The Water Was Closed

The Story

More soldiers arrived on the plain of Karbala.

The group facing Hussain's small camp grew larger and larger.

Hussain's family and companions were surrounded, waiting to see what would happen next.

The Euphrates River flowed nearby.

But soldiers guarded the path and stopped Hussain's camp from reaching the water.

No one from the camp could go freely to the river.

Soon, the water in the camp began to run low.

The heat and thirst became harder to bear.

Still, Hussain's family and companions stayed patient and supported one another.

Patience did not mean the hardship was easy.

Imam Hussain placed his hope and trust in Allah through every difficulty.

Near sunset, the quiet suddenly broke.

Hooves thundered across the plain as soldiers moved toward the camp.

Hussain sent his brother Abbas with several companions to ask why they were coming.

Abbas returned with serious news. The soldiers had been ordered to make Hussain give in, or begin fighting that night.

Hussain asked them to wait until morning.

He wanted the night to pray, recite the Qur'an, remember Allah, and ask for His forgiveness.

The soldiers agreed.

As darkness covered Karbala, Hussain gathered his family and companions close.

What would he tell them before morning? 🌙

Family Discussion

Hussain's family and companions faced a very difficult time, but they stayed patient and trusted Allah.

Have you ever had to wait for something you really needed or wanted?

What helped you stay patient?

Sources: Slide-4 dua — adapted/shortened from Imam Hussain's supplication "Allahumma anta thiqati fi kulli karb, wa anta raja'i fi kulli shiddah" (O Allah, You are my trust in every distress and my hope in every hardship), reported on Ashura morning in al-Tabari's Tarikh, Ibn Kathir's al-Bidayah wa'l-Nihayah, and al-Mufid's Kitab al-Irshad, Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. XIX (The Caliphate of Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah), trans. Howard — the ~500 horsemen stationed at the Euphrates to block access (three days before Ashura); Hussain sending Abbas with ~30 horsemen, 20 foot and 20 waterskins to bring water back, Shaykh al-Mufid, Kitab al-Irshad, trans. Howard — the blockade and the events preceding Ashura, Abu Mikhnaf, The Event of Taff (preserved by al-Tabari) — 'The Events from the 3rd to the 8th of Muharram', Shaykh Abbas al-Qummi, Nafasul Mahmum — 'Imam Husayn in Karbala', citing al-Tabari's account of the water expedition