Remembering Karbala Once Again
The Prophet’s Grandson Most Revered Imam Husain (‘a)
("Jab qaatema ba qaer hue foj a Shah kaa" )
When the army of the Prince was no more
Thirsty, it had departed to Kausar's shores
His friends murdered, His family destroyed
The home of the Prophet was plundered to the core
No brother or friend or loved ones remained
Two sisters to mourn, and there was Husain
Earlier in the day, sons and friends were around
But by the afternoon, everyone was gone
The sun blazed, wind blew, the desert scorched
The tents flapped with a desolate sound
Husain was surrounded, alone in His pain
A commander but no army, all had been slain
"Why delay oh Death" in misery He asked
"Why must I live after Alder has passed?
Every moment feels like a lifetime to me
Only in Death will my pain pass"
"I should have died when Akbar was killed
I should've been beheaded, that is my will"
"Yet I remain, I live, after everyone has died
Alone I shed tears with no one by my side
Enduring the loss of my sons in this war
In my old age to bury them, to struggle and cry
"No son by me when I succumb to death
No support if I stumble, no place whereon to rest"
He glanced at Akbar's body on the desert sand
He clutched His chest and cried out in pain
"Oh Akbar you rest, your hair on the dust strewn
Come help me, I am falling, rise from Death's daze"
"In Death's slumber you forget your father my son
Say your Namaz (Salat) alongside under the blazing sun"
"From the banks of the Furat, Abbas come to me
My wounds burn with the heat, I'm thirsty, come see
Sprinkle on my body, water if you can find
I'm dying, say goodbye, come to me, come to me"
"In death you sleep soundly, what can Shabeer say?
May no one be as wretched as me I pray'
"Since you've left, every bone inside me hurts
My brow, neck, eyes, my joints, and head hurts
My heart, back, chest, every muscle is full of pain
Distraught I am my son, every vein within me hurts"
"I've battled a thousand soldiers, I'm soaked in blood
Young ones I've buried, with pain my heart floods"
Impatiently Saad's son addressed the army thus
"Come on brave soldiers, surround Husain we must"
They turned toward Husain, attacked and besieged
Thousands bearing arrows, armed with swords the rest
midst archers, stone throwers, Husain stood alone
Spears flashed in the sun, thousands against one
Surrounded by the massive army, all alone
Spears and swords charged, He stood all alone
Arrows inflicted fatal blows, Husain was all alone
Target of a thousand blows, Husain was all alone
in the gloom of Shaam's army, like the moon His Being
glowed
The world had turned against Him, toward Him its fury
flowed
Alas the wretched army knew not a Sayyid's worth
They pierced His noble body with arrows and spears
Aiming at Him their swords, they sought to massacre Him
They circled, surrounded Him, each seeking to kill him first
These were the Prophet's followers, they attacked His own
Grandson
Your Imam was unaided under the scorching sun
Husain fell from His horse, no friend to aid His descent
No one to pull the arrows from His riddled chest
His friends and loved ones dead, Husain now all alone
Weak with thirst and hunger, nowhere to go, no rest
Facing a treacherous army, drowning in their flood
in every face around Him, a hunger to spill His blood
It felt as though the heavens fell to the earth that day
Wounded the son of Fatima, on His horse swayed
The in‑um of the universe, the Prophet's dear Grandson
Precariously He swayed and fell to the earth that day
Oh the thousand bruises on His body as He fell!
Imagine the pain and hurt when to the sands He fell!
Fizza took the news to the ladies within
"The Imam is surrounded Oh what a sin"
Hearing this Abid stood up from his bed and fell
in panic the ladies ran out into the din
With Zainab's cries heaven and earth quaked
Stumbling she ran into the field, her eyes seeking Husain
" Where is my brother? " She cried, running every way
"All's wealth is lost, plundered here today
Show me the way to the river, take me to the battlefield
Show me where my Brother lies, wounded, show me pray'
"The heavens are no help, let me pass Oh blessed earth
I've come searching for Husain, wounded, alone, He hurts"
"I'm Syeda have mercy, help me find the way to Him
I'm Ali's daughter help me, save yourself from sin
May you live happily, find peace after death
Show me where the Sayyid lies, pray take me to Him"
"We've lost everyone, we're ruined in this new land
We're residents of Medina, against thousands today we
stand"
Then she heard Husain's groans, sensed her Brother near
And Zainab ran to where a the sound came clear
She watched in disbelief as Shimer beheaded Husain
She covered her face, fell to the earth, in shock and fear
With grief her heart shattered, she silently prayed
The severed head of her Brother, she saw on a spear raised.