Bibi Umme Kulsum & Her Lifesketch

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Today is the birth anniversary of Janab-E-Umme –Kulsum. She had stood defiantly in the face of unparalleled tyranny at Karbala and its heart-breaking aftermath. Her sermons (Khutbas) frustrated the attempt made by the Umayyad regime to erase the massacre of Karbala from the pages of history. Despite being taken as prisoner and paraded in the markets of Kufa and Damascus after martyrdom of Imam Hussain, Bibi Kulsum like her elder sister Hazrat Zainab exposed the maliciousness of Yazid through her courageous and eloquent speeches. In Kufa, the governor had persuaded the people through his hired agents to believe that Imam Hussain was not a pious grandson of the holy Prophet but a ‘rebel’ who made an unsuccessful attempt to grab power and was killed in the battle. Upon entering the city of Kufa, Hazrat Zainab began explaining to the crowd that had gathered around them of the truth. Thereafter, Bibi Kulsum gave such a speech that people of Kufa began to cry loudly and tears rolled down the cheeks of both men and women who had thronged  the streets to have a glimpse of the prisoners. 

Her exact words were “"O Kufans! May you face evil! Why did you refrain yourselves from rendering assistance to Hussain, why did you kill him? Why did you plunder his belongings and become its possessors? Why did you imprison his women-folk and suppress him? May you be ruined and uprooted! Woe is to you! Do you know what you have brought forth? And do you know what load of sin have you taken upon your backs? And what blood have you shed?....You have killed the best of men succeeding the Prophet, while mercy has departed away from your hearts.” Quoting Holy Quran, she thundered ““Beware, verily the Party of Allah alone shall be the successful ones, and verily the parties of Satan are the losers “

There is indeed great need to create more awareness about her life, character and the role that she played at Karbala and later. During Ayam-E-Aza, she is not remembered the way she deserves and the same can be compensated by celebrating her birthday at large scale. She is among the few historical figures that have been honored with ties to the house of Islam and the Holy Quran. Her grandfather was the blessed Prophet. She was youngest daughter of the perfect couple Bibi Fatima Zahra and Hazrat Ali.  The leaders of the youth of paradise, Imam Hassan and Hussain were her brothers and role models. Upbringing in such pious surroundings, she emerged as a lady with peerless and excellent qualities of her mother and elder sister, Hazrat Zainab. She lost her mother at the age of about 2 -years old. Then, she lived under the guidance and care of her father and her siblings. She was married to Aun bin Jafar who was the son of Imam Ali's brother. Some historians with vested interest have recorded her marriage with the second Caliph. It is nothing but a sort of academic character assassination by those who have been unable to respond to its refutations so far.

When Imam Ali was struck with a poisoned sword by Ibn Muljim, he was staying at the residence of Bibi Kulsum. She is therefore the main narrator of what happened that night. She is reported to have stated ''I saw my father walking to the window and coming back saying this is the night the Prophet told me about. I looked at him and said my father, you are the greatest of worriers and I have never seen you look as scared as I have seen you tonight, he replied “my daughter, this is the night I know I will return back to my Lord.”

She accompanied Imam Hussain when he proceeded to Karbala. She witnessed the tragic events at Karbala and assisted Hazrat Zainab in taking care of the children and the tents set ablaze by the enemies. Her contribution to the legacy and propagation of Imam Hussain’s message did not end at Kufa or Damascus but continued till her return to Medina. To let the people of her birth place know what happened at Karbala, she lamented and said:

“O my forefather's city, do not accept us
With regret and sorrow returned us
With all our family members we left you
With no man, no child, we return unto you
We did gather before moving
We are ransacked when returning
Under God's protection it appears were we
Of oppressor's cruelty and perjury still fear we
Our companion was our leader Hussain
Homeless and patrollers are we……..”

Shrine of Bibi Sakina and Janab-E-Umme Kulsum

It is believed that she breathed her last in Damascus in 62 Hijri and lies buried next to Bibi Sakina. Another version says that her blessed grave is in Baab-E-Sagheer in Damascus while some believe that her shrine is in Arrawiya village near Syrian capital.

(References available on request. Photo Courtesy Google Images. The article has been posted as a mark of respect to Lady Umme Kulsum on her birth anniversary)