Religious Upbringing

Sayeda Sakina bint al-Husayn was the daughter of Hussain ibn Ali. Sakina is a derivative of "Sakoon" meaning "Peace".

Sayeda Sakina was the most beloved daughter of Hussain ibn Ali and used to sleep on his chest every night. Being the daughter of the third Imam, she was different from other children of her age in many ways. She was very religious and enjoyed reading the Holy Quran and never missed her prayers. From a very early age, she took great care to make sure that her head and body were properly covered when in public.

Hussain ibn Ali was often heard saying, “A house without Sayeda Sakina would not be worth living in”.

Like any other four-to-five year old, when Sayeda Sakina went to bed at night she wanted to spend some time with her father. Hussain ibn Ali would tell her stories of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and of the battles fought by her grandfather Ali ibn Abi Talib. There was a special bond between Sayeda Sakina and her paternal uncle, Abbas ibn Ali. He loved her more than he did his own children. If Sayeda Sakina requested for anything, Abbas ibn Ali would not rest until he fulfilled her request. During the journey from Medina to Mecca and then Mecca to Karbala, Abbas ibn Ali was often seen riding up to the mehmil (a special saddle made for women) in which Sayeda Sakina sat to make sure that she had everything she wanted. Sayeda Sakina loved her uncle just as much. While in Medina, she would several times a day, visit the house in which Abbas ibn Ali lived with his family and his mother, Ummul Banin.