Ashura Poems in English Explained and Annotated Volume 1

AshuraPoemsinEnglishExplainedandAnnotated(Volume1)
Author:Compiledby:MuhammadRezaFakhrRohani
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
HariKumar:Ashura
T.D.Chattani:ValeofSorrow
AmeenKhorasanee:HusainofKerbala
SarojiniNaidu:TheNightofMartyrdom
SarojiniNaidu:TheImamBara
W.C.Tailor:AnOde
Anonymous:VisionofKerbala
H.Wells:ImamHusain
TabishKhair:PoemfromOutsideaMuharramProcession
Anonymous:OntheMornofMuharram
FarahYeganeh:AShapedElegyforKarbala
EthelM.Pope:TragedyofMoharram
Presentedbyhttp://www.alhassanain.com&http://www.islamicblessings.com
Hislittlechildrendear
JusticeA.D.Russel:TheMartyrofKarbala
MariamRizvi:UntitledPoem
SyedAhmedAliMohani:TheHeroofKerbala
Anonymous:AJourney
A.K.Esmail:TheConquerorofKerbala
SayyedAliMusaviGarmarudi:TheTrackofBlood
WorksConsulted
Foreword
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PraiseisalltoAllah,theLordoftheWorlds.PraiseandsalaamsaretotheProphetMuhammadb.
AbdullahandhisnobleandinfallibleAhlalBayt.Denunciationandcursearetotheirfoesforever
untiltheJudgmentDay.Amen!
Elegyisaliterarytechniquewhichenablesthepoettocomposefinepiecesofpoetry.Inelegy,the
mindandsoulofthepoetgetelevated,forhefindshimselfconfrontedwiththemysterious
phenomenonofdeath.
Facedwiththemysteriesoflifeandthevicissitudesoftimesandfate,hetriestofinda
justificationforthateternalsilence.
Asiswellknown,elegyisanimportantelementintheliteratureoftheadherentsoftheAhlal
Baytschoolofthought.Itisherethatinelegydeepsorrowgetscommingledwithfiercewrath,
leadingtoatypeofsentimentalliterature.Inlikemanner,itmayalsoberegardedasatypeof
politicalliterature,becausethiswrath,sometimesdiscernibletherein,isindicativeofpolitical
thoughtwhichhasfoundexpressioninthismanner.
ItcanhardlybeforgottenthatbeyondthemartyrdomofImamalHusaynb.Alitherewere
politicalreasonswhichcanneverbeseveredfromtheincentivesandthebloodshedinfavorof
thereligiousconvictions.
Here,therelationsignifiesthesamefirmrelationwhichtiestheheartsofthestaunchbelievers
withtheholyProphetMuhammadandhishonorableAhlalBayt.
AmongthefirstwhoelegizedImamalHusaynwasBishrb.Hidhlam.IthappenedwhenImamAli
ZaynalAbidin,thentheleaderofthecaravanofthesurvivorsoftheKarbalamassacre,enroute
home,senthimonamissiontohastentowardthecityandinformtheinhabitantsofMedinaof
themartyrdomofImamalHusayn.
Wearingablackturbanandpullinghishorsewithapieceofblackrope,heenteredthecityand
impartedtothemtheominousnewsofthemartyrdomofImamalHusayn.Therehecomposedan
elegyofwhichthefollowinglinesarefamous:
OInhabitantsofYathrib!Whyareyousittingstill,While[Imam]alHusaynwasmartyred,HenceI
amsheddingtears.
MayGodnottakemeawayfromthosehomesandtheirinhabitants,Whiletheyhaveturned
uninhabited,despitemydesire.TheMartyrofTaffbelongstotheBaniHashim,
8ThoughhismartyrdomcausesMuslimstobeashamed.
Elsewhere,itisreportedthatthefirstelegyonImamalHusaynwascomposedbyBahilalJumhi,
whoexpressedhimselfasfollows:
DrowsyanddrunkardaretheUmayyads'eyes,WhiletheTaffincidentneverletsthefriendssleep
awink.
EversincetheKarbalatragedy,therehavebeeninnumerablepoetswhogainedthegraceof
composinganelegyinpraiseofandinmemoryofImamalHusaynb.Ali,ortheheartbreakingand
woefulKarbalatragedyanditsmournfulconsequences.Suchalineofdevotionalliteraturehas
neverstoppedandwillnevercease.
ThetraditionofelegizingImamalHusaynandtheKarbalatragedyhasbynomeansbeenconfined
totheAraborArabicspeaking,poets;poetsofotherlanguageshavealsomadesignificant
contributionsaswell.
IntheUrdulanguage,thereisalonglistofpoetswhogainedfameandreputationfortheirelegies
onImamalHusayn.AmongthemareMirBabarAliAnis(18011874),MirzaSalamatAliDabir
(180375),MuhammadBaqir,thefoundingfatherofUrdujournalism(d.1857),ShamsalUlama
MawlanaMuhammadHusaynAzadDihlawi(d.1910),the
poetMawlanaHasanRazaKhan(d.A.H.1326/1908)andthepoetFaizAhmadFaiz(d.1984).
InPersian,agreathostofpoetsareknownfortheirpoetryandelegiesonImamalHusayn.Mulla
HusaynVaezKashefiSabsevari(d.A.H.910/1532)includedmanysuchpoemsinhisworkRawzat
alShohada.
OfPersianpoetswhoelegizedImamalHusayn,themostwellknownisMuhtashamKashani(d.
A.H.996/1588),whousedtoserveatthecourtofShahTahmasbtheSafavid.Othersinthesame
lineincludeAbulmajdMajdudSanayie(d.A.H.1131/1719),
Adibulmamalek(d.A.H.1308),MahmoudKhanMalekalShoara(d.A.H.1311),SafiAliShah(d.
A.H.1316/1890),theauthorofErfanalHaq,BahralHaqaeq,andMizanalMa`refah,and
Yaghmayie,aprofessorofPersianliteratureatDaralFonounCollegeinTehran.
InTurkish,quiteagoodnumberofgreatpoetshavecomposedpoemsinmemoriamImamal
Husaynb.AliandtheheartbreakingincidentsoftheAshuratragedy.Amongthem,mentionmust
bemadeofthefollowing:Lameie(d.1531),Hairati(d.1535),FuzuliBaghdadi(d.1555),Abidi(d.
1572),Safi(d.inthe16thcentury),ShamsiPasha(d.1580),andSabouhi(d.1647).
Inlinewiththeabove,Englishspeakingpoets,whetherMuslim,Christian,Hindu,etc.,havealso
madesignificant
10
contributionstoproduceelegiesforImamalHusaynandtheKarbalatragicincidents.
IthasbeenthegraceoftheAlmightytoourfriendandbrotherDr.MuhammadRezaFakhr
Rohani,presentlyprofessorofEnglishattheUniversityofQom,thathehasanthologizedafine
collectionofsuchEnglishpoemsinthepresentbook,titledAshuraPoemsinEnglish.

Heshowedinterestandaninclinationtohavehisbookpublishedintheseriesofthebooks
publishedby,andwiththeemblemof,theLibraryofImamalHusayn'sSacredSanctuary;the
curatorialcounciloftheLibraryconsentedtothisrequest.
Withthepublicationofthisbook,wewishDr.FakhrRohanimoresuccessandgraceful
opportunitiestorenderservicestotheAhlalBaytandtothrowlightontheafflictionsthey
enduredthroughouthistory.
MuhammadalHassoun
1stRamadan1427/25thSeptember2006
Preface
TheprimereasonandmotiveforcompilingthefollowinganthologyofdevotionalpoemsonImam
alHusainistorecordandmarkmyhumblestdegreeofreverenceanddevotiontothe
unimaginablyhighstatusofImamalHusain,
andthentoprovidereaderswitharangeofsuchpoemssofarcomposedinEnglish.
WhenmycolleagueMr.AbdulHosseynTale'isuggestedtometoembarkonsuchatask,ithardly
seemedpracticable;however,ithasbeencertainlybydivinegracethatIhavebeenableto
graduallycomeacrosssuchpoemshereandthereandproducethefirstvolumeofsuchan
anthology.
Consideringthatthisismyfirstendeavortotakeasteptowardcollectingandanthologizing
AshuraliteratureinEnglish,Iwishtorequesteachandeveryesteemedreadertoprovidemewith
additionalpoemsofthenaturecollectedhere.
Thisisjusttoworkoutafurtherrevisedandenlargededition.Surelyanybodywhocontributesto
thiscollectiontheywillreceivethedivinegraceandwillbenefitfromthefavorofImamalHusain.
13

Thepoemsareanthologizedinthiscollectionjustastheyappearonwebsitesorinthesources
fromwhichtheyaretaken.
Iwouldsincerelyappreciateanycomment,suggestion,contribution,orreminder.Icanbe
reachedatthefollowingaddresses:dr_fakhr_1385@yahoo.comorP.O.Box:37185744,Qom,
Iran.
Qom,Iran
MuhammadRezaFakhrRohani,Ph.D.
14
Acknowledgments
Firstandforemost,IamthankfultoAllahWhoprovidedmewiththisopportunitytocarryoutthe
presenttaskastheleastculturalservicetothosewhohavegottoknow,orlearnedtolove,Imam
alHusain(MayDivinegraceandsalaamsbebestoweduponhim).
Nodoubt,itisagratifyingandblessedworkwhich,Ihope,willberecognizedasamarkofmy
humblestservicetothedivinestatusofImamalHusainwhichisbeyondconjecture.Isimplyhope
toreceivehisgracefulfavorforsuchahumbletask.
IamgratefultoMr.AbdulHoseynTale'iforhisinitialsuggestiontocompilesuchananthology.
Next,mysincerethanksgotoSheikhAlialFatlawi,presentlytheCuratoroftheLibraryofImam
alHusain'sSacredSanctuaryinKarbalaforhispermissiontoletushavethehonorofindicating
ImamalHusain'sSanctuaryasthepublisherofthepresentvolume.
Thiswillcertainlyremainaneverlastinghonorforallthosewhohavebeeninvolvedinproducing
thisbook.IcannotforgetSheikhMuhammadalHassounforhiskindandsincerehelp.
