Commencing of the First Siege - Today in Muharram Day 6

Bismi-Llah, Al-Rahmani, Al-Rahim. This day, the 6th of Muharram, is when the first sieging of the Euphrates River commenced. 'Umar Ibn Sa'd gave the command to the general Shabbath Ibn Rib'i to take 3000 soldiers and block off the Furat river. The main purpose for this was to cut off any supplies, any water from the camp of Imam Husayn 'alayhi as-salam. As we know this itself, being deprived of water, having access to water, and of course leading up to thirst is the most difficult thing that any human being can endure. And how long can one last without water, especially in the barren land in particularly if they are at war. This again shows how inhumane Bani 'Umayyah were.

On this day also, Habib Ibn Madhahir al-Asadi, Ridhwan Allah Ta'ala 'alayhi asked Imam Imam Husayn 'alayhi as-salam to allow him to go and talk to his tribe, the Bani Asad tribe, and request that they help them. It is said that up to 70 of Bani Asad tribe accepted this request and came back with Habib. But Ibn Sa'd found out and cut off that way, preventing them from joining Imam Husayn. A fight erupted, some of them were martyred, some of them ran away, and Habib returned back to Imam Husayn 'alayhi as-salam.

Another thing that happened on this day was a conversation between 'Umar Ibn Sa'd and Imam Husayn 'alayhi as-salam. Imam Husayn was trying in many ways to explain, to convince, to dissuade, Ibn Sa'd to avoid this battle and keep everyone away from bloodsheds. But unfortunately there was no use to any of this, and Ibn Sa'd insisted. Imam Husayn 'alayhi as-salam, did a du'a against 'Umar Ibn Sa'd and among the things that he said was that may Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala never forgive you for what you are going to do.

Another important event that occurred on this day was the passing away of a very famous, very prominent Shi'ah scholar by the name of Al-Sharif al-Radi, Rahmatu Allahi 'alayhi, the famous compiler of Nahj al-Balaghah. Of course he studied under great scholars like Shaykh Al-Mufid and from a young age, as early as 17, he was teaching various 'ulum [sciences] and at an advanced level. He established a school in Baghdad by the name of Dar-ul-'Ilm [House of Knowledge] and hundreds of scholars graduated from this madrasah, including Shaykh al-Tusi. He died at a very young age, at 47, and was buried close to the Holy Shrine of Al-Kadhimayn 'alayhum as-salam.

Wa al-hamdulil-Lahi Rabbi al-‘Alamin.