At the Battlefield [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Part 14 - Abbas - the Lion Roars

Abbas, his brother; fearless, grand,

Thundered, with rage, took a bold stand:

Proximity of water, deny you can't

your witting Caliph's obnoxious flaunt

!n sheer buffoonery, arrant nonsense

Convey to him scorn, intense.

Pompous pride I abhor, detest,

Like the prismatic glass 'tis just a jest.

His faith is dimmed by the lure of gold,

And conscience, to rapacity he has sold.

Drained off is his fount of sense,

And creed abandoned to vain aberrance.

Padlocked his brains, and mind is packed,

Deposed his prudence, judgement sacked.

An egregious scamp, pretentious fool,

Egoism's caricature, asininity's toot

The River recaptured (by Abbas)

The river he saw at paces few

(The horizon scanned - had none in view)

With the flag held high, he forward pressed,

The dauntless cham his command stressed.

Advanced; across the terrain he swept,

Enlarged the territorial gain (and kept)

The capture of the rill was underway,

(A feat stupendous - least to say)

The rill capture he did, with ease,

(The "squatters" aberrant "lease" did cease)

The stream, repossessed, he firmly held,

(Thus showed how right at might excelled)

His "post-repossession" earnest stance,

His eminence (further) did enhance.

(The priorities, apt, his balanced move

His sound judgement amply prove)

The rill captured (and the sway restored)

With a firm resolve own drought ignored

Serenely he waded in the water - at will

A leathern container, with water did fill

Leisurely emerged in a triumphant way

His mighty sword kept the foe at bay.

Exult did not at the blessed gain,

Zealously adhered to his purpose - main.

"Water must reach the camp inmates"

(Elevated sense such resolve dictates)

Enshrined in mind was "a camp inmate"

He knew, his return his niece did wait.

Shunned he did even a glimpse of peace,

Unless the water did reach his niece.

His mettle the apostates could not match

The container, from him couldn't snatch.

The fortunate ones who death escaped,

Froze with terror, transfixed - gaped.

Petrified, ventured not impede him,

(Cocksure, their prospects were slim)

As the abject terror played its role,

The dragon of scare swallowed them - whole:"

He filled in the skin container with water, mounted his horse, and aimed towards the
camp. Enemy soldiers cut him off, upon which he engaged them; he managed to fend them off
and gained a leeway.

Zaid bin ar-Raqqad al-Juhui was laying in wait for him behind a tree. Helped by Hakim
bin at-Tufail as-Sanbasi, he hit him on the arm and severed it. He was indifferent about
his right arm, forging ahead to deliver the water to Hussain's children and household.
Hakim in the meantime was still laying in wait for him behind a tree. When Abbas got
passed him, Hakim dealt him a sword blow on his left arm and severed it. Taking advantage
of his weakened state, the rest of the troops took heart and swooped down upon him. They
rained him with arrows from every direction; one arrow hit the water container and
punctured it, spilling its contents; another hit him in the chest. A man hit him with a
pole on the head, crushing his skull. Thereupon he fell to the ground calling, "0 Aba
Abdillah! Farewell". Hussain rushed to him only to find him aimless, his forehead
ruptured, an arrow embedded into the eye, the brain strewn on the shoulders, the colours
and water container beside him. Hussain face showed signs of despondency Throwing himself
down upon him, sobbing and saying, "Now is the time my backbone broke; I can see no
way out, and my enemy is rejoicing at my misfortune".

Stealthily, a furtive foe appeared

The arms of the valiant, brave, severed.

The renegades' treacherous act did work

They this cowardice, did not shirk

The angel's saintly wings were clipped,

The flag, he held high, lurched and dipped.

The standard with his blood was red

Its bearer brave lay cold and dead

Stifled my waves, was shocked, alas!

With grief I froze - it was Abbas."

Despondent, sorrowful, weeping, wiping his tears with hit shin sleeves, Imam Hussain
returned to his camp only to see that the enemy soldiers had already invaded it. He
appealed to the crowd, "Is there not one from amongst you who can respond to our cry
for help? Who can grant us a safe haven?.. Is there not a seeker of right who can lend
support to us? Is there not one, who is wary of hell fire, who can protect us?"
Sukaina approached and asked him about her uncle.

He told her that he had been killed! Zainab overheard him and screamed, "0 Our
Abbas! What a loss!". The women started crying and Hussain joined them saying,
"We are at a loss after your demise!".