Lady Rokayya (SA)

According to different historical accounts, between the 3rd and 13th Safar is the day when we remember the martyrdom anniversary of lady Rokaya bint-al-Hussein (SA) - the 4-year old beloved daughter of Imam Hussein (AS) who died in the prison of Damascus after the family of the Prophet Mohammad were made prisoners after the events of Karbala and detained in the prison of Damascus.

On the day of Ashura - the 10th of Muharram, she gave her mashk to Hadrat Abbas (AS) to get some water for her and the children. When Hadrat Abbas (AS) went to fetch water, the children gathered round lady Rokayya with their little cups, knowing that as soon as Hadrat Abbas brought any water, lady Rokayya would first make sure that they had some before taking any herself. When lady Rokayya saw Imam Hussein (AS) bringing the blood drenched 'alam she knew that her uncle Abbas had been martyred.

Knowing that her weeping upset her mother, lady Rokayya (SA) would cry silently and quickly wipe away her tears! In the prison in Damascus she would stare at the flock of birds flying to their nests at sunset and innocently ask lady Zeinab (SA), "Will we ever be going home like those birds flying to their homes?"