(Original Urdu marsiya by mir Anees; translation by Syeda Raza)

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When the army of the Prince was no more

Thirsty, it had departed to Kausar’s shores

His friends murdered, His family destroyed

The home of the Prophet was plundered to the core

 

No brother or friend or loved ones remained

Two sisters to mourn, and there was Husayn

 

Earlier in the day, sons and friends were around

But by the afternoon, everyone was gone

The sun blazed, wind blew, the desert sand scorched

The doors of the tents flapped with a desolate sound

 

Husayn was surrounded, alone in His pain

A commander but no army, all had been slain

 

“Why delay Oh Death?” Husayn in misery asked

“Why must I live after Akber has passed?

Every moment that now feels like a lifetime to me

Death is my hope, only then will my pain pass

 

“I should have died when Akber was killed

I should’ve been beheaded, that is my will”

 

“Yet I remain, I live, after everyone has died

Alone I shed tears with no one by my side

Enduring the loss of my sons in this war

In my old age to bury them, to struggle and to cry

 

“No son by me when I pass, when I succumb to death

No support if I stumble, no place whereon to rest”

 

Then He glanced at Akber’s body on the desert sand

In agony He clutched His chest and cried out in pain

“Oh Akber you rest, your hair on the dust strewn

Come help me, I am falling, rise from death’s daze”

 

“In Death’s slumber you forget your father my son

Say your Namaaz alongside under the blazing sun”

 

“From the banks of the Furat, Abbas come to me

My wounds burn with the heat, I’m thirsty, come see

Sprinkle on my body, water if you can find

I’m dying, say goodbye, come to me, come to me”

 

“In death you sleep soundly, what can Shabeer say?

May no one be as wretched as me, to God I pray”

 

“Since your departure, every bone inside me hurts

My brow, neck, eyes, my joints, and my head hurts

My heart, back, chest, every muscle is full of pain

Distraught I am my son, every vein within me hurts”

 

“I’ve battled a thousand soldiers, I’m soaked in blood

Young ones I have buried, with pain my heart floods”

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Impatiently the son of Saad addressed the army thus

“Come on brave soldiers, surround Husayn we must”

They turned toward Husayn, attacked and besieged

Thousands bearing arrows, armed with swords the rest

 

Midst archers, stone-throwers, Husayn stood alone

Bows and spears flashed in the sun, thousands against one

 

Surrounded by the massive army, all alone

Spears and swords charged at him, He stood all alone

Arrows inflicted fatal blows, Husayn was all alone

Target of a thousand blows, Husayn was all alone

 

In the gloom of Shaam’s army, like the moon His Being glowed

The world had turned against Him, toward Him its fury flowed

 

Alas the cursed army knew not a Syed’s worth

They pierced His noble body with arrows and spears

Aiming at Him their swords, they sought to massacre Him

They circled and surrounded Him, each seeking to kill him first

 

These were the Prophet’s followers, they attacked His own Grandson

Your Imam was alone, unaided under the scorching sun

 

Husayn fell from His horse, no friend to aid His descent

No one to pull the arrows from His riddled chest

His friends, and loved ones dead, Husayn now all alone

Weak with thirst and hunger, nowhere to go, no rest

 

Facing a treacherous army, drowning in their flood

In every face around Him, a hunger to spill His blood

 

It felt as though the heavens fell to the earth that day

Wounded the son of Fatimah, on His horse swayed

The Imam of the universe, the Prophet’s dear Grandson

Precariously he swayed and He fell to the earth that day

 

Oh the thousand bruises on His body as He fell

Imagine the pain and hurt when to the sands He fell

 

Fizza took the news to the ladies within

“The Imam is being beheaded, Oh what a sin”

Hearing this Abid stood up from his bed and fell

In panic the bewildered ladies ran out into the din

 

With Zaynab’s cries heaven and the desert floor quaked

Stumbling she ran into the field, her eyes seeking Husayn

 

“Where is my brother?” She cried, running every way

“Ali’s wealth is lost, plundered here today

Show me the way to the river, take me to the battlefield

Show me where my Brother lies, wounded, show me pray”

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“The heavens are no help, let me pass Oh blessed earth

I’ve come searching for my Brother, wounded, alone, He hurts”

 

“I’m Syeda have mercy, help me find the way to Him

I’m Ali’s daughter help me, save yourself from sin

May you live happily, find peace after death

Show me where the Syed lies, pray take me to Him”

 

“We’ve lost everyone, we’re ruined in this new land

We’re inhabitants of Medina, alone against thousands we stand”

 

Then she heard Husayn’s groans, sensed her Brother near

And Zaynab ran to where the sound came clear

She watched in disbelief as Shimer beheaded Husayn

She covered her face, fell to the earth, in shock and fear

 

With grief her heart shattered, she silently prayed

The severed head of her Brother, she saw on a spear raised

 

 

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