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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