Thirst of Imam Hussain (a) and His Companions in Karbala

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    Question

    After the 7th of Muharram, what was the water situation in the tents of Imam Hussayn (a)?

    The Thirst of Imam Hussayn (a) and His Companions in Karbala is considered one of the historical and impactful truths of the event of Karbala, influencing other aspects of this tragedy. In the Event of Karbala, the importance of water was so significant that conflicts over it began several days before Ashura and continued until the end of the battle on the day of Ashura. According to historical sources, the denial of water by the Kufan army was a military strategy implemented from the very beginning of the Karbala incident.

    After the Kufan army blocked access to water, Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions tried various ways to access water, including digging wells and attempting to reach the Euphrates River through combat. In historical texts related to the Karbala incident, Imam Hussain (AS), his family, and his companions repeatedly mentioned the lack of water and their thirst, striving to alleviate it. Narrations from the Infallibles (AS) also refer to the thirst of Imam Hussain (AS), his family, and his companions during the event of Ashura.

    Significance and Background

    In historical sources, the thirst of Imam Hussain's (AS) caravan and the denial of water by their enemies are considered historical facts and serious issues of that event.[1] According to researchers, in the Event of Karbala, the lack of water and thirst held special significance, to the extent that it influenced other events of the tragedy, and a significant portion of the dialogues between the two armies revolved around water. The importance of water in Karbala was such that conflicts over it began several days before Ashura and continued until the end of the battle on the day of Ashura.[2]

    In the event of Karbala, water was used as a military weapon by the Kufan army against Imam Hussain's (AS) caravan.[3] The use of water as a military tactic has precedents in some conflicts in Islamic history, such as during the Battle of Badr,[4] the siege of the third caliph's house,[5] and during the Battle of Siffin.[6] During the event of Karbala, Umar ibn Sa'ad, on the orders of Ibn Ziyad, blocked access to water for Imam Hussain (AS), his companions, and his family.[7] This was despite the fact that earlier, Imam Hussain (AS) had personally given water to the thirsty soldiers of Hurr ibn Yazid al-Riyahi's army.[8]

    Historical Process of Water Blockade in Karbala

    According to historical sources, the denial of water by Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad was a military strategy implemented from the very beginning of the Karbala incident. In a letter to Hurr ibn Yazid al-Riyahi, the commander of the first army to confront Imam Hussain's (AS) caravan, Ibn Ziyad ordered him to tighten the situation for Imam Hussain (AS) and to force the caravan to settle in a waterless desert.[9]

    Additionally, Shimr ibn Dhil-Jawshan delivered a letter from Ibn Ziyad to Umar ibn Sa'ad, in which Ibn Ziyad ordered that upon receiving the letter, Ibn Sa'ad's army should prevent Imam Hussain (AS) from accessing the Euphrates.[10] Based on this order, Umar ibn Sa'ad assigned Amr ibn Hajjaj al-Zubaydi with five hundred horsemen to block access to the Euphrates for Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions and to guard the riverbank.[11] The order in this letter was implemented by Umar ibn Sa'ad's army three days before the event of Ashura.[12]

    In another narration, it is mentioned that Umar ibn Sa'ad, in a letter, ordered Amr ibn Hajjaj's army to prevent Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions from accessing water from the wells they had dug to reach the Euphrates. In this letter, Ibn Sa'ad ordered that not even a drop of water from the Euphrates should reach Imam Hussain's (AS) caravan.[13]

    Efforts of Imam Hussain (AS) and His Companions to Access Water

    After the Kufan army blocked access to water, Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions tried various ways to access water. In one miraculous narration, it is mentioned that Imam Hussain (AS) went behind the women's tents and dug the ground at a distance of nineteen steps from the tents. As a result, sweet and pure water emerged, from which everyone drank and filled their water skins. Then the water disappeared, and no trace of it remained.[14] Additionally, in another narration, it is mentioned that Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions dug wells to access water.[15]