Indeed,SheikhMuhammadalHassoun'scooperationmakesmeindebtedtohimforever;he
suggestedtometohavethis
15
bookpublishedintheseriesofthepublicationsofImamalHusain'sSacredSanctuary.AlsoSayyid
HashimalMilani,theCuratoroftheLibraryofImam?Al?'sSanctuaryinNajafdeservesmysincere
appreciationforthissupport.
IexpressmysincereappreciationtoDr.AliAfkhamiandDr.AliMuhammadHaghshenasLari,
distinguishedprofessoroflinguisticsattheUniversityofTehran,andhisfamilyforhavingreadthe
finaldraftofthepresentvolumeandthesuggestionstheymade.
MyspecialthanksgotoHisGraceArchbishopSebouhSarkissian,SheikhMuhammadSadiq
MuhammadalKarbasi,theeditoroftheLondonbasedImamalHusainEncyclopedia,Sheikh
MuhammadKalbasi,Dr.AliRezaBabazadeh,andMr.KamalalSayyid.
Amongmyuniversitystudents,Mr.HamedAkhyanideservesmyprofoundandspecial
appreciation.Hehasalwaysexpressedkeenacademicinterestaswellasdevoutlyreligious
fascinationandrenderedhissubstantialassistancewhilethepresentvolumewasingestation.I
am,andwillalwaysremain,appreciativeofhiseffectiveandinvaluablecooperationandcrucial
help.
Regardingofficejobs,Mr.GholamRezaYazdandoost,Mr.MuhammadHosseynShahri,andMiss
MinooJalalialsohelpedmealot.
IcannotforgettheassistanceIreceivedfrommygoodfriendsinNewDelhiinthesummerof
2006.Amongalonglistoffriendswhoprovedcooperative,Ioughttomentionthefollowing:Mr.
MortezaShafi'iShakib,Mr.MohammadHosseinMozaffari,Dr.SyedQuayamHussain,allatIran
CultureHouseinNewDelhi,Mrs.M.Vijayalakshmi,
16
LibrarianofSahityaAkademi(NationalAcademyofLetters),NewDelhi,Mr.MuradAliBaig,Prof.
MakarandParanjapeofJawaharlalNehruUniversity,Mr.MortazaDaneshHusainiandher
eminentmother,Dr.BilquisFatimahHusainioftheUniversityofDelhi,Dr.NonicaDatta,professor
ofhistoryattheUniversityofDelhiaswellasatNehruMemorialMuseumandLibrary,Dr.Shah
MuhammadWaseemofAligarh,Prof.
AbdurRahimKidwaiandDr.SyedFaizZaidibothofAligarhMuslimUniversity.Iamalsogratefulto
Prof.RichardParmentierofBrandeisUniversity,andDr.TabishKhairoftheUniversityofAarhus,
Denmark,forcontributingoneofhispoemstothiscollection.Theyhelpedmeinmanywaysand
mademyshortresearchtriptoIndiaaspleasantandfruitfulaspossible.MayGodrewardthem
all.
Dr.MahmoudMahdaviDamghaniofMashhad,Iran,Dr.FaridehMahdaviDamghaniandher
eminentfather,Dr.AhmadMahdaviDamghani(presentlyatHarvardUniversity)showedgreat
interestandencouragedmetogoalongwiththeproject.
IalsothankmyFrenchfriendDr.MouslimFidahoussenandthefamousLebaneseChristianliterary
figure,Dr.GeorgesGordak,widelyrenownedforhisscholarshiponthelifeofImam?Al?b.Ab?
T?lib,fortheirmoralsupport.
Lastbutnotleast,Ioffermymostheartfeltthankstomywifeforherpatienceandunderstanding
andforcreatingafittingenvironmentfortheaccomplishmentofthistask.
17
Abbreviations
A./rabic
b.,Arabicibn,son(of)
E./nglish
L./line
Lit./eral(ly)
Ll.,lines
P./ersian
s.v.,Latinsubverbo,under
Var./iant,various
18
Permission(tofight)isgivenuntothoseuponwhomwarismadefortheyhavebeenoppressed,
andverily,tohelpthem,GodisMostPotent;Thosewhohavebeenexpelledfromtheirhomes
unjustlysavethattheysay:?OurLordisGod!?TheHolyQuran,22[alHajj].3940.
AndsaynotofthosewhoareslaininGod'scause,?Theyaredead?:nay,theyarealive,butyou
perceiveitnot.TheHolyQuran,2[alBaqara].154.
Godloveswhoeverloves[Imam]alHusain.
TheProphetMuhammadTheplacewhere[Imam]alHusainisburiedhasbeenoneofParadise
Gardenssincehewasburiedtherein.
ImamJafaralSadiq

OnceGodwishestodoafavortosomeone,Hemakesthemlove[Imam]alHusain.
ImamJafaralSadiq
InadistantageandclimatethetragicsceneofthedeathofHussainwillawakenthesympathyof
thecoldestreader.
EdwardGibbon,TheDeclineandFalloftheRomanEmpireThebestlessonwhichwegetfromthe
tragedyofKarbalaisthatHusainandhisfollowersweretherigidbelieversofGod,theyillustrated
thatnumericalsuperioritydoesnotcountwhenitcomestotruthandfalsehood.Thevictoryof
Husaindespitehisminoritymarvelsme.
ThomasCarlyle,
HeroandHeroworship
Introduction
Thereissomethingquitestrangeyetintriguingwiththename?ImamalHusain?.Oneofthemost
charmingandpleasingnames,thename?ImamalHusain?impliesnoblecharacteristicsandmost
admirablequalities.
Yet,itmysteriouslyinspireshisadherentsandadmirerstocarryouttheirmostsinceredutiesand
modesofservitude,simplyforthesakeofmeetinghissatisfaction.Thecompilerofthepresent
volumesimplyaspirestoberegardedasonesuchperson.
Throughouthistory,thepurestandnoblestformsofart,literature,architecture,andsoforthhave
beenassociatedwitheitherreligionitself,orfigurescloselyassociatedwithGodand/orreligion.
Hence,themostsincerefeelingsofdevotionarecrystallizedintheformofpoetry,regardlessof
thelanguageused.
TheimpactofImamalHusainonpoetsishighlyevidentinsuchlanguagesasArabic,Persian,
Urdu,orTurkish,beingthedominantlanguagesofMuslimpopulations.

SuchpoemsrevealtheextentanddepthoftheimpressiontheImamhassinceexertedonthe
cultureofthelanguageinquestion.Bythesametoken,itisinterestingtoexaminesuch
21
devotionalpoemsinEnglish.Indeed,suchpoemsonlyexpressthepoet'smostsincerefeelingsor
reflectionsabouttheadmirablefiguresinquestion.
Thebulkofziarat1texts,poems,prosepieces,laments,sermons,andtazia(Shiiteversionof
passionplay)2scriptsdevotedtotheAshuratragedycollectivelymakeupwhatcangenerallybe
calledAshuraliterature.3GrantedthatsuchformsofAshuraliteraturenecessitateredefinitionof
?
literatureproper?simplytocoverliteraryandlinguisticmanifestationsofthewholeevent,Ashura
literatureisbynomeanslimitedtotheIslamicera,beginningspecificallyfromtheverydayof
Ashura.
AccordingtoTheOxfordEnglishDictionary(2nded.,20vols[1989],s.v.?ziarat?),theword
?ziarat?isdefinedas?AMuslimplaceofpilgrimage,ashrine;apilgrimagetosuchaplace.?Thisis
onesenseoftheword?ziarat?asusedinArabicandPersian.AlthoughnotrecordedinTheOxford
EnglishDictionary,thereisstillanothersenseofthewordwhichconcernsprescribedandoften
recommendedtexts,ofvariouslengths,tobereadwhilepayingsuchavisit.?Ziarattexts?deal
withthesecondsensenotedhere;theysignifyareligiousmeeting,farbeyondtheboundsoftime
andplace,withamostlymonologuetypeoftalking.
2ShorterOxfordEnglishDictionary(5thed.,2vols[2002])definesitinthisway:?Aplay
commemoratingthesufferinganddeathofHusain,performedesp.ontheanniversaryofthe
eventeachyear.?
3InArabic,itiscalledAdabalTaff(lit.Karbal?Literature).TaffisanotherdesignationofKarbal?.
See,forexample,J.Shubbar,AdabalTaff,10vols(Beirut:DaralMurtada,1409AH/1988).In
Persian,thefollowingworksmustbementionedasexamples:H.GoolMuhammadi,ed.,Ashura
vaShe'reFarsi[AshuraandPersianPoetry](Tehran:Atlas,1366Sh/1985)andM.A.Moj?hedi,
ShokuheShe?re?shur?darZab?neF?rsi(Qom:ShahidMahall?tiInstitute,1379Sh/1999).
22
AshuraliteraturedatesbacktothepreIslamicperiod.
AccordingtoanaccountrelatedinMaf?t?halJin?n,1followingtheSafw?nprayer,ImamJa?far
alS?diqremarks,throughthechainofauthoritiesindicatedtherein,thatthetextoftheAshura
ZiaratwasinitiallycomposedandissuedbytheAlmighty.
(SupposingthattherehadnotbeenanypraiseforImamalHusainexcepttheveryaccount
indicatedhere,thissingleaccountitselfproveswellindicativeofthemagnificenceand
significanceoftheAshuraincidentandtheuniquepersonalityofImamalHusain.)
IfsuchanauthoritativetextastheAshuraZiaratcouldprovisionallybeputasideonthebasisof
thefactthatitssourceofproductionwasGodtheAlmighty,thefirsthumanproducedworkinthe
restofthecommonheritageofAshuraliteraturedatesbackatleasttotheveryfirstelegywhich
theChristianapostleZachariahcomposedontheAshuraincident23
Maf?t?halJin?nisacollectionofprayersforrecitation,nonobligatory,recommendedrituals,
andsoforthanthologizedbythelateSheikhAbbasQommi.Althoughtheexplanationswere
originallyphrasedinPersian,thewholetextlateronappearedinArabicandUrdutranslations.
Variouseditionsandselectionsofthebookarewidelyavailable.
