(Original Urdu marsiya by [tbd]; translation by Syeda Raza)

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When Ali’s son had sacrificed the jewels of his home

The wealth of His brother and father was gone

The treasure of the Harem, everything He had

All for the protection, the sake of Islam

 

Of His once small army, no soldier remains

Except for the ailing Abid, there is no other male

 

Alone He stood on the raging battlefield

And the treacherous army surrounded and besieged

Seeing the Zulfiqaar resting in its sheath

Emboldened the evil soldiers attached with speed

 

He stood with His mind toward His Creator turned

He smiled at every blow, sighed at every turn

 

The Imam’s body wounded from His waist to His face

The ferocity of the attacks frightened His steed

“Do not move, Oh Zuljanah” said the Prince to His horse

“The battle is almost over, I’m close to my death”

 

“We’re surrounded now, do not be in haste”

“Where will you go? This is the final resting place”

 

“The extent of my thirst the good Lord knows

I can get rid of this army if I choose

Yet I seek my martyrdom, I am in haste

This is the moment that will surely test my soul”

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“Let my commitment the world acknowledge today

That I’ve raised the bar of forbearance, even Ayoob should say”

 

“Do not be frightened by the attacks and blows

The clang of the armors, the flashing of the swords

Do not flee even if Death stares in your face

In God’s path this suffering is ease and comfort”

 

“I was born to suffer, willingly I will

For the salvation of the Muslims, I accept all this”

 

“I mourn neither my beheading, nor this pain

No longer do I worry for my family, my kin

I prepare to meet my Creator today

As soon as my body is severed from my head”

 

“The most pious have trembled and faltered in this path

I go before God, my head an offering in His cause”

 

“It matters no more that my beloveds were killed

My dearest brother Abbas now lies still

His sons followed, dead now on the battlefield

It matters not that beheaded now I must be”

 

“For I believe in the eternal mercy of my Lord

My most merciful, beneficent, wonderous God”

 

As He spoke thus, an arrow struck His head

And a spear ruthlessly pierced His chest

With the force of attacks, the Prince swayed on His horse

And Zuljanaah bent its knees and sat on the sands

 

Clutching at His chest, the Noble Prince fell

Onto the hot sands, midst the army’s swell

 

Turning to Ibn Saad, an evil soldier did shout

The son of Ali has fallen from His mount

Gleefully Ibn Saad turned to Shimer and said

“Hurry, kill the Prophet’s Grandson fallen to the ground”

 

“Glorify your name, make your mark in this world

Grab the sword laced with poison, there are rewards untold”

 

Rolling up his sleeves, Shimer grabbed his sword

“Take Quli with you” Ibn Saad roared

As the evil men walked to where Husayn lay

Lady Zahra cried out “I can bear no more”

 

“With swords, ready to kill, the slayers have come

They seek to behead you, wake up dear Husayn”

 

“No friend, no family, no well-wisher in sight

The utter loneliness of my Son and cruelty at its height

What do You utter dear Husayn? I see Your lips move

Call on Ali my dearest Son, my joy, my delight”

  

The Prince replied “Oh Mother, I am praying to God

For the deliverance of the Muslims, the salvation of their souls”

 

And Fatimah’s soul cried out in grief

“The sound of Your voice, I cherish indeed”

“So selfless Your soul, You pay no heed to Your pain”

“I salute Your patience, the nobility of Your creed”

 

“With no care for Your battered body, the severity of Your thirst

You pray for the Muslims, putting Islam first”

 

Full of treachery and greed, Shimer knelt next to Husayn

Placed his sword on Husayn’s neck, in his cruelty insane

Unbearable her grief, Zaynab ran out into the field

Toward Najaf she turned and cried out in pain

 

“Shimer beheads my Brother, my Husayn with a sword

Come to my aid Yaa Ali, I can bear no more”

 

“Abandon Your tomb Oh Ali, destroy this world

Fill the heavens with your cries, unsheath your sword

They kill a Noble Guest, the Prophet’s Grandson

Oh Father, save my Brother, my life, my soul”

 

“Do not let them behead Him, stop them You must

Push them away, block their swords, do what is just”

 

Thus crying Zaynab ran to where Husayn lay

Lamenting in grief, filled with sorrow, dismayed

With shock her face ashen, she often fell to the sands

Shimer, heedless of her grief, beheaded Husayn

 

When she reached her Brother, His body laid on the sands

Shimer stood up with the Imam’s head in his hands

 

When Zaynab saw her Brother’s blood-soaked head

She spread out her arms, with grief beset

“Wait Oh Shimer, do not leave” she cried

Where are you going Oh Shimer with my Brother’s head?”

 

“Wait so that Banu can seem Him once more, Oh wait

Wait so Sukayna can catch a glimpse of His face”

 

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