here children crying for water “Al-Atash! Al-Atash! Al-Atash! Water! Water! Water! Thirst! Thirst! Thirst!” ‘Abbas could hear this. He could hear his beloved Sakina crying for water. ‘Abbas loved Sakina dearly and always got her anything she wanted.

Every time ‘Abbas heard Sakina crying for water, he shook with grief. ‘Abbas! Poor ‘Abbas, could not bear to hear Sakina crying. “Al-Atash! Al-Atash! Al-Atash!” echoed through the land of Karbala’ for three days and nights. Many little children died from thirst and hunger. Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaih Raja’oon! We are from Allah and to Him we will return! Matam Al-Husayn! Previous…