2SeetheannotatedEnglishtranslationoftheHolyQuranproducedbyS.V.MirAhmedAli(1stUS
ed.,Elmhurst,NY:TahrikeTarsileQur'an,1988),s.v.theQuranicmysteriouslettersK?F,H?,Y?,
?AYN,S?DinthefirstverseoftheSuraMaryam(viz.Mary),p.242f,1309.
3Viewedfromthisbroadperspective,onemaycomeupwithaclassificatoryschemeofAshura
literature.Thatis,itmaybeclassifiedasa)preIslamicvs.b)postIslamicaccountsoflamenton
ImamalHusain
Whileoftheformertherearejustsomereportsincertainhadithbasedexegeses(tafs?rs)ofthe
HolyQuran,thelattercan(convenientlyandirrespectiveofthelanguageused)besubdividedinto
poeticprosepieces,lecturesandsermons,andpoems,allfocusingonthecaptivatingpersonality
ofImamalHusain,hisspeeches,addresses,thepoems(ascribedtohim),andparticularlythe
hardshipsheandhismatchlessadherentsendured.Assuch,
23
severalcenturiesaheadofitstakingplace.(TherearesomeoutstandingandhighrankingShiite
ulema[clerics]whohavewrittenvariousaccounts1ofthesimilaritiesobservablebetweenthe
attributesandfatesoftheChristianapostleJohn[ArabicYahy?]
andImamalHusain.)Suchliteraryformsareentirelydevotedtorevealingthepurestandnoblest
kindsofsincerefeelingsoftheircomposersaswellasservingasaccountsofthehardshipsand
afflictionsImamalHusain'sfrontsufferedandenduredintheAshuratragedy.
2IntheIslamicperiod,sincetheAshuratragedyonward,almosteverydevoutbelletrist,author,
orresearcher,howeveramateurorproficient,hasproduced(atleast)awork,literaryorscholarly,
chieflytomarkhisorherreverenceandtremendousrespectforAshuraliteratureprovestobe
oneofthemostinterestingliterarygenresnotonlyfarbeyondthefrontiersofIslambutsignifying
alinkingthreadbetween(atleast)suchAbrahamicreligionsasJudaism,ChristianityandIslam.
Unfortunately,suchanarchetypalandsymbolictragedyseemsnottohavereceivedthedue
attentionitdeservesinmostWesternorIslamicliterarycircles.Needlesstosay,Ashuraliterature
cannotlogicallyberestrictedtoanypredeterminedlanguagesandgenres,nortothefaithand
denominationofanyonewhocomposessuchadevotionalpieceofliterature.
1See,forexample,J.Sh?shtar?,Dam?al?ayn?al?Khas?'isalHusain,Persiantitle[AshkeRav?n
barAmireK?rav?n],trans.SayyedMuhammadHosseynShahrestani(firstlithographiced.,1313
AH/1895;9thed.,Qom:DaralKetab,1381Sh/2002),pp.439443,andpp.423450,forImamal
Husain'ssimilaritieswithotherprophetsandapostles;cf.
theArabicoriginalunderthetitleofAlKhas?'isalHusain?yya:Khas?'isalHusainwaMaz?y?al
Mazl?m,ed.SayyedJa?farB?qiralHusain?(Qom:Anw?ralHud?,1425AH/2004),pp.496503,
onthesimilaritiesbetweenImamalHusainandtheApostleJohn;theentireChapter10,pp.475
515,isconcernedwiththesimilaritiesbetweenImamalHusainandotherprophetsandapostles.
2Undoubtedly,theearliestpieceofAshuralament(viz.nawha)wasproducedbyLadyZaynab,
ImamalHusain'ssister,besidetheImam'sdecapitatedbodyontheKarbalabattlefieldofAshura.
24
ImamalHusain.SuchworksarebynomeanslimitedtoShiiteliteraryfigures;rather,quitealotof
Sunnite,evenChristian,Jewish,andHindufigureshaveshownandcontinuetoshowtheirrespect
andreverencebycomposingsuchpieces.1TrulyamazingisthefactthatAshuraliterature
transgressesbeyondallboundsofreligion,politicalleaning,orlanguageinthatalmostnothing
canstandonaparwithitassopenetratingandmovingand,atthesametime,smoothing.
Themoreapersonreadsorwritesaboutit,themoreeagertheyfeeltogoonwithit.Itmakes
oneponder,feelaflame,produceawork,2feelsatisfiedforhavingdonehisorherduty,andthen
finditfarfromexpressingtheirtruefeelingsandpathostheyexperience,letalonetoreflectthe
smallestdegreeofthedepthandwidehorizonsoftheevent!Inanutshell,fatiguedoesnotmake
sensehereforthisisatrueinstanceofalaboroflove.
Ashuraliteratureinitsentiretyisnot,andshouldbynomeans,berestrictedtothemain
languagesoftheMuslimpopulation.Suchliteraturehasbeeneithertranslatedintomajor
Europeanlanguagesorproduceddirectlyinsuchlanguagesas
See,forexample,A.Bara,AlHusainf?alFikralMasi?hi(2nded.,Beirut,1979;Qum:Fadak,
1426AH/2005);A.alN?blus?,Al?qahalMas?h?yy?nbiAhlBaytalNab?yy(Beirut:D?ralH?d?,
1422AH/2001).HerementionmustbemadeofArchbishopSebouhSarkissian'swork?TheEvents
ofKarbala:ASurveyofSomeClassicalSources:alYa?qubi,alTabari,andalMas?udi?
(Unpublishedthesis,UniversityofBirmingham,1981),andKam?lalSayyid,BoulesSal?mah:Sh?'ir
alGhad?rwaKarbalaf?alZamanalAkhir(Beirut:DaralGhadir,1425AH/2004).Partofthelast
work(pp.4676)focusesontheAshuraincidentasmirroredinthepoemsofBoulesSalamah,a
famousLebaneseChristianpoet.
2Thisencompassesanytypeofworkcoloredandmintedwithasinceresenseofdevotion,beit
drawinganartisticwork,e.g.thecontemporaryIranianpainterMaestroFarshchiyan'sfamous
painting?Asre?Ash?r?[TheAshuraAfternoon].
25
English,French,andsoforth.AslongasAshuraisrememberedanddevoutlycommemorated,its
literaturewillremainandsurvive,forAshurahasbeenanincidentfarbeyondtheboundsand
confinesoftheprecisedayofAshura,theplainofKarbala,andthereligionofIslam.Itwillremain
imbuedwithinvaluableandperenniallessons,moral,religious,andeducationalforallhumanity.
Ashurawillalwaysremainaneverendinglesson.Ithassincevociferatedthevoiceofthe
perennialbattlebetweenrightandwrong,darknessandlight,anditcontinuestomarkthe
oppressionofpurereligiousthoughtandnoblehumancharacters.Inthisway,itreverberatesthe
voiceofreligiousnobilityasexemplifiedandcrystallizedintheAshurabattle.
Throughouttheages,ImamalHusain,themourningceremoniesheldforhim,andevengoingon
pilgrimagetohumblypayvisitationtohissacredtombandsanctuary,andevenpayingavisitto
thosewhohavebeenonpilgrimagetoKarbala,havenotbeenaltogetherdevoidofpolitical
implicationsforthosewhohaverealizedtheinherentpoliticalforcebehindthebeliefinthe
personalityofImamalHusainaswellasthespiritualandreligiousrewardsandvirtuesrecordedin
theauthoritativeandcanonicalhadithtexts.1Tothese,one
Thebulkofhadithliteratureinthisregardislegionandamazinglyabundant,thoughtprovoking,
andaweinspiring.See,forexample,thehadithsrecordedinsuchtextsasJa?farb.Muhammadb.
Q?lawayhalQumm?,K?milalZ?y?r?t,ed.?AbdulHusainalAm?n?([lithographiced.]Najaf:al
Murtadaw?yya,1356AH/1937),?AbdulHusainalAm?n?,'AdabalZ?'irLimanYamammalH?'ir,
ed.
Naj?hJ?birSalm?nalHusain?([orig.lithographiced.]Najaf,1362Ah/1943;repr.Beirut:alBalagh,
1424AH/2003);Muhammadb.?Al?b.alHasanal?Alaw?alShajar?,FadlZiy?ratalHusain
?AlayhalSal?m,ed.SayyedAhmadalHusain?26
mustaddtheinnumerablebiographies1,nawhas(viz.laments),marthiyas(viz.elegies),and
dramas,2producedinArabic,Persian,Turkish,andUrdu,tomentionjustafew.3
Thepresentbookisbynomeansthefirstandlastvolumecollectedinthisfield.Contrarytoan
initialanticipation,itseemsthatAshuraliteratureinEnglishwilloccupyatleastfivevolumesof
books.Hence,readersand(Qom:AyatollahMar?ash?PublicLibrary,1403AH/1982)which
containseightyninehadithsonthistopic.
1AhugenumberofvolumesofbibliographieshavebeencompiledonthebiographiesofImam
alHusain.Thebulkofbiographicalaccountsislegionandincalculable.Certainlynootherfigure
canmatchImamalHusainasthesubjectofsomanybooks,treatises,theses,dissertations,and
biographicalaccounts,shortorlong,publishedorunpublished,inhistory.Excludingmanuscripts
andessaysonhisbiography,compilingabibliographyofthepublishedbooksdealingwiththelife
ofImamalHusainwouldturnintoavoluminouswork.
Thereisashortlistof103importantArabicbooksonImamalHusaininM.A.alAm?n?al
Najaf?'sthirtytwopageIntroductiontoMaqtalalImamalHusainofM.R.alTabas?alNajaf?
(Qom:Muhibbin,1382Sh/2003),pp.920.Seealsothebibliographiesofsuchshortaccountsas
M.T.alSam?wi,Ibs?ral?aynf?Ans?ralHusain,rev.ed.,ed.A.J.alHasan?(Beirut:alBal?gh,
1424AH/2003),andM.B.
