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when the prince had offered his afternoon prayers
"namaaz e asr ko jab shah ne tamaam kiya"

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

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When the Prince had offered his afternoon prayers

And He was beheaded by the brutal enemy swords

His tents were raided, His family captured

And the prisoners were taken toward Shaam in tears

 

Thus proceeded the Imam’s head, the Prophet’s progeny

And in spirit they were joined by Zahra and Ali

 

The captives were tormented on the way to Shaam

The Imam’s head often would be intentionally dropped

Inflicting blows and wounds on the young, ailing Imam

And introducing the captives to bystanders alas!

 

“This is the family of the Prophet’s heir that we bring

The bare-headed ladies are none but Ali’s kin”

 

And thus they reached the outskirts of Shaam

And the captors decided to camp there until dawn

The prisoners were lined up to stop for the night

The captors declared “Tomorrow we enter Shaam”

 

Horror gripped the hearts of the Ladies at these words

The thought of riding bare-headed through Shaam’s roads

 

As the prisoners awaited the horrors to come

The air filled with the sounds of bands and drums

Zaynab turned to Fizza and sadly asked

“Are these people rejoicing at the slaughter of the Prophet’s Son?”

 

“Are these the sounds of their merriment at our loss?

The world celebrates today while we are distraught?”

 

Fizza walked to the house from which the sounds came

Returning to Zaynab “It is not true my Lady” she said

“The lady of that house is a true follower of Ali

They know not of your state, your loss, your pain”

 

“A daughter was born to the lady of the house

The reason for the merriment is that birth announced”

 

“I asked many around about the celebrations we hear

And was told that the lady of that house holds you dear

When asked what the baby’s name was, she has declared

The name ‘Zaynab’ after you, my Lady, do you hear?”

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“She prays for the blessings of the Prophet and Ali

The blessings of Fatimah, of the Prophet’s progeny”

 

Hearing this Zaynab shed many tears of hope

“We are still remembered, thank God, not all is lost

Even though bare-headed, my hands tied with ropes

Our household destroyed, our dear ones gone”

 

“While the people of Shaam call us names today

Yet many name their children in our memory to this day”

 

Yet upon reflection, Zaynab turned to Fizza in dismay

“I wish to speak to this lady, could she come here today?

A few words of advice, of warning I must give

The implications of choosing the name ‘Zaynab’ I must say”

 

“To suffer is the destiny of one called by this name

A tortured life is foretold, as has been my fate”

 

Fizza informed the lady that her presence is sought

Upon hearing the word ‘Medina’ the lady rushed out

In anticipation of meeting people of Medina she came

Hoping for news about the Prophet’s family’s whereabouts

 

“I am honored that I am called to meet them” she said

“To make acquaintance of Medina’s residents I’m glad”

 

Thus the woman walked up to where the captives sat

Approaching Zaynab she said her salutations in respect

Zaynab responded likewise and then with sadness exclaimed

“I hear that you have named your daughter Zaynab alas”

 

“Do you know of the consequences of this fateful name?

Oh why have you chosen to give your child this name?”

 

“There are thousands of names you could have chosen my dear

Yet you thoughtlessly gave your child this name I fear

A name that brings sufferings, you are not aware”

The shocked woman exclaimed, her eyes filled with tears

 

“The heavens and the earth rest on the strength of these names

The names of the Prophet’s children, there are no better names”

 

“Why then such fateful tidings do you give?” she exclaimed

Zaynab is the sister of Hasan and Husayn

The granddaughter of the Prophet, Zahra’s child”

“It is true” replied Zaynab her heart filled with pain

 

“It is true that these names are due great regard

Yet today these same people are ill-treated alas”

 

“The nobility of their creed is known to all

Yet all the world’s sufferings has been their lot

These people have found no peace in their lives

They have suffered hunger, starvation, misery and loss”

 

“Of Zaynab’s numerous losses I can speak of today

Yet some losses have been harder than others, I must say”

 

“The death of the Prophet was her first brush with pain

She then watched Ali being dragged with a rope around His neck

Fatimah’s battered womb, Her crushed ribs Zaynab saw

And watched the poisoned Hasan writhe in pain

 

“She wept for the Prophet, then for the Prophet’s heir

She cried for Hasan and for Zahra, such is Zaynab’s fate”

 

“And now I hear that she lost everything she had left

Taken prisoner, bare-headed, after her Brother’s death

Through towns and cities she is taken in shame

She is ruined today, were you aware of that?”

 

“It is said that tomorrow she will be brought into Shaam

Knowing not what more lies in store, she is alarmed”

 

“Have you heard enough of Zaynab’s fate?” Zaynab asked

Covering her ears the woman cried “No more alas”

“Do not utter such words, of disrespect you speak

Do not so speak about the family of the Prophet of God”

 

“Zaynab’s Brother is alive, none of this is true

Who dares to imprison her? I cannot not believe you”

 

Hearing this Zaynab could bear no more

Holding the woman’s hand, in misery she rose

She walked up to where Husayn’s head rested on a spear

Pointing to the head Zaynab to the woman implored

 

“Pray ask me whose head this is my dear

This is Husayn and I am Zaynab, Oh woman do you hear?”

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Hearing this, the woman froze in shock

She gazed at the head in reverence and awe

Turning to the head then Zaynab cried out

“Am I not your sister, say Oh Husayn speak now”

 

“Oh Imam I have been humiliated so much by this world

That people refuse to believe that I am your sister my Lord”

 

Husayn’s head then proclaimed “Indeed what you say is true

“My salutations to you Oh daughter of Ali and Batool

You are the pride of Fatimah and Khadija my dear

More noble than Mariam or Bilqees are you”

 

“I am your Brother and you are my sister Zaynab

You are the honor of Hasan and Husayn Zaynab”

 

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