 For those who ask, why is the Sufra of Sayyid al-Ruqayyah, alayhi salam? During the month of Safar, Shia across the world lay out a spread of food in on of the young, Lady Ruqayyah. The four-year-old daughter of Imam al-Hussain, alayhi salam, who was martyred during this month. Lady Ruqayyah, alayhi salam, was incredibly special to Imam al-Hussain, alayhi salam, as he would spend as much time with her as he could. Whenever he would speak about her, he would do so affectionately, for example, saying, A house without Ruqayyah is not a house worth living in. After her father was killed, the young Ruqayyah, alayhi salam, suffered so much, she was mercilessly attacked by the enemy soldiers. When they looted and burned the camp, and as she was marched towards Damascus, she was whipped by the accursed Shimon al-Anthollah, alayhi, whenever she would cry and get tired. In the prison of Yazid al-Anthollah, alayhi salam, one night she awoke from a dream exclaiming how much she missed her father, and the accursed Yazid sent the severe head of Imam al-Hussain, alayhi salam, to be placed in front of her, overwhelmed by this horrendous sight, this innocent girl hugged the severed head of her father, and became unconscious. It was at that moment she was martyred and left this world. The sufferer of Lady Ruqayyah, alayhi salam, is a tribute to this brave and oppressed little girl who had her life unloved ones viciously stolen from her, and it is a chance to inspire other little girls to follow in these footsteps of the noble ladies of Ahl al-Bayt, alayhi salam. May Allah SWT allow us all to visit our Lady Ruqayyah, alayhi salam, in the holy land of Sham.