Sakina Bibi's Shrines in Lucknow(India)

Shrine of Bibi Sakina at Dargah Hazrat Abbas in Rustam Nagar

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Lucknow, considered to be Azadari capital of the world, also has the distinction of having perhaps the maximum number of shrines dedicated to Hazrat Sakina, the little daughter of Hazrat Imam Hussain. There are as many as four shrines of Hazrat Sakina in Lucknow that also happens to be capital of the most populous Indian state-Uttar Pradesh.

The oldest Rauza of Hazrat Sakina is located behind Jama Masjid in Tahseenganj. It is an independent structure with a green dome. It was built by Late syed Baqar Hussain Sahib of Sharif Manzil. A mosque also exists adjacent to the shrine. Another shrine of Bibi Sakina happens to be part of Imambara Kaiwan Jah complex near Talkatora Karbala in Raja Ji Puram area.

Two shrines dedicated to Janab-E-Sakina are situated in two popular dargahs of Hazrat Abbas Alamdar in Lucknow. Of the two, Dargah Hazrat Abbas is very popular and draws huge crowd of devotees every day.This Dargah believes to contain the  Alam(standard)used by Hazrat Abbas himself during the tragic battle of Karbala. His love for Janab-e-Sakina is well-known so his Dargah has a shrine dedicated to her. Those who visit Dargah make it a point to visit the portion dedicated to Hazrat Sakina near the place where the sacred alam is preserved.

Like Rustam Nagar, Dargah Hazrat Abbas situated at Karbala of Musahib- Ud- Daulla near Ali colony in Lucknow. Apart from these shrines, Imamis in Lucknow also remember Hazrat Sakina’s persecution by Yazidi soldiers by organizing a mourning ceremony omn 4^th and last sundayt of Muharram month every year at Chiota Imambara in Hussainabad. As part of the ceremony,  a temporary small scale replica of the "Qaid Khana" (Prison ) is erected  with a small grave of Bibi Sakina inside  to depict the her agony in the dungeon of Yazid in Damascus. Thousands of mourners visit the "Qaid Khana" and  pay tribute to Bibi Sakina. The ceremony was introduced in 1990 by Late. Muhammad Sarfaraz Khan Sahab, endearingly known as  Banney Miyan. He resided in  Beal Wala Tila locality of Muftiganj. Anjuman-e-Gulzaar-e-Panjatan takes active part in the organization of the event. May Allah bless members of Anjuman with the strength and resources to keep this sorrowful to more greater heights.(References available on request .Photo Courtesy-Google Images)  .