PourAmini,Chehreh?darHem?seyeKarbal?(Qom,Iran:Boust?neKet?b,1382Sh/2003).The
Persianbooksandmonographsonthesubjectarealmostinnumerable.Thepresentauthorhas
nothadaccesstoalistofsuchbiographiesandresearchmonographswrittenparticularlyin
English;however,itisnotillogicaltoguessthatquiteagreatnumberofsuchaccountsmusthave
beenproducedinMuslimcountrieswhereEnglishisthelinguafranca.
2Forinstance,A.AlSharqawi,HusaintheMartyr:APlayinSixScenes,trans.A.AbdulRazzak
(Chicago,Ill.:TheOpenSchool,1997).
3See,forinstance,thearticles?An?s?,?Marthiya?,and?MuhtashamiK?sh?n??inThe
EncyclopaediaofIslam,newedition(Leiden:E.J.Brill,1960).Ishouldhereliketomentiona
researchprojectontheTurkishheritageofAshuraliterature,currentlyunderdevelopmentbyDr.
AmiralKhalediattheUniversityofKufainNajaf,Iraq(personalcommunication).
27
criticsarerequestedtocontributetothiscollectionbyprovidingthecompilerwithpoemsnot
includedinthelargecorpussofarcollected.
Anattempthasbeenmadetofacilitatethereaders'tasks.Whereaperson,aconcept,aterm,or
aneventismentionedinapoem,thereadermayrefertotheendnoteindicated,gearedtoits
properlinenumber.
Thisisforthereader'seaseofreferencetothelinesinwhichtheyappear.Justaftereachpoem,
therearesomeexplanationstosavethereaders'time,andtoprovidethemwithsomebasic
informationtocomprehendthefragment(s)inquestion.
Thepresentintroductoryessaycanhardlyberegardedasatrueintroductiontoapoeticcollection
onAshura.Itmerelyservesasatextbywayofintroduction.And,nodoubt,anyintroductionto
thelifeandafflictionsofImamalHusainwillprovefarfromadequateinrespectofthegreatest
tragicincidentintheworld.
1Afterall,whodares,ormayevenclaim,toadequatelydescribethelifeofImamalHusainwhom
Godhonoredwithmartyrdom?2Anyattempttodescribesuchagreatincidentwouldbelikean
ant'sdescriptionoftheProphetSolomon'skingdom.
TakenoteofthefollowingphrasequotedfromtheAshuraZiarat?mus?batanm?'a?zamuh?wa
'a?zamaraz?yyatuh?f?'lisl?mwaf?jam??alsam?w?twa'lard?[anagonyforwhichthereis
nothingcomparableinIslamandeveninthewholeworld].2Considerthefragmentofthe
'Arba??nZiaratwhichreads?akramtah?bialshah?da?[you,viz.God,respectedandhonored
him[ImamalHusain]withmartyrdom].

28
ThepresentintroductorydiscourseendswithafragmentofapoembytheIranianpoetSeyyedAli
MusaviGarmarudi:?Herethewordends/WhereIreachanend/Atyounoendbends.?
MayGodtheAlmightyconsiderandacceptthepresenthumbleattempt.Amen!
HariKumar:Ashura
Thechainwhipsawaken
ahundredeyesontheirbacks.
Redtearstrailthestreets
tothegolddomedtombofHusain.
Agoldenspiderwithlegsofblood.
Wailsshaketheskytheminaretprops.
Buttoday,foreverylashforHusain,
alashwilltearforawardedson.*
31
T.D.Chattani:ValeofSorrow
ThroughtheValeofsorrowdoeshistorytrace
TwomatchlessmartyrsourProphet'spets
WholefttheirhearthswithIslamicgrace
Inhungerandthirsttheirdutytoface.
Severedfromhome,exhaustedonthefield
OpposedbyenemieswhohadSatan'sshield
Theygavetheirlivesthatothersbefreed
Fromfalsehood,tyrannyandaKafir'screed.
Mostpreciousbloodflowedfromtheirveins
BattlefieldofKarbalahasstillthosestains
Fromourheartsshouldrushriversofblood
Renewingourfaithwiththisvitalflood.!*
10
*Khurshed,ed.,ImamHusain,2nded.,p.157
L.8?Kafir?refersto?infidel,unbeliever,orpagen?.
32
AmeenKhorasanee:HusainofKerbala
Menweepforyoutodayinmanylands,
Andontheirbreastsinbitteranguishbeat,
Andinsad,mournfultunes,thetalesrepeatofhowyou
lostyourfamilyuponthesands.
Younoblyspurnedthetyrant'sbasedemandsandchose5
Deathtopreventyoursoul'sdefeat,
Becameamartyrwithunflinchingfeet
Forthesewellmayoneweepwhounderstands.
Thissorrowatyourdeath,despitetheyearsisstillas
fresh,
WhichTimehasfailedtoquell.10
Ineveryheartthisdaynewpainappears
Andofyoursufferingsmeneachothertell.
Theyseeavisionthroughslowfallingtearsofthatlone
Battlewhereathirstyoufell.*
*Lalljee,TheMartyrdomofImamHusain,p.60.
33
SarojiniNaidu:TheNightofMartyrdom
Blackrobed,barefooted,withdimeyesthatrain
Wildtearsinmemoryofthywoefulplight,
Andhandsthatinblind,rhythmicanguishsmite
Theirbloodstainedbosomstosadrefrain
Fromtheoldhauntinglegionofthypain,
Thyvotariesmourntheethroughthetragicnight
Withmysticdirgeandmelancholyrite,
Cryingtothee?Husain!Husain!
Whydothymyriadloverssolament?
Sweetsaint,isnotthymatchlessmartyrhood
Thelivingbannerandbravecovenant
OfthehighcreedthyProphetdidproclaim,
Bequeathingfortheworld'sbeautitude
Th'enduringlovelinessofAllah'sname?*
5
10
*Naidu,TheFeathersoftheDawn,p.6.
34
SarojiniNaidu:TheImamBara
I
Outofthesombershadow,
Overthesunlitgrass,
Slowinasadprocession
Theshadowypageantspass
Mournful,majestic,andsolemn,
Strickenandpaleanddumb,
Crownedintheirpeerlessanguish
Thesacredmartyrscome.
Hark,fromthebroodingsilence
Breaksthewildcryofpain
Wrungfromtheheartoftheages
Ali!Hassan!Hussain!
II
Comefromthistombofshadows,
Comefromthistragicshrine
Thatthrobswiththedeathlesssorrow
Ofalongdeadmartyrline.
Love!Letthelivingsunlight
Kindleyoursplendideyes
Ablazewiththesteadfasttriumph
Ofthespiritthatneverdies.
SomaythehopeofnewagesComfortthemysticpainThatcriesfromtheancientsilenceAli!
Hassan!Hussain!*
ImamBara.?Imambara,Imaumbara,Eemaumberra=AbuildingmaintainedbytheShiaMuslims
fortheexpresspurposeofcelebratingtheMuhurrumceremonies,towhichtheybringtheirTazias
andTaboots.?inLewis,Sahibs,Nabobs,andBoxwallahs:ADictionaryoftheWordsofAnglo
India,Delhi:OxfordUniversityPress,1991.
*Naidu,TheSceptredFlute:SongsofIndia,pp.152153.
36
W.C.Tailor:AnOde
Tellmefriendswhatshallyousay
OntheawfulJudgmentDay
WhenMohammadasksyouwhere
Arethosetrustedtoyoucare?
Dearerthanathousandlives?
Boundbymanyafasteningchain
Someindungeonsdarkremain,
OnKerbala'sbarrenstrand
Otherslie,areakingband.
Tornwithwoundsandstain'dwithmud
Welteringintheirownheart'sblood.
WhenbeforetheJudgmentseat
YoutheHolyProphetmeet,
Heshallask.Ifthusyoushow
Thegratitudeyoujustlyowe,
Forallthebenefitsbestow'd
Bywhomwhosebountyfreelyflow'd.*
*Khurshed,ed.,ImamHusain,2nded.,p.158.
37
Anonymous:VisionofKerbala
Here'sthetaleofmynightlytrance
TheVisionofKarbalainadeathlydance
WhenaMartyrgreatfacedthelance,
OfshamefulShimrforIslamtoenhance,
Nowarofweaponsorbattles'sound
Equalsthistragedyallworldround,
Noherohookedtoholinessstood
Withsuchheadheldhighwithoutshelterorfood.
Histrumpetspakenottoanarmedthrong
Buttoseventytwosaints,thecelestialstrong
Theyallsangtheirheavenlysong
Givingtheiralltoavengeawrong.
Satanicsceptresarrangedwithawfuleye
Thisorgyofbloodwithoutasigh
WhileourSovereignLordwaspassingby
Inscorchingsandtoanswerpeople'scry.
ForIslam'sunityhesurrenderedhishead
Withhisdarlingchildrenhenoblyfed
ThestarvingUmmatonitsdeathbed
Becausethroughsacrificearenationsmade!*
*Khurshed,ed.,ImamHusain,2nded.,p.156.
L.4.?Shimr?,fullname?Shimrb.Dh?alJawshan?,wasthemostnotoriousfigureintheAshura
incident.HisrealnamewasShurahb?lb.?Amrb.Mu??w?yyah.Hesymbolizescrueltyandatrocity
becausehewasreportedlythepersonwhodecapitatedImamalHusain.
HeinstigatedanddispatchedhismentoattackandplunderthetentsonImamalHusain'sfront.L.
10.Although?seventytwosaints?referstothewidelyacceptednumberofmartyrsoftheAshura
battle;however,thenumberofmartyrslistedinsideImamalHusain'ssacredshrineamountsto
someonehundredmartyrs(personalobservation).

L.19.?Ummat?,var.umma,means?TheMuslimcommunity
39
H.Wells:ImamHusain
Pitcheduponthescorchingdesert,
ThetentofHusainlay,
EncompassedroundwithSatan'shounds
Uponthatblacksadday.
Theynumberedlessthaneightystrong,
Womenandchildrentoo,
WhileYazid'sthousandsstoodaround,
Awaitingthefiend'smight.
Drivenawayfromthecoolingstream,
Hischildrenwaitingforwater.
Awaitingwithpatienceextremelysublime
Likesheepforthebutcher'sslaughter.
