Sorrows Sufferings [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

(8) THE GEMS

On Ashoor night, he called his
friends

So pure and noble, each was a rare
GEM

To induce them to leave, with their
dear ones

For his sake, he declared, should
suffer none.

With rolling tears and heads bent
down

Their love for Husayn knew no
bound

Their burning desire, their goal
of life

Was to defend Husayn, in this
strife.

"It is my life that Yazid
desires

I permit you, one and all, to
retire

The sufferings, you have so far
faced,

Speaks volumes for your loyalty and
faith!"

To avoid embarrassment, he put out
the lights

For dark was the night, to aid their
flight

When the lights were lit, after quite
sometime

None had moved, even an inch, from
the line.

"You are to us everything; how can
we explain?

Without you, life is nothing!" they
exclaimed

"Not merely we love, venerate, and
adore, he put out the lights

For dark was the night, to aid their
flight

When the lights were lit, after quite
sometime

None had moved, even an inch, from
the line.

"You are to us everything; how can
we explain?

Without you, life is nothing!" they
exclaimed

"Not merely we love, venerate, and
adore you,

Each single act of yours kindles
truth and love anew!"

Habib, Muslim, Buraire and Zuhair
Ibn Kain

Expressed these sentiments, all in
one strain

Such devotion, such ecstasy, the
world had not seen

Even among companions of 'Hayder'
nor of 'Al Amin'.

What brave souls were these followers
of Husayn?

What unique attachments of theirs,
he had gained?

From different walks of life they
came

Their object was, absolutely, one
and the same.

With what simplicity, the noble Jaun
exclaimed

"O, my lord, I am a Negro slave"
he maintained

"Let my blood mingle with the martyrs
blood,

To prove that we too are of the same
mud."

In the face of trials and
tribulations,

He had only one solace and
consolation;

A band of faithful and fearless human
beings

The like of whom, the world had not
seen.

Habib Ibn Mazahir, was a childhood
devoted friend

He literally followed Husayn, wherever
he went

He veneratingly kissed the ground,
Husayn tread

He was loved by the Prophet and lovingly
caressed.

He was in Kufa, when he heard of
Husayn's plight

"For Karbala, I shall leave the very
same night."

With encouragement from his wife,
a noble lady

His faithful slave, kept for him
all things ready.

Kufa, was agog with numerous rumors
afloat

Treachery was afoot, for sacrificial
goats

Such was the risk, with spies all
round

Yet he ventured; such was the magnetic
bond.

He reached Karbala on 9^th
of Muharram night

Husayn was distributing arms for
the fight

He had kept aside, for him, one set
of arms

"Habib, my dearest friend, is sure
to come."

Wahab, was the son of a noble and
virtuous lady

From Damascus, she was externed,
when he was a baby

For praising Ali, she had incurred
Moawiyah's wrath

Such was the fate, at that time,
of all lovers of God.

Returning home, with his mother and
wife,

He saw an army poised like a murderer's
knife

A small group, mostly women, babes
and old folks

Were the victims of these cruel merciless
foes.

He soon learnt, Prophet's grandson,
Husayn Ibn Ali

Surrounded by Yazid's hordes, were
he and his family

He rushed to the side of Imam's small
group

And begged of him, to let him join
his troop.

When Husayn learnt Wahab had married
only day before

He insisted on his leaving with his
wife and mother

With unflinching resolve, imploringly
he pleaded,

Till Husayn gave in and to his joining
agreed.

Muslim Ibn Ausaja, had witnessed
rights being trampled

Bent with age, his love for truth
was undampened

Venerable companion of the Prophet,
a most saintly soul

To fight for truth, was his life's
sole object and goal.

Physically withered by age, being
four score ten,

His anxiety to help was a heroic
gesture to men

For he had witnessed on countless
occasions

The undying love, which the Prophet
bore for Husayn.

Buraire Hamadeni, was a warrior of
repute

His name caused shivers in adversaries
boots

He was itching to display his terrific
might,

To Yazid's mercenaries, in single
battle and fights.

Husayn calmed him down and
explained

To fight them is not at all our
aim

But to defend and die like a
martyr

Was the supreme test of each
fighter.

On the eve, prior to the day of fateful
battle,

Buraire urged his friends to show
their mettle

And guard the Imam against the enemy's
surprise raids

For crafty was the enemy, unscrupulous,
and debased.

Unbearable it was, the cry of thirsty
children for water

Even savages watered their victims,
before slaughter

Buraire, with his friends, fought
their way to the river

Filled a bag and returned with the
precious life giver.

With what dejection and dismay, he
witnessed the sight

The thirsty children threw themselves
in mad delight

The bag opened, under the weight
of the terrible crush

And out poured the water, in a mighty
and mad gush.

Moved to tears, the brave warrior's
eyes welled up

No water was left, O, merciful heaven,
not even a cup!

The thirst of the children remained
unquenched

Though the earth, in water, was fully
drenched.

Hur Ibn Yazid Riyahi, a strict
disciplinarian

In the army of Yazid, he commanded
a battalion

With thousand soldiers, he blocked
Husayn's path

Not realizing, that it would lead
to a blood bath.

Hoping that a peaceful solution would
be found

He forced Husayn towards Karbala,
as in duty bound

Little did he realize that his very
men

Would dare spill the blood of Prophet's
GEM.