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

​

​

When arrows had battered the body of the Noble Prince

Zahra’s Son, Mohammed’s Soul was beset with grief

The body of the Prophet’s icon was soaked in blood

Ravaged by thirst, by misery besieged

 

“He’s alone” the army cried “He has supporters no more”

“Surround Fatimah’s Son midst the raging swords”

 

“Thirsty, friendless, and alone is the Noble Lord

No strength left in His weary arms to draw His sword

The death of Ali Akber has sapped His strength

Let us besiege, attack with arrows galore”

 

“This attack will break Zahra’s and Mohammed’s heart

There is no Abbas to defend Him, we are free to attack”

 

The assassins grew bolder, drew nearer still

Aiming their weapons at Him, seeking to kill

Lugging their heavy weaponry, thirsty for His blood

Thousands prepared to slaughter a lone, thirsty Prince

 

“Do not spare Him a moment’s rest” the killers cried

“Keep the blows landing on His body until He dies”

 

Spears and swords clanged around Him, clamoring for His blood

Battering His pure body, thousands towards Him rushed

Armed to the hilt, determined to kill

His body fraught with open wounds, unbearable the hurt

 

Despite His utter pain, toward His Creator His mind turned

He prayed for the salvation of the lost human souls

 

“Have courage my aching heart” He at times cried out

“This test is almost over, the sun is almost down

There is no hardship that cannot be overcome with resolve

The righteous will always remember the Almighty God”

 

“Surpassing the limits of forbearance, move farther and beyond

Show unparalleled patience, triumph, rise above”

 

“I come from a family that has shown unmatched resolve

The Holy Prophet suffered silently the stone throwers’ blows

Fatimah endured the pain of a battered womb

And a sword slashed Ali’s head as He prayed to God”

​

“Poison ravaged Shabbar’s body, tore at His heart

His liver gushed out in pieces, ripped apart”

 

“This suffering is ease in the path of God

I am blessed to be chosen for His noble cause

The world will speak of this day till the end of time

That Shabbeer never deviated from the righteous path”

 

“They will speak of My name when they speak of resolve

That I upheld my Grandfather’s name, championed His cause”

 

Saying this, the Prince then addressed His God

He cried out “I seek your mercy, your beneficence, your love”

Bless me with forbearance so I may endure this test

Remaining steadfast, unwavering, rising above”

 

“The moment draws near when behead me they will

Help me endure this moment, ease my ordeal”

 

“When the sword is at my neck and the assassin on my chest

In those moments let Your grace in my mind rest

Turning to You, let me forget the women and children in my camp

Let me hear not Sukayna’s cries that would cause me unrest”

 

“No thoughts of my son, my daughter, or Zaynab in my mind

I will proclaim Your glory, Your might, Your mercy sublime”

 

“When bareheaded, the women in panic leave the camp

Even then I bow before You, despite the mayhem

When a little girl cries out for her father midst the din

Fill my mind with Your thoughts, undistracted by the sound”

 

“I submit to the imprisonment of the daughter of Ali

For the salvation, the deliverance, of all humanity”

 

“I am but Your creation, humble, helpless, and weak

Alone, without the Prophet, my Mother or Ali

No army, no Abbas, no friends, no defense

Having sent my youthful son to fight in your path and die”

 

“In awe of what’s to come, trembles my body and soul

Husayn prepares to meet His Creator, knock at His door”

 

At this moment a spear lunged at His back

The Prince swayed on His mount with the force of the attack

Heart heavy with grief, Ali cried out from His tomb

And Fatimah’s woeful cries filled the air alas

 

“Pray someone help Him, pull the arrows out

Someone help my Son, He falls to the ground”

 

“His tattered body is worn out with the countless wounds

Yet the merciless army assails my Son

On His mount He staggers with the force of the blows

I’m afraid this Heavenly Star may fall to the ground”

 

“Desolate, alone, with no Akber or Abbas

In His last moments the Prince is friendless alas”

 

Hearing Fatimah’s cries the Ladies wailed in the camps

And in the battlefield the Prince was besieged and attacked

His feet left the stirrups, His arms dropped the reins

He swayed on His mount, He lurched to the sands

 

His hair falling over His noble, luminous face

His robe tattered and torn, His garments in shreds

 

A hundred gashes adorned the body of the heroic Prince

Arrows hung from His wounds, pierced in too deep

He could no longer stay atop His lurching mount

It was close to sunset when He fell from His steed

 

At His falling the heavens trembled in shock and despair

And wails of “Yaa Husayn” filled the air

 

Turning to Shimer gleefully Omar-e-Saad cried

“This is your moment, you are brave, show us your might

The day is almost over, hurry to the task

Present the head of the Prophet’s Grandson before my eyes”

 

“We will then plunder the camps, ransack and raid

Let’s set fire to the Prophet’s camps today”

 

Hearing this, the evil Shimer advanced with his sword

The heavens shuddered and quaked the desert floor

The dead trembled in their graves for what was to come

The Prophet, Zahra, and Ali, ripped the lapels of their robes

 

 Hasan’s soul left His tomb, in anguish and pain

And the Ladies fled the tents toward the fallen Prince

 

The evil assassin marched toward the fallen Imam

The weary Prince lay on the burning desert sands

As the murderer bent over, preparing to slay

The Prince opened His eyes, at His enemy He glanced

 

“Are you aware that I am the Prophet’s Grandson?” He said

“You wouldn’t quench my thirst before you behead?”

 

“Even a beast is given water before slaughter in Islam

Without food and water an animal may not be slain

Yet you feel no shame in killing me in this state

When I have not had a drop of water for three long days”

 

“Pray pause a moment so I may bow to my Lord

Allow me to pray for the salvation of your souls”

 

Shimer responded “Oh Prince the orders are plain

You are to be given no water before you are slain”

“Then proceed with your task” the Prince replied

“The fountain of Kausar is close, almost over is this pain”

 

“I am ready for the slaughter, I submit to the Lord’s will

I offer you my thirsty throat, my blood you may spill”

 

But as Shimer proceeded to behead the Imam

He found his sword unwilling to kill the Prophet’s Son

The Prophet’s Grandson whispered to His killer thus

“Pray move the sword to a different spot”

 

“Where the Holy Prophet often rubbed His lips

Your sword rests now where the Prophet often kissed”

 

Hearing this Shimer shifted his ill-fated sword

And beheaded the lone Prince, hindered no more

As Creation wailed and the Prophet’s soul wept

Heedless of the horror of his acts, he rose

 

Merciless, callous, brazen, shameless, unabashed

He slew the Prophet’s Grandson, He slew Him alas!

 

 

X------------X------------X

​

​