لطفا منتظر باشید ...
(10) THE LOOT
Eerie silence hung over thebattleground
Broken occasionally by drum beating
sounds
The carnage, the massacre, of saintly
souls
Caused a shudder, in Islam's true
believers' fold.
The massacre being over, they raided
they tents
To loot and destroy, they were all
fiendishly bent
Helpless ladies and children, they
mercilessly pashed
Young innocent babes, to the ground
they dashed.
Daughters of the Prophet, simple
lives had led
Coarse and patched clothes, were
all they had
Woven by Fatima, they were immensely
treasured
In terms of money, none could be
measured.
They were shamelessly looted of even
their veils
The Yazidi hordes outclassed, themselves,
the devils
Earrings were snatched of the child
of Husayn
She was slapped mercilessly, for
crying in pain.
In stupor, lay the only surviving
adult male
Ali Zainal Abedeen was flogged as
in horror tales
After the looting, the tents were
set on fire enmasse
Hell was let loose, with a vengeance,
quick and fast.
Zaynab was perplexed, she was
lost
Perish in flames or face still
worst
This hour of trial, whom to
consult
Her nephew was unconscious, lying
in dust.
"Ali Zainal Abedeen, I appeal to
you
As our Imam, tell us what are we
to do?"
He opened his eyes, burning with
fever
With utmost effort, advise he
delivered.
"To save our lives is a religious
duty
Go in the open and seek
security."
Ladies and children, they left the
tent
Salvaging what they could, as they
went.
The loot, the pandemonium, was soon
over
Burning embers of fire only
hovered
A partially burnt tent was all that
remained
A solitary witness of torture and
blood stain.
The Ahl Bait cuddled together
therein
Shattered in mind and body, beyond
dream
The time had come almost to a
standstill
The night was in sorrow; one could
feel.
The mourning widows of Husayn's
friends
Their anguished hearts, who could
mend?
Zaynab and Kulthum consulted each
other
The orphaned children, they had to
mother.
Zaynab counted the children; one
was missing
To her dismay, it was Sakina, her
darling
"Tell me Sakina, where are you my
child?"
In wilderness, the echo was the only
reply.
Frustrated, she ran towards the
battlefield
"Sakina is lost, your darling
child
Husayn, where shall I look for
her?"
She imploringly sobbed, in utter
despair.
The silvery moon, behind the clouds
was hid
The clouds dispersed, the ground
was lit
Lying with her head on Husayn's
chest
Little Sakina was sleeping in her
usual nest.
"Sakina, my child, I have come
here
After searching the desert, my
dear
Your father's beheaded body, how
could you find
In this dark night, with your frightened
mind?"
"An irresistible urge seized me,
though dampened
To tell my father all that had
happened
How they snatched my earrings, after
his death
The slaps I received, the treatment
we met."
"Running aimlessly in the desert
I cried
Tell me dearest father, where do
you lie
Sakina, my darling Sakina, come here,
come here!
I heard him calling and found my
father dear."
"I narrated to him, all I had
endured
It lightened my heart: I was
re-assured
An urge to sleep on his chest, for
the last time
I placed my head in the nest of
mine."
With Sakina, Zaynab hurried to the
camp
Again it was dark; there was no
lamp
All were anxiously waiting in the
ghostly night
Praying silently to God, the Eternal
Light.
She placed Sakina in her mother's
arms
She had several other duties to
perform
No, not to protect any worldly
treasure
The children had suffered, beyond
measure.
Advancing towards them, she saw a
group
"There is nothing left, which you
can loot
Pray, do not disturb the children
in sorrow
If you want something, come in the
morrow!"
"We do not want anything from
you
We know, what you have said is
true
We have brought some water and
food
We know, you are in a sorrowful
mood."
Zaynab was surprised; so polite was
the speaker
It was the widow of Hur, the truth
seeker
"Soldiers of Omar Saad have deputed
me
To carry food and water for
thee."
"Lest you perish, due to hunger and
thirst,
Before Yazid, they want to take you
first
That is why they have sent water
and food
Not because they have suddenly turned
good."
"O, sister, we are indebted to your
husband
For his precious life, in defending
Husayn
He was our guest, but at a time,
alas!
We had not even water; no, not a
glass!"
"My lady, I am grieved, you lost
not one
But eighteen members to death, were
done."
They offered condolences to each
other
Zaynab was large hearted like her
mother.
"At last there is water for you
Wake up, Sakina, see it is true
Wet your throat, sobbing will
stop."
For days, she had not even a
drop.
"Let Ali Asghar drink first, he is
the youngest
My dear brother died of sheer maddening
thirst
Now that water is available, give
him first
Before I can taste it and quench
my thirst."
Guarding her folks, with a half burnt
pole
Alone, all alone, with no waking
soul
Due to exhaustion, Zaynab fell in
a swoon
O' Merciful God, it was, indeed,
a boon!
One person came galloping in her
dream
"O' Shaikh, please go back" she
screamed
"I am daughter of Hazrat Ali and
Fatima
We are guardians of the holy 'Kalima
'!
The person lifted the veil from his
face
It was her father Ali himself, by
Divine Grace
She poured out her mutilated and
bleeding heart to him
The outpourings caused convulsions,
ending the dream.
Lying on the desert sand, clothes
wet with tears
The dawn was breaking, time of prayer
was near
Events of previous day, she recalled
with pain
Ali Akbar had given Azan; prayers
led by Husayn.
Finishing her prayer, she laid her
head
Prostrate before God of the living
and dead
To give her courage, to carry on
the mission
Which, to the world, would be an
everlasting lesson.
