at a place near the Euphrates, the Holy Imam’s steed suddenly stopped and in spite of the unusual spurring, the animal did not move; but raised its head towards heaven, as if to say that it was helpless and could not step forward any more. Imam Hussain changed six (6) horses one after another but none of the animals moved from the spot.

Gathering the people in the neighborhood, the Holy Imam enquired the name of the place. Some said ‘Maria’ some said ‘Nainawa’ and some said ‘Shattul Furat’ but the Holy Imam was not satisfied and continued his enquiry asking if there was any other name for the place. An old man stepped forward and said “O’ Son of the Apostle of God! I have heard from my ancestors this plain being called also as ‘Karbala’.” The moment the Holy Imam heard the name of Karbala, he smiled, thanked God and said:

“Surely this is the plain I was in quest of. This is the place where my holy Grandfather had prophesied that I, with all my faithful companions, will lay slain after suffering three day’s hunger and thirst. Here will the Garden of Fatima be cut and destroyed. I cannot and I will not move an inch from this place, I have reached the destined destination.”

Saying this, the Holy Imam ordered the caravan to be stopped and declared that the journey had ended as he had arrived at the desired destination. Tents were ordered to be pitched but Bibi Zainab, Hussain’s sister, hearing of the Imam’s decision to camp there, wept and sent for Hussain and requested him saying:

“Brother dear! Do not camp here! Some how my heart is restless and does not consent. Brother dear! Since our arrival on this plain, I distinctly hear the lamenting voice of our dear mother, wailing somewhere nearby in this desert.”

Imam Hussain, hearing his mother’s name, shed tears and said: “Zainab! We need not fear when God is with us. It is immaterial, sister, where we camp. This is the place, sister dear, I was in quest of, and thanks to God I am at it and now sister dear, I cannot move from here.” Imam Hussain, set up camp by the banks of the river Euphrates known as the Al-Qama.

The Holy Imam gathered the people of the surrounding places, the owners of the plain of Karbala, and purchasing the land from them gifted the same to the people of Banu Asad.

Addressing the males among them he said: “On the Tenth day (Ashura) of this month (Muharram) you shall see us lying here slain, our bodies lying on the plain with our heads severed and taken away. I request you to kindly bury us, and when our devotees come to visit our graves, hold them in honor as your guests and point out to them the places of our burial.”

He then addressed the ladies:

“O virtuous ladies! If your husbands, fearing the wrath of Yazid do not bury us, you kindly encourage them to do it or do it yourselves.”

The Holy Imam then turned to the young children in the gathering and addressing them said:

“O innocent ones! If your parents, out of fear of the wrath of the Ruler, do not bury us, you may, by way of playing bring some mud in your laps and throw it upon our bodies and hide them.”

The appeal was so touching that the whole gathering wept.