Mola -asws replied, “ O Yazid (L.

Mola -asws replied, “ O Yazid (L.A) , since the day our leader -asws and our Master Hussain -asws was butchered we have not had any opportunity to mourn for him -asws .” A house was therefore provided for them in the residential sector of Damascus and here Syeda Zainab -asws held her -asws first ‘ majalis’ gathering for the mourning and remembrance of Imam Hussain -asws . The women of the Quraysh and Bani Hashim -asws arrived clad in black, with their heads uncovered, weeping wretchedly.

Imam Sajad -asws sat on the carpet of Imam Hussain -asws and then Syeda Zainab -asws told the women of Syria what had befallen them. They shed tears and mourned. They had not known about the events of Karbala and Kufa, but when they went home, they told their men folk. Gradually, illusions of Yazid’s good intentions were dispelled.

It was fear of revolt that caused Yazid (L.A) to release the members of the family of the Holy Prophet -asws Yazid (L.A) gave them -asws the choice of remaining in Damascus or returning to Medina. In accordance with Mola Sajad’s -asws instructions the Ahl-e-Bait -asws returned to Medina, he called Nu’man ibn Bashir, who had been a companion of the Holy Prophet -asws , and ordered him to make suitable arrangements for their journey.

A contingent of horsemen, foot soldiers and adequate provisions were made available. Gaily decorated litters with velvet seats were provided, but Syeda Zainab -asws ordered that these should be covered in black so that people would know the travelers were in mourning. During the journey, Nu’man ibn Bashir showed the travelers every consideration and respect.

Whenever they stopped, the tents of the men were pitched a mile away from those of the women so that the women could move unhindered and unobserved by strangers. Gatherings of mourners were held wherever they stopped and many people came, listened and learned the truth. The travelers returned to Medina via Karbala.

When they reached Karbala, they found Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari (ar) and some of the chiefs of Bani Hashim were already there for they had come to pay homage at the grave of Imam Hussain -asws . It is related that they had brought the severed head of the chief of martyrs -asws with them from Damascus and that in Karbala, and were buried by his son Imam Zain-ul Abideen -asws . A great majlis was held before they resumed their journey.