Oh!Howvaliantlyfoughtthatpitifulfew,
AgainstYazid'swildmurderers,
FoughtwithacourageunequalledinTime
FoughtwithafiercenessthatwassurelyDivine.
Theearthquakedandtrembledasnoondrewnear.
Butstillthesurvivorsknewnofear
Butfewergrewthatpitifulband,
ForIslam,God,andHusaintheystand.
Atlast,allweredead,thedevilhadwon,
Bloodredsankdownthemercilesssun,
TrampledandtornlaythegallantHusain,
ForIslam,God,andthefaithfulwereslain.*
*Khurshed,ed.,ImamHusain,2nded.,pp.141142.
41
TabishKhair:PoemfromOutsideaMuharramProcession
Theclashofarms,theclaspofarmour
(YaHassan,YaHussain):
Thisisnotsorrow,thisissomethingelse.
Thisisdefeat
That'smorethanvictory,thisis
Thepastthat'spassedbyfathertoson
Asatrinketheirloomwithoutprice,
Thisistheinheritanceofpain.
Theretheywhirl,bleeding,bleeding
(YaHassan,YaHussain)
Fromwoundsinflictedonotherbodies
Andinanothercentury.
Thisisnotwar,thisiswomenwailing
Afterthebattleisover,after
Theheadissevered,mitredonalance.
Thisistheknowledgeofdeath
Passedonfrommothertodaughter
(YaHassan,YaHussain).
Thisisnotreligion,this
Istheexchangeofunwrapped
Presents.Thisisayoungboyfeeling
Withhisfather'sheart,thisis
Aponytailedgirlspeaking
Withthevoiceofhermother.
Thisisnotanger,notevenpassion:
(YaHassan,YaHussain)
Thisisdancingwiththewoundoftime.
Thisismystudiedfailuretofeel.*
25
*Khair,WhereParallelLinesMeet,pp.910.
L.2.?Ya",anArabicvocativeorattentiongetter,almost
equivalenttoEnglishO,Oh,orLo.ImamalHassan,here
mentionedasHassan,wasImamalHussain'selderbrother.
43
Anonymous:OntheMornofMuharram
Wakeupmyfriends;forthemornof
Qiamahasarrived
ItisthemonthofMuharram
Thecrescentofgriefhasappeared
Themonthofmourninghasarrived
Muharramisthemonthoftears
Muharramisthemonthofblood
Bodiesareshredded
Andthedesertisagardenofblood
Thecreationissadandinmourning
Itisthemonth:
WhenHusainwasmartyred
Whentheeyesof'Alishedblood
HusainsacrificedfortheepathofIslam
Hisheadisonthespear
Hisbodyisontheground
Thearmsof'Abbaswerecutinthismonth
Thethreeedgedarrowsettledinthe
parchedthroatoflittleAsghar
Zainabwillhugthedustoftheedungeon
inthismonth
TheeinnocentfaceofSakinawillbe
Bruisedinthismonth
Themonthofmourninghasarrived.*
30
L.2.?Qiama?(correctformqi?mah)meanstheResurrectionDay.
L.15.?'Ali?referstoImam?Al?,thefirstInfallibleImam.
L.23.?'Abbas?refersto?Abb?sb.?Al?,ImamHusain'sstepbrother,whowasmartyredatthe
KarbalaBattleonAshura.L.25.?Asghar?refersto?Al?alAsghar,ImamHusain'ssixmonthbaby.
L.28.?Zainab?wasImamHusain'ssister.
L.29.?Sakina?wasImamHusain'sbeloveddaughter.
45
FarahYeganeh:AShapedElegyforKarbala
Wheredoyouresidenow?
Whereyoureside?
Whereyou?
Where?
Wherehavetherainbowsperishedto?5
Whererainbowsperished?
Whererainbows?
Where?
Whydoesthecitylooksodark?
Whycitydark?10
Whydark?
Why?
I'velosttheorangeandthevioletoftherainbow.
Orangeandvioletofrainbow.
Lostrainbow.
Lost.Whatshouldbedonewiththesilentconfusion?
Whatwithsilentconfusion?
Withsilentconfusion?
What?20
Iusedtostandunderthebigtalltree.
Standunderbigtalltree.
Standundertree.
Stand.
Andwonderatthemagicofthecolors.25
Wonderatmagicofcolors.
Magicofcolors.
46
Magic.
Whathavetheydonetotheechoes?
Whatdonetoechoes?30
Whattoechoes?
What?
Havetheyeventuallydissolvedinnothingness?Eventually
dissolvedinnothingness?
Dissolvedinnothingness?35
Nothingness?*
*Ms.FarahYeganehherselfcontributedthispoemtothis
volume.
47
EthelM.Pope:TragedyofMoharram
Goldmoonbeamshedtheirmistylight
O'erasaddenedworld;
Tosoundofdeepestfuneraldirge.
Islam'sbannerisunfurled,
Withslowandmeasuredstep,?tisborne,
Aloftamidthethrong,
Theemblemofamightyhand
E'erraisedtorightawrong,
Inbygonedaysitssilkenfolds,
WavedproudlyinIran;
FromContinenttoContinent,
TheArabsymbolran.
Itspathwasmarkedbyvictory,
Thetriumphoftheright;
TilldarkestAfrica'sheathenhands,
Werebathedinpurestlight.
Thatdayofhappinessisgone;
Nomoreinecstasyborne,
Thebannerheadsasobbingthrong;
Whosedutyistomourn.
Thelossofhimbelovedbyall
Aherowithoutstain,
Whosenoblesacrificehasmade
Theworldringwithhisname
Withopenhandhegavehisall;
Hislittlechildrendear
Brothers,friendshelplesswomentoo,
Clingtohiminfear,
Unflinchingly,normovednorwept,
Secureinhisjustcause,
Henoblyfoughtandnoblydied,
TosaveIslam'sgreatlaws.
Allthememoryofmartyrdom
Anewthepassionsrise;
Abitter,sobbing,wailingcry,
Goesupuntotheskies;
Witheachnewyearthelatentgrief,
Pentup,breaksoutagain,
AndHeavenreturnstheimpassionedcry,
Husain,Husain,Husain!*

*Khurshed,ed.,ImamHusain,2nded.,pp.153154
49
JusticeA.D.Russel:TheMartyrofKarbala
Fromagetoage,onVirtue'sage,
Shalllivethedeathlessstory,
HislossremaintheMartyr'sgain,
HisshametheMartyr'sglory;
Tilltruthshalllie,andHonordie,
Andtimeitselfbehoary.
?AriseHusain,arise,
ChiefoftheProphet'sseed;
Flingbroadthybannertotheskies,
Andcomewithutmostspeed,
OrerethethroneoftheAllWise
UsurpedbebyfoulYazid?.
He'sdonnedhisarmourbright,
Hisfather'sswordgirton;
TheswordofAli,asthemight
OftheDestroyer'sown:
Andheisofferemorninglight
Acrossthedesertwideandlone,
?Now,Kufa,keepthyword!
Tothegoodcausebetrue;
Yazidhassentagianthorde
Tomarchthyprovincethrough;
Thehirelingsofhisfather'shoard,
Whograceormercyneverknew.?
Theyborehisgodlikeheadaloft,
Hismouthstruckwiththeirwhips.
?Omouth,thatIhaveseensooft,
Ateemwithangelquips,
Inbabykisses,warmandsoft,
PressedtotheProphet'slips!?
Obody,trampled,fouled,disdained,
Whichcharmedthegazer'seye,
Thebloodfromoutthyveinsthatdrained
Washeaven'selectuary;
Nohorseshooveswereeverstained
Insodivineadye.
ObarrenplainofKarbala,
Withherb,noryetwithsod
Becladeternally;forah!
There,overwhelmed,downtrod,
TheholysonofFatima
GaveuphissoultoGod!*
*Khurshed,ed.,ImamHusain,2nded.,pp.136140.
L.19.Kufa,oralKufa(ArabicalK?fa),isatownonwesternbankoftheEuphrates.Itisnowquite
closetoalNajaf.AlKufaservedasaseatofImam?Al?'sgovernment,hencearefugeandcenter
fortheShiites.JustpriortotheKarbalaincident,severalofitsinhabitantswrotelettersof
invitationtoImamalHusain;however,mostofthembetrayedhimandparticipatedinthe
unbalancedwaragainsthiminKarbala.
51
MariamRizvi:UntitledPoem
Peace,withsceptionandhope,Iseek,
(congruity'sscopeIknowisbleak)
TomendIcrave(ratherthankill)
Tospillblood,abhorIwill.
IntendIdo,noforcetouse(IfsenseinyouIcaninfuse)5
Buttherules,supreme,ofthedivinefaith
ResolvedIam,todefendtilldeath.
FaceyourhostilemovesIwill.
ThoughtaccordIcovet,seekpeacestill.
Aholywaritmeansindeed
Ifwagedtocrushthedevil'screed.
Norancour,`againstyou,'Ihold
ButfaithdocherishasItold.
IslamIwillresolutelyshield
Burntwillstandandneveryield.
Wouldwelcomedeath(andmakeittame)
Wouldratherdiethanliveinshame.
YourProphet'sscionI'myouknow
Atleastsomeregardtohisnameshow.
Hissingulardictumismycreed:
"Universalgood"Iadore,indeed.
Ali,theparagon,theseraphicImam
Champofthefaith,theshieldofIslam
Inimitable,impeccable:Iamhisson
HispeerlessattributesIhavewon.
Myheartisvirtues'abodeandnest
Blessednessharboursinmybreast.
MuhammadcameinthekingdomofGod,
asamessengerofpeaceasthemasterofcreed.
HeinfluencedtheworldwithAli'shelp,
andallthesonsfromhisdaughter'sbreed.
FatimatheladyofGod'sparadise,
Alithewarrior,theleader,thewise.
Hassan,theheirofeternallore,
Hussain,themartyr,theheaven'sdoor.
CallAliinthetrouble,Almightysays,
becauseinhispresencetheevildecays.
He'sthelionofGod,he'stheswordofGod,
andallhisbelieversareonerighteoussquad.
Islam'sprosperityisthegiftofHussain,
InthewayofGod,hesacrificedhisclan.