    Another method used by Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions to access water was going to the Euphrates River, engaging with its guards, overcoming them, and bringing back water. For example, once Ali Akbar (AS) reached the river with a group of companions and brought back water.[16] Also, on the evening of Tasu'a, under Imam Hussain's (AS) orders, Abbas (AS) along with Nafi' ibn Hilal al-Jamali, thirty horsemen, and twenty foot soldiers, filled twenty water skins from the Euphrates after engaging with the river guards and brought them to the tents.[17] Another time, when Abbas (AS) went to fetch water from the river, it led to his martyrdom.[18]

    Effects of Water Shortage in Imam Hussain's (AS) Army

    After the Kufan army blocked access to water, the Kufans tried to emphasize this issue in their conversations with Imam Hussain's (AS) companions, portraying water as inaccessible to Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions.[19] In the dialogues between Imam Hussain's (AS) companions and the Kufan soldiers, the condition of the women and children in Imam Hussain's (AS) caravan due to the lack of water was mentioned, and the Kufans' denial of water was condemned.[20]

    There are narrations about the thirst of the women and children in Imam Hussain's (AS) caravan during Ashura. For example, in a conversation between Imam Hussain (AS) and Ali Akbar (AS), after one of Ali Akbar's (AS) battles, he complained to his father about the suffering caused by thirst.[21] Additionally, the killing of Imam Hussain's (AS) infant son occurred after Imam Hussain (AS) requested the Kufan army to quench his thirst. Sources mention that Imam Hussain (AS) told the Kufans that his infant son was writhing in thirst.[22] Also, when Abbas (AS) asked Imam Hussain (AS) for permission to go to battle, Imam Hussain (AS) asked him to provide water for the thirsty children.[23] According to sources, the cries of the thirsty children motivated Abbas (AS) to fetch water instead of fighting.[24] It is also narrated that Imam Hussain (AS), due to extreme thirst during the battle on Ashura, saw the sky as smoke.[25]

    Thirst in Karbala in the Words of the Infallibles (AS)

    In narrations from the Infallibles (AS), the thirst of Imam Hussain (AS), his family, and his companions during the event of Ashura is mentioned. For example:

    • It is narrated from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said to Lady Fatimah (AS): "Gabriel came to me and gave me the glad tidings of two sons from you; then he consoled me regarding one of them, and I knew that he would be killed thirsty and alone."[26]
    • During the Battle of Siffin, after Imam Hussain (AS) provided water for the Kufan soldiers on his father's orders, Imam Ali (AS) wept. He explained his weeping by saying: "I remembered that my son Imam Hussain (AS) would be killed thirsty in the land of Karbala."[27]
    • Imam Sajjad (AS) is narrated to have written on the soil of Imam Hussain's (AS) grave with his fingers: «هذا قَبرُ حُسَینِ بنِ عَلی بنِ أبی‌طالِبٍ الَّذی قَتَلُوهُ عَطشاناً غَریباً».[28]
    • Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS): «إِنَّ الْحُسَيْنَ صَاحِبَ كَرْبَلَاءَ قُتِلَ مَظْلُوماً مَكْرُوباً عَطْشَاناً لَهْفَاناً...».[29]
    • Imam Sadiq (AS) narrated from his grandfather Imam Sajjad (AS) that Imam Hussain (AS) was killed thirsty.[30]
    • Imam Mahdi (AS) in the Ziyarat Nahiyah al-Muqaddasah mentioned the denial of water to Imam Hussain (AS) and his thirst.[31]

