The Moment Bishr Brought the News to Umm al-Banīn (pbuh)

When the caravan of the captives neared Madinah, Imam Zayn al-Abidin (as) turned to his companion and poet, Bishr ibn Hazlam, and said, “O Bishr, may Allah have mercy on your father. You have a powerful voice. Go ahead of us and announce the tragedy of Husayn to the people.”

Bishr entered Madinah reciting words that pierced the heart of the city: “O people of Yathrib, do not remain here anymore, Husayn has been killed, so let my tears fall without end.”

The city erupted in grief. Women rushed from their homes, children cried, and Madinah shook with lamentation. Among those who heard the cry was Umm al-Banīn (pbuh), the mother of Abbas, Abdullah, Ja’far, and Uthman. She came out leaning on a servant and holding the small child of Abbas. Her heart pounded with fear.

She approached Bishr and said urgently,

“O Bishr, tell me about Husayn. My heart cannot rest until I know what happened to the son of Fatimah.”

Bishr, trying to soften the shock, said, “O noble lady, may Allah reward you… your son Abdullah was martyred.”

But she shook her head and replied, “I did not ask you about Abdullah. I ask you about Husayn.”

Bishr continued, “Your son Ja’far… he too was slain.” Again, she raised her hand and said with trembling firmness, “I ask only about Husayn.”

Bishr said,

“Your son Uthman also fell on the Day of Ashura.”

Her body swayed in pain, but she steadied herself and said, “All of them are a sacrifice for Husayn. Tell me of Husayn, son of Zahra.”

Finally, Bishr, unable to hold back his tears, said, “O mother of the loyal one, your son Abbas…” At the mention of Abbas, her heart tightened. But even then, she said, “My Abbas and all my sons, I gave them for Husayn. O Bishr, do not speak to me of my sons. Tell me, what became of Husayn?”

Bishr lowered his head and wept. “Husayn was killed in Karbala.”

Her legs weakened beneath her. She pressed her hand to her heart and whispered,

“Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi rajiun. All calamity after Husayn is small. All sacrifice is small compared to him.”

Then the tears came, not for her four sons, though each lay on the sands of Karbala, far from her. Her tears came for Husayn, the son of Fatima (as), the thirsty Imam, who stood lonely in his final battle.

She cried softly, “Had my sons returned alive while Husayn was killed, I would never have forgiven them. I raised them to die before him, not after him.”

The people around wept at the purity of her devotion. From that day, Umm al-Banīn (pbuh), became a symbol of perfect loyalty, a mother whose heart broke yet whose allegiance to the House of Husayn (as) remained unshaken like a mountain.