(Original Urdu marsiya by Syed sadiq ali naqvi "haseen"; translation by Syeda Raza)

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The family of the Prophet is bewildered, homeless

Heart-broken, bare-headed, in utter distress

The pain of Husayn’s death still gnawing at their souls

Without their men around, they are in shock, upset

 

They speak of Husayn’s parting, His pain, His distress

Sighing, weeping, at times clutching their chests

 

Their belongings have been looted, their tents have been burned

Their head coverings have been snatched, their children hurt

Darkness has set and the desert is quiet, pitch black

Zahra’s daughter has gathered the thirsty kids around her

 

She kisses one child, hugs another, strokes a baby’s head

She rocks a sobbing child, consoles their distress

 

Thus Husayn’s Noble Sister takes charge of the group

“Wake up dear Sajjad” she says “I need You”

“The desert wind makes eerie sounds as it blows over the battlefield

The Imam, Akber, Qasim, and Abbas are all gone, darkness looms”

 

“Our hearts are heavy with the pain, we know not what to do

We are alone as night approaches my Son, we need You”

 

When Abid heard His aunt’s sobs, He opened His eyes

“Dear Aunt, my heart breaks at your distress” He cried

“Fever grips my body, I can barely stay awake

I don’t seem to have the strength to even sit up when I try”

 

“What happened? Who is gone? I am in shock today

The entire household seems to have disappeared as I lay”

 

Turning to Fizza, Abid said “Please gather all the kids

Let us count them, can you please bring them to me?”

In obedience Fizza rose, and gathering the children close

When done she found two boys and Sukayna missing

 

“She searched the desert sands, her eyes scanning around

Trying to listen for their cries, their sobs, their sounds

 

Turning to Zaynab then Abid said “Dear Aunt

Can you please get me the list that my Father had prepared?

Of those that were destined to die for His cause today?

We need to look for anyone not on that list, I pray”
 

“We will remember those who are listed as martyred, gone

And try to protect those that are left behind”

 

Hearing this Zaynab cried “Alas my son

That list was lost when our tents were raided and burned

We have nothing left that we owned, everything is lost

Abid replied “Do not weep my dear, dear Aunt”

 

“I will make a new list of all those that were slain

To remember for posterity, I will record their names”

 

With His forefinger then Abid started a list on the sands

As each name was mentioned, He wept in pain

The cries grew louder when Asgher’s name was said

His body shook as He sobbed at the baby’s name

 

Thus the desolate group mourned their losses that night

And Fizza frantically searched for the kids not in sight

 

Zaynab then turned to Abid and in distress cried

“I am filled with worry for the three lost kids tonight

I will join Fizza in the search, find them we must

You are now the Imam my Son grant me leave”

 

“They have lost their way in this forsaken place

They will come to me if I call out their names”

 

Saying this Husayn’s Noble Sister rose and left

“Come with me Oh Fizza” she turned and said

Together they walked the desert floor in search

Stumbling over bodies and weaponry strewn on the sands

 

Their hearts shook with fright at the sights they saw

Their hearts beating wildly, they searched afar

 

Thus they came to a spot in the midst of the field

Which seemed to glow with a strange, ethereal light

And there lay a headless body, riddled with wounds

And Sukayna was sitting by that body sobbing in fright

  

Hugging the headless body, passing out at times

Her heart palpitating at the desolate desert sights

 

Relieved yet distressed, Zaynab sat down by the child

She picked up the frail body and hugged her tight

“My dearest Sukayna I am amazed at what I see” she said

You found your Father despite the state of things tonight”

 

“Your mother weeps for you, distressed at finding you gone

Let us go back to her my dearest, come with me, come on”

 

Hearing this Sukayna whispered “Dear Aunt

“I went looking for my father when the tents were being burned

I ran every which way, crying out for Him

And I heard His voice rise from this body on the sands”

 

“I came here to find peace, to rest once more on His chest”

“Shall we go back now Sukayna?” tearfully Zaynab said

 

Thus Zaynab consoled the weeping, frightened child

She stroked her back, hugging her tight

Trying to calm her, she rocked Sukayna on her lap

And kissed her tiny body, frozen with fright

 

Zaynab wiped Sukayna’s tears, kissed her cheeks, her forehead

Wiped the blood-streaked hair away from her face

 

Holding Sukayna in her arms, Zaynab then continued her search

And found a tender sight in the forsaken desert

She found the two missing children laying underneath a bush

Hugging each other close, asleep on the dirt

 

Sleeping soundly, the desert dust on their cheeks and eyes

Like streaks of dark clouds on luminous skies

 

As she came closer she saw a painful sight indeed

Their parched lips chapped in the desert heat

Finding the spot under the bush cooler, they lay down to rest

Perhaps hoping to find reprieve from the brutal thirst and heat

 

Away from their father, their mother’s lap

Lost to the world, fitfully they slept

  

Heart-broken, the Noble Zaynab close to them sat

She rested their tiny heads onto her lap

Stroking their hair, she kissed them tenderly and said

“Wake up dear children, let us go back”

 

“Searching for a reprieve from the desert heat

In this desolate place, you found some peace”

 

But the children did not respond to Zaynab’s voice

Bewildered she bent over their faces and cried

She felt their still bodies and felt for their pulse

“Have I lost you too in this place?” she cried

 

“So many beloveds have parted from me today

Oh victims of thirst, I have lost you as well”

 

Examining their bodies, Fizza then cried out

“My Lady, I am convinced without a doubt

That when our tents were looted and burned tonight

These children were trampled by the raiders mounts”

 

“Their bodies are riddled with the marks of the hooves

I see bruises everywhere, black and blue”

 

 

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