Hegavehisheadbutnothisgrace,
Hismartyrdomisaslaponthedevilsface.
Thegrandsonofprophetdecidedtofight,
tounveiltheSatan,andbringhiminlight.
Thefoodwasbanned,thewaterwasstopped,
butonhismindthetriumphhadtopped.
Zainabwaswithherbrotherallthetime,
andparticipatedasmuchtodemolishthecrime.
HersuretywasAbbas,theholderoftheflag,
Whosehandontheemblemisthevictory'stag.
Thethirstwasamenace,thehungerathreat,
anexampleforallthemankindwasset.
Buttherighteuosfought,anddiedonthefaith,
andtherightwon,againsttheevilswraith.*
45
50
55
*Publishedon:Thursday,9Muharam1424(13March2003)
L.34.HassanwastheeldersonofImam?Al?andthesecond
infallibleimam.HewastheelderbrotherofImamalHusain.
54
L.48.Zainab,orZaynabbint?Al?,wasImamalHusain's
youngersisterwhoaccompaniedImamalHusainfromMedina
toKarbala.Shemarriedhercousin?AbdAllahb.Ja?farand
hadfoursonsandadaughter.Twoofhersons,?Awn(var.
Aun)andMuhammad,weremartyredonAshurainKarbala.
ShebravelyactedastheleaderofthesurvivorsoftheKarbala
incidentandeloquentlyactedasthedisclosingvoiceofthe
Karbalarevolttorevealtherealfaceandunjustcharacterof
Yaz?d.
L.50.?Abb?s(var.Abbas)b.?Al?wasImamalHusain'sstep
brother.Hetypifiesandsymbolizesbravery,religiouszeal,
chivalrouspoliteness,andabsoluteobediencetowardImamal
Husain.
55
SyedAhmedAliMohani:TheHeroofKerbala

Many,manyyearsago,
OnbloodyfieldofKerbala,
Anobleherofacedhisfoe,
AschampionofGod'sFaithandLaw.
Ov'erheadtherewasascorchingsun,
Therewerenoshadytrees,
Beneathaburningsandyplain,
Withnorefreshingbreeze.
AscionofHashim'snobleline;
OfHeroismamodel,
SonofAli,theLionofGod,
GrandsonofGod'sApostle.
Hiscomradesfewbutloyalandbrave,
Someyoungandsomeadvancedinage,
Therecordofwhoseactionsgave,
Tohistoryitsbrightestpage.
Ofworldlycomfortstheyhadnone,
Nocouchnorrosybed,
Tocomforttheirafflictedhearts,
TheHolyWordofGodtheyread.
Threedaystheyeverydistressbore,
Deprivedofdrinkandfood,
Theworlddoesstillwonderat,
Theirunexampledfortitude.
Theyfellaroundhimonebyone,
Firmintheirrighteousways,
Andfortheirloyaltyhavewon,
Fromfriendandfoeaworldofpraise.
Hisfriendswithlovinggriefheeyed,
Lyingdeadinsun'sscorchingrays,
Tojustifyhisaimhetried,
Todealwithfoesinpeacefulways.
Hebroughtinarmshisbabyson,
Askedthemtogivehimwater,
Saidhe,?Thebabenoharmhasdone,
Todieofthirstorslaughter.?
Stonestheythrewandarrowsshot,
ObedienttoYazid'sbehest,
Andintheirfurysparednot,
Ev'nlifeofbabyatthebreast!
Alittlebeforehisenemieswere,
Forwatersorelypassed,
Reliefhegavethemthenandthere,
Andcouldnotseeevenfoesdistressed.
HehumblyprayedandpraisedtheLord,
TheGiverofSpiritualbeauty,
Andthoughmidstdangerneverfailed,
Todohissacredduty.
Wickednesscannofurthergo,
Crueltyneedsnogreaterproofs,
Hissacredbody,afterdeath,
Wastrampledunderhorses'hoofs!
Victory,thoughmean,theygained,butstill,
Noboundsknewtheirire.
Orphansandwidowstheycaptivesmade,
Andsettheirtentsonfire.
Thecaptivessawwithchokinggrief,
Andeyesdimmedwithtears,
ThetragicsightofMartyrs'heads,
Upliftedonspears!*
60
*Lalljee,TheMartyrdomofImamHusain,pp.6365.
L.2.?Kerbala?isavariantspellingof?Karbala?or?Karbela?,correctArabicpronunciation
?Karbal?'?,Englishspelling?Karbala?.
L.9.Hashim,orH?shimb.?AbdMan?f,wasthegreatgrandfatheroftheProphetMuhammad.
L.11.?TheLionofGod?isanhonorifictitleforImamAlisignifyinghisbravery.ItsArabicoriginalis
AsadAllahwithaPersianequivalentasShireKhoda.
58
Anonymous:AJourney
Itwaspeakofthemischiefandvirtuesinchains;
Justlawsweresackedwithrulesinsane;
Asthetyrantsontherise,andmassconfused,
offeredlustwithlies,andfaithabused.
Thusthesignsindicated,andtimedictated.
SomesoulselevatedasalHusain(A.S.)navigated;
aseedoftheProphet(P)andthesightofhisParents(A.S.)
thattimeindeluge,hewasarksoapparent.
IntheNameofGod,forthesakeofIslam;
forthefreedomoflifeandsoulofIslam;
gavegreatestsacrifice,butnothishands,
withthemembersofhiskinandmanyofhisfriends.
Hur,Muslimandthefriendsthoseheartssopure;
theyofferedtheirlivesasshieldandcure;
thustyrantscameforthfromthecurtainwayold;
thenpeacewasboughtandlivesweresold.
Anddaringinthemannerswerethetwoyoungbrothers;
intheboldnessoftheirmovesweretheteachingsofamother
59
ShoneAunandMuhammadwiththevalorknownasHaider(A.S.);
Thosechildrenwereslainnotthefeelingofthemother.20Withamessagefromhisfatherwas
QasimbinHassan(A.S.);
aradiantjewelofIslamwasthisglowingyoungson;
butQasimintopieceswithabridedayold;
onthesandinheatitwassavageandcold.
ThentheprideoftheHashimsrodebackfromtheriver;
Andthetyrantsmadesurethathedidnotdeliver;
theycutoffhisarms,butspiritwasset;
tillanarrowhitthebag,onlyeyesgotwet.

25
FellAbbas(A.S.)fromthehorse,withnohandsforresort;
thenalHusain(A.S.)rushedtoshoreforabrother'sendresort;30
thosechildrenwhowaitedwiththepatienceweretold;andthirstinthecampwasthreedaysold.
SoonAkbarcamdownwithspearinhischest;
whichafatherhadtopullsoseverewasthetest;
HewasimageoftheProphet(P),andthelifeofalHusain(A.S.);
HewasvisionofamotherandtheeyesofalHusain(A.S.)
60
NowtheLeaderwasaloneashecalledforthehelp,
thenababyfelldown;aresponsefromthecrib!
Thisthirsty,pure,infantwasasonofImam,
Who,acknowledgedhisfatherandthecallofImam.
40ThusalHusain(A.S.)broughthimforsomewaterinthefield,
andshowedthembaby'sdriedlipsandappealed;
butthesixmonthsoldgotanarrowsothick,
thatturnedhimoverandtorehisneck.
AliAsgharwenttosleep,withhisfatherandnofear;45
withthecradleonthefire,andtheirheadonspear;
andthemother'semptyhand,withtheteardriedeyes,
wholookedforthebabytosinglullabies.
Andasisterbythecampsawthehorrorofthistrip;
asaknifetoretheneck,wheretheProphet(P)puthislips;50
Earthingrief,roaredheavensandmourned,
SandturnedredwhenalHusain(A.S.)wastorn.
Andachildfulloftearswithhertinybleedingears,
bruisesonherfaceandherthirstsosevere;
Sheranforherfatherwholaidbeheaded,
andcriedfortheuncleforhelpsheneeded;
SyedaZainab(A.S.)lookedforherinthesadnessofthatnight;
61
didinquireeverysoulinthelandoftheplight;
butSakinawassleepingonthechestofabody;
withtheloveofthefather,fromthefragranceofhisboy.
Thenthecamppusheddown,whileflameswentup;
littlechildrenrushedout,astheirdresseslitup;
itwasnightfullofcriesandtheinnocentquests;
shatteredwerethedreamsandbrokenwerethenests.
60
Alldefenseslaidtorest,aftertrialsandthetests;65
lefttoface,oneImam,evenhistorywoulddetest,
whofaintedwiththeillnessfacedtortureandtorment;
aMasterofthepiousanddevotees'ornament.
LashesonhisbackheavychainsonImam;
butladiesweretheprisoners,wasthewoundofImam;70
Nochadorforthembuttheirropetiedarms;
andgriefsoaredhighfromKufatoShaam.
But,thedaughterofAli(A.S.)challenged,miserieswiththemessages;
withthefamiliesinbazaars,anddeadlycourtsofsavages;Withthedepthofthepatienceandthe
ZenithofBraverBravery;
Islamwasrescuedforeverfromtheslavery.*
62
L.6.?A.S.?istheabbreviatedformofanoriginallyArabichonorificandprayerlikesentence.
??AlayhialSal?m?formales,or??AlayhaalSal?m?forfemalesarebasicformsusedtoexpress
one'sreverenceandhighrespectforthedignitariesmentioned.AlthoughwidelyusedinIslamic,
particularlyShiite,devotionalandreligioustextsproducedinEnglish,theabbreviation?A.S.?has
notbeenrecordedinEnglishdictionaries.
L.13.ForHurr,seenotetoL.181above.

L.19.AunandMuhammadaretwosonsofLadyZaynabwhowasmartyredinKarbala.
L.19.?Haider?isatitleofImam?Al?.
L.21.Q?simwassonofImamalHasan,ImamalHusain'selderbrother.Q?simfoughttheenemy
andwasmartyredindefenseofhisuncle,viz.ImamalHusain.
L.25.?[T]heHashims?referstotheH?shimidspresentatKarbala,viz.ImamalHusainandthose
oftheH?shimiddynasty.
