“A house without Sakina is not worth living in” - Imam Hussein (a.s.)
Bibi sakina was a very generous and understanding girl. She would care about the people around her. She always recited the holy Qur’an and some say that she never missed prayers. She was full of love and happiness. Everyone loved Bibi Sakina (a.s.).
Bibi sakina’s real name was Ruqayya but imam Hussein called her Sakina, which means ‘peace’.
Like any other four-five year old, when Bibi Sakina went to bed at night she wanted to spend some time with her father. Imam Hussein would tell her stories of the Prophets and of the battles fought by her grandfather Imam Ali (a.s.). She would rest her head on her father's chest and Imam Hussein would not move from her until she fell asleep.
Her uncle Abbas loved her vey much. There was a special bond between Hazrat Abbas and Bibi Sakina. There was nothing that Hazrat Abbas would not do to make Bibi Sakina happy. If Bibi Sakina (a.s.) requested for anything, Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) would not rest until he satisfied her request.
During the event of Karbala and journey from Kufa to Sham, Bibi Sakina suffered many unimaginable difficulties. However, even during these times of hardship and misery, Bibi Sakina always thought of the others first. She would console her mother on the death of Ali Asghar and when she saw any other lady or child weeping, Sakina would put her little arms around her. In those days, it used to take thirty-two days, on a camel, to reach Damascus, but the family members of Hussein ibn Ali were taken in such a way that it only took them sixteen days to reach Damascus.
There was once a story when Bibi sakina was in prison looking out of a window and saw some birds flying. She asked Bibi Zainab (a.s.) where these birds were flying. Bibi zainab responded saying these birds are going home. So Bibi Sakina asked, “when are we going home?”. Unfortunately she never got home because she died in the prison.
I think Bibi Sakina is a great example for all of us especially all the children. When I went to her haram I felt that it was a great place to be in.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukayna_bint_Husayn
http://www.azakhana-e-zehra.fws1.com/BIBI%20SAKINA.htm
Tears for Kufa and Sham by Liaket Dewji & Sofia Dewji
The Young Hashimite Princess…. Sakina bintal Hussein by Sukaina Q Hemraj
Youth article by Sara Hemraj
