NAFEESA’S POEMS
Nafeesa was blessed with the natural talent
of poetry and she was well versed in Arabic Literature.
A sample of her outstanding poems displaying her enlightened
thoughts, are provided below:
Many eyes slept and many remained awake
Thinking of those matters which are in doubt
Whether they would happen or not
He who was enough for you in the past
Will suffice for you in the future
When the physicians came to see her, she
recited the following couplets:
Please keep the physicians away from me
Let me see my Beloved One
Indeed my longing to meet Him has increased to its climax
My yearning and thirst has heightened to its peak
This was the last poem of her life, as
it was recited only a little while before she died.
LADY NAFEESA, THE ELDER
She was the daughter of Imam Zaid, son
of Imam Hassan son of Hazarat Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu)
the caliph. She is therefore, the aunt of Nafeesa (who was
mentioned above). She is the sister of Hassan Al Anwar.
Her mother is Lubaabah, daughter of Abdullah, son of Abbas,
uncle of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam.
HER HUSBAND
She was married to the Caliph Waleed,
son of Marwan. She came to Egypt with her husband since
he was the governor of Egypt. Before he assumed the responsibility
of the Caliphate, she became angry about Waleed’s
dealings with his people and as a consequence of her anger,
she was divorced by him. She traveled to her aunt, Sokaina,
daughter of Imam Hussain, who had resided in Cairo previously.
She arrived in Egypt a long time before the arrival of her
niece Nafeesa.
Abdullah, the brother of her former husband
was the governor of Egypt at this time, so he gave her a
house in northern Cairo. It is a well known fact that this
house was attached to Umee Hani’s house the house
in which younger Nafeesa had stayed in at the request of
Umme Hani. Nafeesa, the elder, statyed in this house till
her death and was subsequently buried therein. Her grave
was known by the name “ Mabad”, the place of
worship.
LADY SOKAINA
She was the daughter of Imam Hussain and
the grand daughter of Hazarat Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu)
HER ORIGINAL NAME
Her original name is Amena. She was, however
better known by her second name, Sokaina. It is Arabic name
which means peace, security and calm. She was born in 48
A.H. She is regarded as the first amongst the progeny of
Imam Ali who came to Egypt.
HER MATERNAL GRANDFATHER
Her mother was Rubab, daughter of Amrul
Qais, the chief of the tribe of Bani Qalb.
AMR-UL-QAIS EMBRACES ISLAM
Amrul Qais came in the presence of the
second Caliph, Umar, son of Al Khattab. He accepted Islam
along with his delegation. The Caliph Umar appointed him
as leader of the new Muslims within his tribe.
Auf, son of Kharija states, “By Allah!
I never saw a man chosen as the leader of the Muslims without
performing even a single Rak’at of prayer, except
for Amrul Qais.
ALI AND AMR-UL-QAIS
Hazarat Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu) and
Qais intended to return, Hazarat Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu)
came to him and requested him to stop for a moment. Hazarat
Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu) introduced himself to Amrul
Qais and stated, “ I am Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu)
son of Abu Talib, cousin and son in law of the Prophet Sallallahu
Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam.These are my sons, Hassan and
Hussain from the daughter of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi
Wa Aalihi Wasallam. We are interested in your kinship.
Amr-ul-Qais did not hesitate at all and
immediately welcomed Hazarat Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu).
He addressed Hassan and told him. “O Hassan! I give
my daughter Salma in marriage to you. “Turning to
Imam Hussain, he stated, “O Hussain! I give my daughter
Rubab in marriage to you. “ Rubab was blessed with
the children Abdullah and Sokaina, both from Imam Hussain.
SOKAINA’S GROWTH AND UPBRINGING
Sokaina grew up under the observation and
care of her noble parents. She was known for her beauty
and righteousness since her childhood. Imam Hussain loved
both his wife and child immensely. He composed a poem expressing
his intensity of love.
By my life, indeed I love the house where
Sokaina and Rubab reside
I love both of them and spend my wealth on them
I do not admonish whoever condemns me regarding this love
Yet I will never obey the accuser if they advise me
I am determined throughout my life (to love them)
Except when I would be buried under the earth
We can conclude from the above mentioned
couplets that Imam Hussain was censured by someone for his
longing and yearning for his wife and child.
WHY DID SOKAINA COME TO EGYPT ?
Sokaina arrived in Egypt because she was
summoned by Al-Asbagh, the prince of Egypt. He intended
to marry her.
UMAYAAD POLICY TOWARDS THE AHLUL BAIT
The Umayyad Caliphate changed their policy
towards the family of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi
Wasallam after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain by the armies
of Yazeed in Karbala. They began efforts to appease the
remaining remembers of the Ahlul Bait in order to subdue
the anger of the Ahlul Bait and their supporters. The Umayyad’s
preferred to contract their marriages with the women of
Ahlul Bait to legitimize their caliphate. They also entrusted
various official posts to the members of the Prophet Sallallahu
Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam’s family.