L.29.?Abb?s(var.Abbas)b.?Al?wasImamalHusain'sstepbrother.Hetypifiesandsymbolizes
bravery,religiouszeal,politeness,andentireobediencetowardImamalHusain.
63
L.33.?Akbar?,lit.?elder?,isatitleof?Al?b.alHusain,theelderbrotherofthefourthInfallible
Imam.Akbarisusedhereasashortenedform.OnAshura,hewasthefirstoftheH?shimidswho
wenttothebattlefield,foughttheenemy,andwasmartyred.
L.45.AliAsghar,Arabictitle?Al?alAsghar,is?Al?b.alHusain.[Asgharmeanstheyoungest.]
WhenImamalHusainlostallhiscompanions,hegotbacktothetentsandfoundhimsuffering
fromintensethirst.Topreventhisbabyfromdyingofthirst,ImamalHusainbroughthimtothe
enemysoastogethimsomewater.
ImamalHusainrequestedsomewaterfromtheenemysoldierstosavehimfromcertaindeath,
butawickedandcruelsoldiershotanarrowandslewthebabyintheImam'sarms.
L.57.SyedaZainab.?Syeda?(lit.Lady,Miss,orMrs.)isthefeminineformof?Syed?,itselfthe
IndianSubcontinentEnglishvariantformof?sayyid?whichmeansMr.orSir.
RegardingZainab,orZaynabbint?Al?,shewasImamalHusain'syoungersisterwho
accompaniedImamalHusainfromMedinatoKarbala.(Bintmeans?daughterof?.)Shemarried
hercousin?AbdAllahb.Ja?farandhadfoursonsandadaughter.
Twoofhersons,?Awn(var.Aun)andMuhammad,weremartyredinKarbalaonAshura.She
bravelyactedastheleaderofthesurvivorsoftheKarbalaincidentandeloquentlyactedasthe
disclosingvoiceoftheKarbalarevolttodisclosetherealfaceandunjustcharacterofYazid.
64

L.59.Sakina(Sak?nabintalHusain),wasImamalHusain'sdaughter.
L.71.Theword?chador?symbolizesformalandreligiouscoveringforwomenandgirlswhenthey
getout.AlreadyaloanwordinEnglish,itinsignifiesworrenlshighsocialstatusinMiddleEatern
Muslimcommunities.
L.72.KufatoShaam.Kufa,oralKufa(ArabicalK?fa),isatownonthewesternbankofthe
Euphrates.ItisnowquiteclosetoalNajaf.AlKufaservedasaseatofImam?Al?'sgovernment,
hencearefugeandcenterfortheShiites.JustpriortotheKarbalaincident,severalofits
inhabitantswroteletters,invitingImamalHusaintomovethere;however,mostofthem
betrayedhimandparticipatedintheunbalancedwaragainsthiminKarbala.
L.72.?Shaam?,or?alSh?m?referstotheLevantthatisaregionpresentlycomprisingSyria,and
theneighboringpartsofLebanon,Palestine,andJordan.ItspecificallyreferstoDamascus,the
capitalandseatoftheUmayyaddynasty.
InShiiteculture,itimpliesthehardestandmostunbearablephaseofcaptivityforthesurvivorsof
theKarbalaincident.
65
A.K.Esmail:TheConquerorofKerbala
Thetremendoussurgefrommiddeserts
Hadjustreachedthebrink
Onitsvictoriousonwardsmarch
And,thereforawhileitstopped.
Forawhileitwastouchandgo
Forawhileitseemed
Desertborndesertcontained.
Thatwasnottobe
Itwasnotsodecreed
Muhammad'sownblood
Wastheretoanswerthecall.
AtKerbalathefaithwasreborn
AndHusain'smartyredblood
Blossomedforthand
Lo,therewasuniversalIslam.
Tothelastdaylastminute
Shallshinetheimmortaldeeds
OfHusainandhiscohorts
TheFaithfulFew
YestheGreatonehimselfwasontrial
TheLastProphet'sownblood
Hisdarlingandhisheir
Husainhimselfhadtofall
Beforethegrandmessagespread.
Themouthsthathadfed
66
BitthehandsthatheldTheungratefulserpent'sbiteThatwasaProphet'sreward.
Bereftofgold,bereftofhomeBereftoffoodandwateritselfButfullofMuhammad'sbloodFullof
pluckfulloffaithTheCourageousledon.
LedonthelastseventytwoSeventyandtwoofthegrandhostSpiritualancestorsofthelikeWho
fromageskeepthefaithaliveThosethatdonotquit.
Thronesareusurped,goldstolenButnotthethornyCrownThatalwaysrestsonthebrowsofa
rareJesus.
ThatwasHusain'sheritageThatwentbackofChristAheritagetostandlikerockTosuffertostrive
andtodieTodieandceasetobeSothatTruthforeverbe.
Theydon'tdieTheheroesofKerbalaTheywhogothroughfieryfurnacesandwalkinthevalleyof
shadesFortheendtheyemergeInshiningarmoursradiatingLightoftruthforever.
Invain,invaindidYazidfoam
67
Invain,didhisarmiesstormForthefieldwastheirsWhohadtheirpreciousliveslainThe
conquerorofKerbalawasHusain.
HeretheunmatchablebecameinvincibleHerethepricefortheperfectwaspaidWhatfatherhad
conceivedThebravesonhadfulfilled.
Ye,fieldsofKerbalaStandusinneedMuslimsarteagainontrialThereisnoHusaintolead.
Ya,MuhammadMustaphaGrantusthyson'sspiritLetKerbalabeourbeaconForwehaveonlyto
repeatTheoriginaldeedisdoneCanwenotjustrepeat?
YazidsareyetallaboutWithinusandalsowithoutHistribedoesnotdieYe,watersofoldlady
FuratTellushowHusainfought
Tellushowhewon
Foragainhavewetowin
Andleaveanexamplebehind
ThatthemessageofMuhammad
ThesacrificeofHusain
Shallnotbeinvain
Islam,Allah'snoblestgift
68
Hastobeearnedagainandagain.*
*Lalljee,TheMartyrdomofImamHusain,pp.6063.
L.19.?TheFaithfulFew?referstoImamalHusain'scompanionswhowererelativelymuchless
thanthenumberoftheenemy'sarmy,whichreportedlyexceeded30,000.
L.21.?TheLastProphet?referstotheProphetMuhammad.
L.53.Yaz?db.Mu`?w?yyahsymolizesaverynotoriousanddetestablefigure.Hewasthecruel
monarchoftheUmayyaddynasty.Soonafterhisgainingpower,heorderedhisagentinMedina
togainImamHusain'salliancebyforce.
AsthiswasallincontradictiontothecontentsofthepeacetreatysignedbyMu??w?yyahand
ImamHassan,ImamalHusainrightlyrefusedtorecognizeYaz?dasaMuslimruler.Hence,the
ImamleftMedinaforMeccaindefiancetotheunjustforceexerted.

AsthepeopleofalKufahadinvitedImamalHusain,heintendedtogothere.Enroutetoand
nearKufa,itwasatKarbalawhereYaz?d'sagentsandhenchmenmadeImamalHusainstop.In
fact,Yaz?dorderedhisforcestosurrender,fight,andslayImamalHusainandhiscompanions
therein.
L.66.?Ya,MuhammadMustapha?.?Ya?isanArabicvocativeorattentiongetter,corresponding
roughlytoEnglishO,Oh,orLo.
Mustapha,orMustafa,?lit.Chosen,selected,preferred,favorite,isanotherlaqab(designationor
appellation)oftheProphetMuhammad.
69
L.72.?Yazids?signifiesthosewhoarelikeYazidincharacter.Althoughpropernamesareregarded
asinherentlydefinite,andnoncount,insuchsecondaryusestheyqualityasaset,orcategory
denotingnoun,hencetheymaytakeapluralmarker.
L.75.Furat,orFur?t,[EnglishEuphrates]isoneofthetwomajorriversofIraqwherethecityof
Karbalaislocatedon.ItsymbolizesthethirstImamalHusainandhiscompanionsenduredaswell
asthebattleoccurredtherebyatKarbala.
AccordingtonumerousIslamichadiths,itisregardedasaParadiseriverimbuedwithvirtuesfor
whoevergetsconsecratedwithit.Alsorecommendedistoperformghusl[i.e.,washingthewhole
bodyinaprescribedwayforreligiousorritualpurposes]withitswaterpriortoperformingziarat,
viz.pilgrimage,toImamalHusain'ssacredsanctuary.
70
SayyedAliMusaviGarmarudi:TheTrackofBlood
TreesIlikethem
Inyourreverencetheystandfirm;
Likewisethewater,
It'sthedowryofyourmother.
It'syourbloodbrightenedthehonor,
It'syournobilitythehorizondoesmirror.
Theduskisthatniche,
Inthemornbymartyrdomyoudidpray.
Inmymindthoughtsaboutthatvalleyflood
Thesoilofwhichsuckedyourblood.
No,indeednot,avalesohighIsawnever.
Itisyou,onlyyou,inadownfalldear,
Betterfromthevaleitselfhear!
Aswordwhichatyourthroatdidply
Cuteverythingintotwounderthesky.
TurnedHussainiwhateveratyourside
WhileYaziditheotherside.
Nowrocksandwe!
Watersandwe!
Hills,canals,meadows,trees
SomeareYazidis
Else,theyareHussainis.
71
BloodyourneckirrigatedEverythingundertheskyintotwodividedEventhecolorResidedin
everyparticleInadazzlinggarishcarbuncle.
Else,notHussaininordoesconcur.
Yourdeath,lo,whatagage!
Laughedatlifeandvilifieditsstage
Thattothedeathdesiredlifetopage.
Yourbloodstoodthere
andstoodtheTruthinitscare:
Oneitisbutafare.
Determinationstoodasecurity;
Rivetedtheworldintoitsguarantee.
Althoughfalseespousestheworld
Truthincanopyofyournamebridestheworld.
Peepintotruthiftoseeyou
Andthegrasswhenitistogrow,
Thewaterinadrinkwhenit'stoflow,
Thestoneaschallengesathrow,
Intoaswordwhenitcutsintotwo
Orthelionwhenitsroarthewindsblow,
Intothehorizonwhichisbloody,
Inthesmileofduskwhichisruddy.
