Recitation
٦٩
جس کے ہر قطرے میں تھی قلزم کی طغیانی وہ خون
کاہ جس کی راہ میں تھا کوہِ سلطانی وہ خون
جسکے آگے خسروی کی آگ تھی پانی وہ خون
غرق ہوکر رہ گئی جس میں جہانبانی وہ خون
جسکی موجوں میں خمِ تیغ و مزاجِ سنگ تھا
نوح کا طوفان جس کے دبدبے سے دنگ تھا
٧٠
جو نوائے عظم و اعلانِ صداقت تھا وہ خون
جو چراغِ حکمت و شمعِ ہدایت تھا وہ خون
خاک پر جو آبشارِ آدمیت تھا وہ خون
جو علیل اِنسانیت کا غسلِ صحت تھا وہ خون
جس نے ظلمت کو خیابانِ چراغاں کردیا
کفر پر وہ رنگ برسایا کہ ایماں کر دیا
٧١
جو طبیب و چارہ سازِ نوعِ اِنساں تھا وہ خون
گردنِ قاتل پہ جو شمشیرِ برّاں تھا وہ خون
ساغرِ مقتول میں جوآبِ حیواں تھا وہ خون
جو نبوت کے اِدارے کا نگہباں تھا وہ خون
عرصہؑ آفاق جس کی وسعتوں پر تنگ تھا
جس کی پرتو سے رخِ پیغمبری گل رنگ تھا
٧٢
جس میں غلطیدہ تھا روحِ اوجِ انسانی وہ خون
جس میں تھی روح الامیںؑ کی بال جنبانی وہ خون
جس میں تھی مہرِ نبوت کی درخشانی وہ خون
دیکھتے تھے جس میں منہ آیاتِ قرآنی وہ خون
جس کی ہر اک بوند میں طوفانِ صد آہنگ تھا
جس میں روئے مرتضےا و مصطفےا کا رنگ تھا
٧٣
چرخ پر مانندِ ابرِ کعبہ جو چھایا وہ خون
جس نے روحِ نوعِ اِنسانی کو چونکایا وہ خون
ڈوبتے قرآن کو ساحل پہ جو لایا وہ خون
خود مشیت کے جو آڑے وقت کام آیا وہ خون
کاٹ کر باطل کا سر اپنی انوکھی دھار سے
جس نے یزداں کو بچایا احرمن کے وار سے
٧٤
بنتِ پیغمر کی جس میں نوحہ خوانی تھی وہ خون
زینب و کلثوم کی جس میں کہانی تھی وہ خون
پھول سے بچے کی جس میں بیزبانی تھی وہ خون
قاسم و اکبر کی جس سے نوجوانی تھی وہ خون
جس کی ہر اِک بوند میں یادِ علم بردار تھی
جس سے اِک بیمار کی زنجیر میں جھنکار تھی
69
जिस के हर क़त्रे में थी क़ुल्ज़ुम की तुग़ियानी वो ख़ून
काह जिस की राह में था कोह ए सुल्तानी वो ख़ून
जिसके आगे ख़ुसरवी की आग थी पानी वो ख़ून
ग़र्क़ हो कर रह गई जिस में जहान्बानी वो ख़ून
जिसकी मोजों में ख़म ए तेग़ ओ मिज़ाज ए संग था
नूह का तूफ़ान जिस के दबदबे से दंग था
70
जो नवा ए अज्म ओ ए’लान ए सदाक़त था वो ख़ून
जो चिराग़ ए हिकमत ओ शमा ए हिदायत था वो ख़ून
खाक पर जो आबशार ए आदमियत था वो ख़ून
जो अलील इंसानियत का ग़ुस्ल ए सेहत था वो ख़ून
जिस ने ज़ुल्मत को खियाबन ए चिरागां कर दिया
कुफ्र पर वो रंग बरसाया के ईमां कर दिया
71
जो तबीब ओ चारा साज़ ए नौ ए इन्सां था वो ख़ून
गर्दन ए क़ातिल पे जो शमशीर ए बुर्रां था वो ख़ून
साग़र ए मक़्तूल में जो आब ए हैवां था वो ख़ून
जो नुब्बुवत के इदारे का निगहबां था वो ख़ून
अरसा ए आफ़ाक़ जिस की वुसा’अतों पर तंग था
जिस की परतौ से रुख़ ए पैग़म्बरी गुल रंग था
72
जिस में ग़ल्तीदा था औज ए रूह ए इंसानी वो ख़ून
जिस में थी रूह-उल-अमीं की बाल जुन्बानी वो ख़ून
जिस में थी महर ए नुब्बुवत की दरख़्शानी वो ख़ून
देखते थे जिस में मुंह आयात ए क़ुर’आनी वो ख़ून
जिस की हर एक बूँद में तूफ़ान ए सद आहंग था
जिस में रू ए मुर्तुज़ा ओ मुस्तफ़ा का रंग था
73
चर्ख़ पर मानिंद ए अब्र ए काबा जो छाया वो ख़ून
जिस ने रूह ए नौ ए इंसानी को चौंकाया वो ख़ून
डूबते क़ुरा’आन को साहिल पे जो लाया वो ख़ून
ख़ुद मशियत के जो आड़े वक़्त काम आया वो ख़ून
काट कर बातिल का सर अपनी अनोखी धार से
जिस ने यज़दां को बचाया अहरमन के वार से
74
बिन्त ए पैग़म्बर की जिस में नौहा ख़्वानी थी वो ख़ून
ज़ैनब ओ कुल्सूम की जिस में कहानी थी वो ख़ून
फूल से बच्चे की जिस में बेज़बानी थी वो ख़ून
क़ासिम ओ अकबर की जिस से नौजवानी थी वो ख़ून
जिस की हर एक बूँद में याद ए अलमबरदार थी
जिस से एक बीमार की ज़ंजीर में झंकार थी
69
jis ke har qatre1 meN thi qulzum2 ki 3 tuGhiyaani vo Khoon
kaah4 jis ki raah meN tha koh5 e sultani6 vo Khoon
jiske aage Khusravi7 ki aag thi paani vo Khoon
Gharq8 ho kar rah gayi jis meN jahaNbaani9 vo Khoon
jiski mojoN meN Kham e teGh10 o mizaj e sang11 tha