While Sokaina was traveling to Egypt, she
heard of the debauchery and impiety of Al Asbagh and swore
to Allah that she will never marry such a person. Allah
accepted her prayer and the prince died before her arrival
to Cairo. She was given a house in Cairo where she resided
until her death.
SOKAINA AND HER UNCLE HASSAN
Sokaina was almost two years old when her
uncle Hassan died by poison in 50 A.H. She witnessed the
horrific scenes of Karbala, where many of her family members
were martyred, at the tender age of 14.
HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Sokaina had four brothers and one sister,
from different mothers.
1. Her full brother Abdullah was martyred
in Karbala along with her father Imam Hussain.
2. Ali the Older – His mother was laila, the daughter
of Abu Murrah and thus the niece of Ameer Muawiya (May Allah
be pleased with him). He was killed in Karabala by the forces
of Yazeed, although Yazeed was his cousin.
3. Ali the Younger – was known as “Zainul Abideen”
(the light of the worshippers). His mother was a Persian
Lady, the daughter of Yazdojar, the last kind of Persia.
He was the only son of Imam Hussain who had a relatively
long life, as he died in 96 A.H. at the age of 58. He was
famous as a great scholar, jurist and ascetic.
4. Jafar, whoes mother belonged to the tribe of Ball
5. Fatima, the only sister of Sokaina. Her mother was Umme
Ishaq, daughter of Talha Al Tameemi.
SOKAINA AND THE DISASTER OF KARBALA
Lady Sokaina witnessed the horrendous events
of Karbala, culminating in the unforgivable assassination
of her father, Imam Hussain. She was accompanied to Karbala
by her aunt Zainab, her brothers and sisters, cousins and
other supporters of the Ahlul Bait. She witnessed the murders
of her brothers and family members. These images were etched
in her mind forever and she tried to divert her mind through
literature and poetry.
HER MARRIAGE WITH ABDULLAH
Once Hassan, son of Hassan and grandson
of Hazarat Ali (Razi Allahu Tala Anhu) came to his uncle
Imam Hussain intending to ask for Sokaina’s hand in
marriage. When he arrived in the presence of Imam Hussain,
he could not muster up the courage to ask his uncle for
Sokaina’s hand.
Imam Hussain himself said to him, “
I have chosen my daughter Fatima for you, she resembles
my mother Fatima. On the other hand, Sokaina remains absorbed
in the worship of Allah and is unable to get married at
this time”. Thus, Fatima was married to Hassan and
Sokaina remained unmarried until Imam Hussain was martyred
in Karbala.
There were many suitors for the hand of
Sokaina Prominent amongst them were Musab son of Zubair
Abdul Malik son of Marwan, Urwa son of Zubair and Abdullah
son of Omar. Sokaina finally married Musab, son of Zubair
after she returned from Egypt. Sokaina had avoided marriage
for a long time due to the sorrows which had engulfed her
since the events of Karbala. However, she was encouraged
by her relatives to get married. She agreed to their persistent
requests with the intention of allowing the offspring of
the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wasallam to flourish.
A STORY ABOUT SOKAINA
This incident deals with the marriage of
Sokaina to Musab, son of Zubair.
It is narrated that four persons from Mecca
were gathered in the courtyard of the Kaaba. These were
:
1. Abdullah, son of Omar
2. Abdul Malik, son of Marwan
3. Urwa, son of Zubair
4. Musab, son of Zubair
Musab asked them to express their highest
desire in this world which they would like to achieve at
any cost. Musab himself said, “ I wish to be the governor
of Iraq, to be married with Sokaina, daughter of Imam Hussain
and Ayesha, daughter of Talha.”
Urwa desired to gain the best knowledge
of Islamic jurisprudence and Prophetic traditions. Abdul
Malik wished to become the Caliph.
Abdullah, son of Omar only wished to win paradise (It is
worth thing that each of them had their desires fulfilled).
Musab was married to Sokaina and he gave
her 1,000,000 Dirham as dowry. He also gave her brother
Ali, 40,000 Dirham because he had brought her to Musab.
Sokaina was 20 years old when she met her husband. At the
same time, Musab was entrusted with the governorship of
Iraq by his brother Abdullah, son of Zubair.
Sokaina had not completely recovered from
the deaths of her father and brothers when she was to be
affected by yet another loss of a loved one. Musab died
soon after her marriage to him. However, she was blessed
with a beautiful girl, who was named Rubab, in remembrance
of her grandmother.
When Rubab grew older, she was married
to her cousin Usman, son of Urwa. Unfortunately, Rubab died
soon after her marriage. Sokaina bore all this pain and
sufferred with much patience. She used to resort to the
Qur’an and prayers whenever she felt saddened. She
followed the commandment of Allah:
O you who believe! Seek help with patient
perseverance and prayer, for Allah is with those who patiently
persevere. Surah Al Baqarah, Verse 153
HER MARRIAGE
Sokaina was married second time to Abdullah,
son of Usman. He was a noble man and this marriage was celebrated
in the poetry of an eminent poet of the time, Abu Dahbal
Al Jamahi.
Sokaina was blessed by number of children
from Abdullah.
