The Hero of Karbala
Many, many years ago,
On bloody field of Karbala,
A noble hero faced his foe,
As champion of God's Faith and Law
Ov'erhead there was a scorching sun,
There were no shady trees,
Beneath a burning sandy plain,
With no refreshing breeze
A scion of Hashim's noble line;
Of Heroism a model,
Son of Ali, the Lion of God,
Grandson of God's Apostle
His comrades few but loyal and brave,
Some young and some advanced in age,
The record of whose actions gave,
To history its brightest page
Of worldly comforts they had none,
Neither couch nor rosy bed,
To comfort their afflicted hearts,
The Holy Word of God they read.
Three days they every distress bore,
Deprived of drink and food,
The world does still wonder at,
Their unexampled fortitude
They fell around him one by one,
Firm in their righteous ways,
And for their loyalty have won,
From friend and foe a world of praise.
His friends with loving grief he eyed,
Lying dead in sun's scorching rays,
To justify his aim he tried,
To deal with foes in peaceful ways.
He brought in arms his baby son,
Asked them to give him water,
Said he, The babe no harm has done,
To die of thirst or slaughter.
Stones they threw and arrows shot,
Obedient to Yazid's behest,
And in their fury spared not,
Ev'n life of baby at the breast!
A little before his enemies were,
For water sorely passed,
Relief he gave them then and there,
And could not see even foes distressed.
He humbly prayed and praised the Lord,
The Giver of Spiritual beauty,
And though midst danger never failed,
To do his sacred duty.
Wickedness can no further go,
Cruelty needs no greater proofs,
His sacred body, after death,
Was trampled under horses' hoofs!
Victory, though mean, they gained, but still,
No bounds knew their ire.
Orphans and widows they captives made,
And set their tents on fire.
The captives saw with choking grief,
And eyes dimmed with tears,
The tragic sight of Martyrs' heads,
Uplifted on spears!*
Notes:
L. 2. Kerbala is a variant spelling of Karbala or Karbela, correct Arabic pronunciation Karbal English spelling Karbala.
L. 11. The Lion of God is an honorific title for Imam Ali signifying his bravery. Its Arabic original is Asad Allah with a Persian equivalent as Shir-e Khoda.
By Seyyed Ahmed Ali Mohani
Other links:
Poem from Outside a Muharram Procession
On the Morn of Muharram