Inastand,
Inademand.
Youtobefoundincrevices,
72
Tobesmelledinroses
Andtheburningsuntobedemanded,
Theearlymorntobecommanded.
Shouldbeopenedheartofthenight,
Seedsscatteredthedelight
Andthewindscarryyoursight;
Tobepluckedfromthebunches'height.
InGodaloneyoutobeseen,
WhosoeveruponTruthiftolean,
Goryisheandhisfingersbeam
Theglowofyourbloodanditssheen.
Eternityisthemirror
Hungbeforeyouforeveryviewer.
Alas,thesun,itisnobetter;
Hence,wewouldn'tutter:
'Itisyourlooks'glitter.'
Inacozycornerofhistory'sconscience
GuardingtheTruthstandsheisvigilance.
Inhissmiletactsflowinmellifluence.
Strong,straight.Starstriking
Suchthedeterminationsaredemonstrating
Theelevationsiftobeviewedbyahumanbeing.
Lo,infancyofreasonastonishesinadazeconfusing.
Itisthelakeofyourownblood
Agatewayofhistorywhereyouhavestood
Holdingajugofcivilizationforhumangood
Toquenchthecaravanofmankind
Inamartyrdompacingonwardpressingthehind.
73
YournamedisturbsthesleepundermoonAnddelugesinwateraTyphon,Lo,reststhelawin
yourtone.
80
Tobattleyourdeterminationonlyfoolsprone,
Yourdistinctionisblood,onlyblood,bloodalone.
O,you,notadivinebutindivinitydrown.
Deathisvileinyourhold
Asaflyaplaythingamongchildren'sfold85
AndYazid,apretext.Anexcuseriftobetold,
Asthoughahandkerchiefbeforeyouunrolled
andyouspitedthefilthoftyrannyinitsshroud
andthrewintothehistory'sdustbinforothertoscold.
Ahugebloodsucker,90
Notanentitybutalier;
SuchwasYazidanidler.
Sinspersonifiedinhim
Andhetomankindamegrim.
Robberyofnameitisittonamehim95
'Aman'howeverthesenseheclaim.
O,you!O,Gloriousvictim!
Beuponyoublessing!
Notbecausethirstyyoumetmartyrdom
Butyourenemyisofsuchasum.
Yourdeathred
BrokeYazid'snameintoashred,
Andmadethesenseinthewordtyrannydead.
Troopsofwordswithbarracksofdescriptionfled.
74
Indeed,defeatediseveryhumantoil;
Battlewithyouisfoulandtoil.
Freedarethelionsinyourcoil.
Yourbloodoverflowstheexpression'ssoil.
Beyondthewordsistheflowforhistory'sturmoil.
OutofthetrackoftimeproceedsasaprocessionRoyal
O,"Zabeehullah"!Divinityinyourbloodflows;
Youthe"Ismayeel"ofGod,inyouonenessglows.
"Abraham'svision"fromadreamrealitybarrows,
Karbalawhereyourappointmentwallows,
Moharramthehouroflovewhentheloveloves.
And,lo,youarethatsoleperson
Carriedfortydaysthepilgrim'sseason.
"AndWehavecompleteitinten"
Ah,burnsmethedesireofcomprehension;
Theincompletepilgrimagepawnedinsuspension,
Gainedinyourkissatthedaggeritsperfection;
Forthe"BLACKSTONE"virtualthebestcompensation.
Beginsthelove'shistory,
Theredgainsitsentity,
Fromyourdeathtolifeatreaty.125
Lettercommencesfromyourblood
Religionfoundwaythetimeyoustood
Asyoufellthetruthstood
AndtooktheRightamouldgood.
Weakenedthetyranny'sbaseinyourblood'sflood.
Autumnofyourdeathdeliveredeternalspring,
75
Grassandtreesinapleasantring,
Andablossomofredateverybranchtoswing,
Else,adryfuelwooditistothetreescling.
Secretofdeathyouhaveopened.
Noknotremainedunderyourwill'snailunopened.
Wailingandweepingisthehonor;
Youaheadanditentailsyouforever.
Beyondthemanlinessyouarefarandfurther.
Prayers:you;intention:you;
Oneness:you;andtheoneyou;
Oh,theverdure,theevergreen'
Oh,theredthatfrillsthegreen
Noblerthaneverypureandclean
Nohumanaparalleltoyoueverhasbeen.
O,sweetbutstaunchandstaunchbutsweet,
Gapeswidehistoryitsmouthforyoutospit.
Youanironarm,youthescaleofbalance
YousenseoftheBookandyoutheQur'an'sessence.
Inyourlooksinterpretationglow,150
Andthepacestotheearthdignitybestow.
Andbecomeagravityforgalaxiesononwardgrow
Divineverseslipandyourlipsutter
Whereveryoubeinyouheavensglimmer.
Wonder!Oh,wonder!youawonder'155
MyastonishmentendsnotifItoponder
Foolhardyitistofathomoceansbyafinger.
76
WeepweGainsyourbloodinourtearsconstancyOurtearsapolishandswordintendencyIts
seatisinthearenaoftyranny.
YouareaQur'aninredVersesofyourbraverywrotethebloodInthedesertasfarasthesands
scudThosesandsturnedintoafieldRichinredbunchesasashield.
Bloodisthecrop,bloodistheyieldItseverybranchisasword,adaggerUprootsthetyrannyin
thenoonofitssummer.
Hence,redisthefieldandshallheforever.
O,Tharallah!
ThegardenofEden;lo,whatamania!
YouplantedintheburningdesertofKarbala.
Withfruitsred,
Riversbloodyfrombedtobed
Budstobloommartyrdom'sred
Andtreesinarowformingagreenshade.
Onlylovefuleyesseewithlooksinlovefed.
Akbaryouandinaqualitybred;
Andthepalmtreesofconsummatered.
Hurr?notapersonbutanattribute.
Atthatsideoftherivertocontribute:
Hepartedthecaravananditsplenitude.
Bridgestoamanyourword,yourlook;
Towardsyouheisinahook
77
Asafoodinacaravanforacook.
Thebrainsinsearchofrefuge
Obtainfromyoulightinadeluge.
Desireforenvyisabefittingsubterfuge.
Hurr'sbleedingheadandyourskirtafateprofuse!
Goodisredafteryourmartyrdom;
Tearsaredaggersinyourkingdom.Yourpainisthepabulum
Forajourneydestinationnotdatum
Thetrackofyourbloodistheway
TerminatesattheGod'sgateway.195
Youarefromtheblood'sstrain
Andweinyourlovemadremain.
Yourbloodsandsweretosustain
Togushfromstonesinafountain.
Oh,thefertileview200
Tyrannyhasnoenemybetterthanyou,
Toavictimnoacquaintancenearerthanyou.
Historygetsbriefinyourclass
HandsdonotmeetatKarbala'spause,
GalaxyofExistencethereheatsthebrass;
Theworshipmovesroundit,solariumdraws.205
Herethewordends,
Endtootoendtends,
Atyounoendbends.*
78
*FirstpublishedinMessageofThaqalayn,vol.2,no.1
L.16.Hussaini,orHusaini,isanadjective,denotingassociation,orleaning,towardImamal
Husain.ThesuffixiisanadjectivemarkerinbothArabicandPersian.
L.17.YazidisignifiesassociationorinclinationtowardYaz?d(var.Yazid),orhavingsomeofhis
disgustingcharacteristics.Ll.21and22.Thefinalsinthewords?Yazidis?and?Hussainis?is
Englishpluralmarker.
L.111.Regarding"Zabeehullah",or?Dhab?hAll?h?,?dhab?h?denotes?(blood)sacrificeor
oblation?;consequently,?Dhab?hAll?h?meansanentitypresentedasanoblatorysacrificetothe
pleasureofAllah.Basically,thetitlewasappliedtoIsm???l(BiblicalandEnglishIshmael;also
Samuel),sonofIbr?h?m(BiblicalandEnglish)Abraham.IntheShiiteculture,thetermisusedwith
aconnotationtorefertoImamalHusain.
L.112."Ismayeel"isaPersianizedformof?Ism???l?(explainedabove).
L.115.?Moharram?,avariantformof?Muharram?.
L.171.?Tharallah?,or?Th?rAll?h?isatitleofImamalHusain.Grantedthat?Th?r?literally
means?bloodrevenge?,
79
?vengeance?,orsimply?retaliation?,itoccursfrequentlyintheprescribedziarattextstoberead
forImamalHusainasoneofthetitlesdescribingImamalHusain.Intheziaratcontexts,it
signifies?thepersonwhosebloodrevengewillbetakenbyGod?.
L.172.?ThegardenofEden?referstotheParadiseGarden.Therearehadithsconfirmingthatthe
precisesiteofImamalHusain'sburialchamberandsanctuaryareindeedoneofParadise
Gardensinthisworld.
L.179.?Akbar?lit.?elder?,isatitleof?Al?b.alHusain,theelderbrotherofthefourthInfallible
Imam?Al?b.alHusainZaynal??bid?n.Akbarisusedhereasashortenedform.OnAshura,he
wasthefirstoftheH?shimidswhowenttothebattlefieldandachievedmartyrdom.
L.181.Hurrb.Yaz?dalR?y?h?wasarenownedmaninKufa.HemetImamalHusainataspot
calledDhuHasm,andpreventedhimfromreachingKufa.Hedidthisonamissionfromandatthe
commandofIbnZiyad.
However,onthedayofAshura,herealizedthegravesinhehadcommittedanddecidedto
repent.Toaccomplishthis,heleftthearmywhereinhewasacommander,andapproachedImam
alHusain'sfront.
HavingjoinedtheImam'sarmyandexpressinghisrepentance,heaskedImamalHusainifhis
repentancemightbeacceptedtoGod.Afterwards,hesoughtpermissionfromtheImamtofight
theenemiesandwasmartyred.Hesymbolizeslastminuterepentance,eternalfelicity,and
salvation.
80
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Nodoubtthatthebookunderconsiderationisveryinteresting.Iverymuchappreciateyour
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HisGraceArchbishopSebouhSarkissian,PrimateofTehranDiocese
87

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