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

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When the Pinnacle of Divinity fell to the ground

With His falling, the earth darkened with gloom

Along with the arrows that pierced His body He fell

Yet surprisingly the Heavens didn’t come crashing down

 

Ask Zahra of the pain, the state of Her son

The burning sands, the heat, the body of Husayn

 

Eager to kill, the assassins, drew closer, advanced

The murderers, like vultures, encircled Husayn

“Its time” said one, “Not yet” yelled another

“Wait till He rests His forehead in prayer on the sand”

 

Omar cried “His body seems lifeless, limp”

“But His eyes are open” Shimer responded to him

 

Hesitant were all but Shimer was eager, unabashed

Where he placed his evil foot cannot be said alas

Feeling the pressure on His chest, the Imam writhed in pain

In this state He heard the wails of His family from afar

 

The Prince asked “Pray tell me where do the cries come from?”

“Someone cries for me, I hear wails of Yaa Husayn around”

 

“In this din I care not who cries for You” Shimer replied

“I care now only for this sword, Your jugular vein, and my might

Although as I was preparing to kneel on Your chest

A lady bare-headed ran out of the camps in fright”

 

“At this moment, my merry army celebrates far and near

I am convinced it’s the cries of the same lady that You hear”

 

“No one else but My sister, My noble sister” Husayn cried

“Its my loving, thirsty, frightened sister who cries

In her love forgetting the ways of Mother today

She runs out in public, in panic, in fright”

 

“She has left the camps once before, I remember” Shimer claimed

Husayn replied “It was the moment when Ali Akber was slain”

 

What happened next will no doubt cause us intolerable pain

Zaynab stood watching as Husayn lay on the sands

With the assassin on His chest, a sword at His throat

It’s a sight that was impossible for Zaynab to bear

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Caring not for the crowds, the savage army, the din

Driven by the love of her Brother, overtaken by grief

 

Wailing, sobbing, crying, in a helpless state, alarmed

Her mind filled with panic, terror filling her heart

She implored the assassin, repeatedly beseeched

“In the name of Ali Asgher I plead you, have mercy, stop”

 

“Have mercy Oh Shimer, let the thirsty Prince go

For the sake of the Prophet, let His Grandson go”

 

“Stop Oh Shimer, in the name of God I ask

In the name of Mohammed, Fatimah, Ali, pray stop

I remind you of the Prophet, His Grandson you slay

Listen to me Oh Shimer, hear my pleas alas”

 

“I have no other elder remaining, all are gone I’m alone

Besides Husayn I have not a single soul”

 

“Can you wait at least, so I can come closer to Him?

Can I brush the burning sands from his wounded skin?

Can I lay His body on my cloak, a bit of comfort He may find

Can I lift His limp head off the sands, ease His pain a bit?

 

“I know that Zahra’s daughter will find no water in this place

With my tears I will stir Him from His unconscious state”

 

“Let me ask Him on whom can I rely when He’s gone

He leaves me alone in this strange, foreign land

God’s creation will attest, He is innocent Oh Shimer

What grudge do you bear against my Mother’s Son?”

 

“If it is wealth you seek, you may have all that I possess

In what manner can I plead with you, how do I attest?”

 

“You may slay Him, Oh Shimer, after I’ve held Him once more

One last meeting with Him, then back to the camps I will go

Let me share with Him my pain, ask Him about His own

Allow me to turn His face toward the Kaaba, please say so”

 

“Pray give water before you kill the thirsty, starved Prince

Won’t you at least cover His eyes as you behead Him?”

 

 “I plead in the name of the Almighty God, hear me

In the name of the Holy Prophet’s soul I beseech

In the name of Hyder, the valiant savior of Islam

In the name of Asgher, slain on the sands he sleeps”

 

“For God’s sakes do not kill the Imam, the noble Prince

Give me back my brother, do not slay my Husayn”

 

As she sobbed these words, for air she gasped

Despite her pleas, Shimer beheaded the Prince alas

She fell by the Imam’s headless body in anguish, distraught

She felt her Brother’s embrace, she was quite at last

 

Just like her Mother, she loved Husayn with all her heart

“My Brother, dear Brother” she called out alas!

 

 

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