    References

    1. ↑ Ibn A'tham al-Kufi, Muhammad ibn Ali, "Al-Futuh," researched by Ali Shirazi, Dar al-Adwa, 1411 AH, vol. 5, p. 92; also: Motahhari, Morteza, "Hamaseh-ye Husseini," Tehran, Sadra Publications, 1376 AH, vol. 1, p. 217.
    2. ↑ Foroughi Abri, Asghar, "The Issue of Water in Karbala," Tarikh dar Ayeneh-ye Pajoohesh, No. 4, 1382 AH, p. 133.
    3. ↑ Foroughi Abri, "The Issue of Water in Karbala," p. 134.
    4. ↑ Ibn Athir, Abul-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad, "Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh," Beirut, Dar Sader and Dar Beirut, 1385 AH, vol. 2, p. 122.
    5. ↑ Ibn Athir, "Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh," Beirut, vol. 3, p. 172.
    6. ↑ Naqri, Nasr ibn Muzahim, "Waq'at Siffin," researched by Abd al-Salam Muhammad Harun, Cairo, Al-Mu'assasa al-Arabiyya al-Haditha, 1382 AH, pp. 160-162.
    7. ↑ Tabari, Muhammad ibn Jarir, "Tarikh al-Tabari (History of the Prophets and Kings)," Leiden, Netherlands, Brill Press, 1879 CE, vol. 4, p. 311.
    8. ↑ Tabari, "Tarikh al-Tabari," vol. 4, p. 302.
    9. ↑ Baladhuri, Ahmad ibn Yahya, "Jumal min Ansab al-Ashraf," researched by Muhammad Baqir al-Mahmudi, Beirut, Dar al-Ta'aruf lil-Matbu'at, 1398 AH, vol. 3, p. 176.
    10. ↑ Tabari, "Tarikh al-Tabari," vol. 4, p. 311.
    11. ↑ Khawarizmi, Muwaffaq ibn Ahmad, "Maqtal al-Khawarizmi," researched by Sheikh Muhammad Samawi, n.p., Anwar al-Huda Publications, 1423 AH, vol. 1, p. 347.
    12. ↑ Tabari, "Tarikh al-Tabari," vol. 4, p. 312.
    13. ↑ Ibn A'tham al-Kufi, "Al-Futuh," vol. 5, p. 91.
    14. ↑ Khawarizmi, "Maqtal al-Khawarizmi," vol. 1, p. 346.
    15. ↑ Ibn A'tham al-Kufi, "Al-Futuh," vol. 5, p. 91.
    16. ↑ Saduq, Muhammad ibn Ali, "Al-Amali," Qom, Al-Bi'tha Foundation, 1417 AH, p. 221.
    17. ↑ Abi Mikhnaf, Lut ibn Yahya, "Waq'at al-Taff," researched by Muhammad Hadi al-Yusufi al-Gharawi, Qom, Al-Nashr al-Islami Foundation, 1376 AH, p. 191.
    18. ↑ Ibn Shahr Ashub, Muhammad ibn Ali, "Manaqib Al Abi Talib," Najaf, Haydariyya Press, 1376 AH, vol. 3, p. 256.
    19. ↑ Tabari, "Tarikh al-Tabari," vol. 4, p. 312.
    20. ↑ Baladhuri, "Ansab al-Ashraf," vol. 3, p. 189.
    21. ↑ Sayed ibn Tawus, Ali ibn Musa, "Al-Luhuf fi Qatla al-Tufuf," Tehran, Jahan Publications, 1348 AH, p. 113.
    22. ↑ Sayed ibn Tawus, "Al-Luhuf," p. 169.
    23. ↑ Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir ibn Muhammad Taqi, "Bihar al-Anwar," Beirut, Al-Wafa Foundation, 1403 AH, vol. 41, p. 45.
    24. ↑ Majlisi, "Bihar al-Anwar," vol. 41, p. 45.
    25. ↑ Attardi, Azizullah, "Musnad al-Imam al-Shahid Abi Abdillah al-Husayn ibn Ali (AS)," Tehran, Attar Publications, 1376 AH, vol. 1, p. 214.
    26. ↑ Tabari al-Saghir, Muhammad ibn Jarir, "Dala'il al-Imamah," Qom, Al-Bi'tha Foundation, vol. 1, p. 102.
    27. ↑ Majlisi, "Bihar al-Anwar," vol. 44, p. 266.
    28. ↑ Behbahani, Muhammad Baqir ibn Abd al-Karim, "Al-Dam'ah al-Sakibah fi Ahwal al-Nabi (PBUH) wa al-Itrah al-Tahirah," Beirut, Maktabat al-Ulum al-Amma, 1408-1409 AH, vol. 5, p. 13.
    29. ↑ Ibn Qulawayh, Ja'far ibn Muhammad, "Kamil al-Ziyarat," researched by Abd al-Husayn Amini, Najaf, Dar al-Murtadawiyya, 1356 AH, vol. 1, p. 168.
    30. ↑ Sayed ibn Tawus, "Al-Luhuf," p. 121.
    31. ↑ Majlisi, "Bihar al-Anwar," vol. 101, p. 121.
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