Nooh12 ka toofan13 jis ke dabdabe14 se dang15 tha1. drop 2. ocean 3. flood, flow 4. level plain (low status) 5. mountain 6. kingship 7. kingship, royalty 8. drowned 9. catering to worldly needs 10. curve of a sword 11. determination like a rock 12. Noah 13. storm 14. majesty, greatness 15. amazed
“Blood” is also used metaphorically to mean heritage. Thus Husain was literally offering his blood but also carrying with him the heritage received from Ali and Mohammed. The attributes of this blood so poetically described are to viewed in that light. The blood every drop of which had the power of stormy seas. The blood which could reduce the grand mountain of royalty to a dusty plain. The blood which could douse the fire of royalty into extinction. The blood which could drown worldly hedonism. Blood with waves rippling like a curved sword and determination like a rock. Blood whose power amazed even Noah’s storm.
70
jo navaa1 e azm2 o e’lan3 e sadaqat4 tha vo Khoon
jo chiraaGh e hikmat5 o shama e hidaayat6 tha vo Khoon
Khaak par jo abshaar7 e aadmiyat8 tha vo Khoon
jo alil9 insaaniyat ka Ghusl e sehat10 tha vo Khoon
jis ne zulmat11 ko Khiyabaan e chiraGhaaN12 kar diya
kufr13 par vo raNg barsaaya ke imaaN14 kar diya1. sound, announcement 2. greatness 3. declaration 4. truth, righteousness 5. lamp of wisdom 6. light of teaching 7. waterfall, rain 8. quality of being human – humanness 9. sick 10. bath of wellness recovery (traditionally in India that sick don’t bath until they are well and it is celebrated) 11. darkness, evil 12. garden of lights (virtue) 13. non-belief, evil 14. faith, virtue
Blood that was the proof of greatness and the declaration of truth. Blood which was the light of wisdom and the lamp of teaching. Blood which rained on earth like a blessing of humanness. Blood which brought sick humanity back to health. Blood that changed evil into a garden of virtue. Blood that rained such color/beauty/brilliance on evil that it turned into virtue.
71
jo tabib1 o chaara saaz2 e nau e insaaN3 tha vo Khoon
gardan e qatil4 pe jo shamshir e burraN5 tha vo Khoon
saGhar6 e maqtul7 meN jo aab e haivaN8 tha vo Khoon
jo nubbuvat9 ke idaare10 ka nigahbaaN11 tha vo Khoon
arsa e aafaq12 jis ki vusa’atoN13 par taNg14 tha
jis ki partau15 se ruKh e paiGhambari16 gul raNg17 tha1. healer 2. care giver 3. humanity 4. killer 5. sharp sword 6. flask 7. victim, murdered 8. water of life 9. prophethood, particularly of Mohammed 10. school, institution, system 11. protector, guide, savior 12. spread of the horizons 13. expanse 14. narrow 15. reflection 16. prophethood 17. colour of rose=beautiful
Blood, which healed and nurtured humanity (Shia’s believe that “Khaak e shifa” – clay of Karbala – has curative powers). Blood which became a sword for the throat of the killer (Husain’s throat was slit and his head was cut off, so the shamshir (sword) prevailed over the gardan (neck, throat), Josh turns this on its head to say that the spilled blood of Husain prevailed over the power of the killer i.e. the message of Husain prevailed over the evil actions of Yazid). Blood that was the water/elixir of life carried in the flask of the martyr. Blood that was the savior of the message/institution Mohammed. Blood with a message more vast that the expanse of the horizons. Blood in whose reflection the face of Mohammed shone bright.
