Hazrat Abbas (as) and Bibi Umme Kulsum (sa)
By Marziyeh

Every martyr in the battle of Karbala is a hero and every woman who played a great role in spreading the message of Karbala in spite of facing so many hardships, is a heroine according to me. It is difficult to choose one particular person as a role model because the tragedy of the battle of Karbala has set examples and inspirations for all ages, however for this article I would like to write about Hazrat Abbas (as) and Bibi Umme Kulsum (sa).

Hazrat Abbas was a very brave warrior and off course it is difficult for a person like him to have his sword with him amidst a battle and not be able to use it. We all know that he was the result of Imam Ali (as) prayers, he wanted a son who would help Imam Hussain(as) in the battle of Karbala. For a person like him who was raised by a mother who constantly reminded him of his purpose in the battle, for a person like him who spent every day of his life waiting to fight in the battle of Karbala and defeat Yazid’s army, for a person like him who spent the entire night before the day of Ashura sharpening his sword, for a person like him to keep his sword in the scabbard was indeed a difficult task….being known for his valour and bravery in the battlefield from the age of 13 years in the battle of Siffin where he fought as bravely as his father, how disturbing it must have been for him to forego his intention of fighting with the enemies. His childhood dream was shattered. From him we can also learn a great lesson of sabr (patience), his patience was put to test not only when he was not allowed to fight but also till his last breath. He set out for the battlefield bearing the Islamic flag in his hand and with a heavy heart that he would not be able to use his sword on his enemies but yet for all they ran miles away just at the sight of him, such was his valour. He showed a great deal of strength and patience during the last moments of his death, when he lost one hand and then another but his determination to make the water reach the tent of sayyada Sakina made him fight till the end but his hope was again shattered by the arrow shot by Hurmula(la) and with the water that gushed out took his last wish with it and from then on he was given the title of BABUL MURAD. Ask him what you want and for sure you will never leave his court empty handed after all he is the son of Imam Ali(as) the MUSHKILKUSHA of the universe.

Zainab-e-Sughra (sa)…better known as Umme Kulsum(sa) is one of the women I admire a lot because she went through all the trauma during the battle and after that along with her sister Sayyada Zainab (sa), they both played a major role in spreading the message of Karbala. The only grief that she had on the night before the battle of Karbala was that she did not have a child who would sacrifice his life in the way of Islam and who would give his life to save her brother’s life. She went around the tents and saw every mother advising her son to fight the battle and gain victory but who could she advise? The pain she must have felt at that time cannot be put down in words but her brother Hazrat Abbas (as) came to calm her down by saying he would represent her in the battlefield the next day. The grief that befell on her as well as her brother when they came to know that he was not given permission to fight the battle cannot even be imagined. She showed patience in every situation of her life and tried her level best to spread the message of Karbala along with her sister Zainab-e-Kubra. It is very sad that after so many years of the battle of Karbala we hardly know anything about her but truly she showed the bravery of her father and patience of her mother in every aspect of her life. Beg for your prayers from her and you will realise that after all she is indeed the brave sister of BABUL MURAD HAZRAT ABUL FAZLIL ABBAS(AS.)