A visit to Damascus, Shaam, is not complete unless one visits the shrine of the four year old daughter of Imam Hussain (a.s.).  You see grown men and women clinging to the zarih of Sayyada Sakina (also known as Rukayyah and Sukaina) with tearful eyes asking for her intercession in fulfillment of their wishes.  Many mothers come to Sayyada Rukayyah to present their homage to this little daughter of Imam Hussain(a.s.) in the form of clothes and earrings.

The role played by Sayyada Sakina in spreading the message of truth, the message of Imam Hussain (a.s.) and bringing about a revolution, is extremely significant. 

In addition to bringing a change in the course of Yazeed’s plans, Sayyada Sakina has, in her short life, taught us many lessons.

In Kerbala she is an embodiment of love and devotion.  It is very rare in history that we see such expression fondness between father and daughter and uncle and niece.  On the other hand, the grief experienced by Sayyada Sakina on the loss of her uncle is so strong that she refuses to cry ‘al’atash’ the cry of thirst after the shahadat of Hazrat Abbas (a.s.).

The intensity of Sayyada Sakina’s love towards her father is expressed when she clings to the ‘zuljenah’ as Imam Hussain (a.s.) gets ready to leave for the battlefield after bidding farewell to the ladies; but then she lets her father go which demonstrates her understanding of the obedience to the commands of Allah at this young age.

From the Sham-e-Ghariba onwards, Sayyada Sakina handles every trial with patience while dealing with the atrocities of the army of Yazeed.  While the tales of her treatment by the army renders the listener to tears, they simultaneously expose the malicious nature of the supporters of Yazeed.

She is an embodiment of truth, innocence, patience, love, kindness.  It is these virtues of Sayyada Sakina that bring about uprisings among the people of Kufa as she is paraded on the streets with the ladies of her family. 

While in the prison of Sham, it is again the innocent questions of Sayyada Sakina that draw the attention of the people of Sham to the atrocities committed against the grandson of the Prophet (pbuh). 

It is Sayyada Sakina’s cries that steal Yazeed’s sleep and it is Sayyada Sakina’s death that brings about a change in peoples’ opinions.  It is the death of Sayyada Sakina that finally prompts Yazeed to release the prisoners.

Have you ever seen in history such a great revolution brought about by a four year old child?