72
jis meN Ghaltida1 tha auj2 e rooh e insaani3 vo Khoon
jis meN thi rooh-ul-amiN4 ki baal junbaani5 vo Khoon
jis meN thi mehr e nubbuvat6 ki daraKhshani7 vo Khoon
dekhte the jis meN muNh8 ayaat e Quraani9 vo Khoon
jis ki har ek boond10 meN toofaan e sad aahaNg11 tha
jis meN roo12 e murtuza13 o mustafa14 ka raNg tha1. dissolved 2. epitome 3. human spirit, soul 4. jibril (Gabriel –carries god’s message to prophets) 5. fluttering of the wings (Jibril has wings and flies to convey messages) 6. sun of prophethood 7. brilliance 8. to look at their reflections, to find their own meaning 9. Quranic verses 10. every drop 11. storms of a hundred melodies 12. face 13. another name of Ali (Husain’s father) 14. another name of Mohammed
Blood which had the epitome of the human spirit dissolved in it. Blood which gave strength to Jibril’s wings to flutter. Is Josh saying that the message of god which Jibreel carried derives its strength from the blood (the character) of Husain? Blood which reflects the brightness of the sun of prophethood. Reflecting the brightness of prophethood (of Mohammed) means carrying his message forward. Husain’s blood is the legacy of Mohammed. Blood which reflects the verses of the Quran. The blood every drop of which contains storms of a hundred melodies. The blood that carries the color of the face of Murtuza and Mustafa.
73
charKh1 par maanind2 e abr e Kaaba3 jo chhaaya vo Khoon
jis ne rooh4 e nau e insaani5 ko chauNkaya6 vo Khoon
Doobte Qura’an ko saahil7 pe jo laya vo Khoon
Khud mashiat8 ke jo aaRe vaqt9 kam aaya vo Khoon
kaaT kar baatil10 ka sar apni anokhi12 dhaar12 se
jis ne yazdaN13 ko bachaya ahrman13 ke vaar se1. sky 2. like 3. cloud (protection) of Kaaba 4. spirit, soul 5. humanity 6. alerted 7. shore 8. god’s will, intention 9. difficult time 10. evil, injustice 11. unusual, uncommon 12. jet, edge (as of a sword) 13. Zoroastrian terms for god and satan, good and evil
Blood which provides shade/protection like a blessed cloud over Kaaba. Blood which woke the human spirit from its stupor. Blood which brought to shore (from stormy seas) the message of the Qura’an. Blood which rose to serve god in a time of need. The blood which, with its uniqe sharp edge slit the throat of evil. “dhaar” is the sharp edge of a sword that cut Husain’s throat, and metaphorically this “sharp edge of blood” cut the head of evil off … it was victorious in its defeat. The blood which saved righteousness from the forces of evil.
74
bint e paiGhambar1 ki jis meN nauha Khwaani2 thi vo Khoon
zainab o kulsum3 ki jis meN kahaani thi vo Khoon
phool se bachche ki jis meN bezabaani thi vo Khoon
qaasim o akbar4 ki jis se naujavani thi vo Khoon
jis ki har ek boond meN yaad e alambardar5 thi
jis se ek bimaar6 ki zanjir7 meN jhankaar thi1. Mohammed’s daughter (Fatima) 2. mourning 3. sisters of Husain 4. Husain’s young nephew and son 5. standard bearer-Abbas, Husain’s brother 6. sick 7. chain
The Blood which carried the echoes of the wails of Fatima. Blood which also contained the stories of Zainab and Kulsum (Husain’s sisters were taken prisoner and subjected to public humiliation). The blood that showed the innocence of an infant in spite of being mute (this refers to refers to asGhar, the six month old infant son of Husain, who was also killed on the battlefield). The blood which endowed youth to Qasim and Akbar (Husain’s nephew and son – both young men killed in battle). The blood that carried memories of Abbas in its every drop (Husain’s half-brother who was also the commander in battle). The blood that carried the jangling of the fetters of Abid (Husain’s oldest son who was too sick to fight, but was taken prisoner and put in chains and public display).
69
jis ke har qatre1 meN thi qulzum2 ki 3 tuGhiyaani vo Khoon
kaah4 jis ki raah meN tha koh5 e sultani6 vo Khoon
jiske aage Khusravi7 ki aag thi paani vo Khoon
Gharq8 ho kar rah gayi jis meN jahaNbaani9 vo Khoon
jiski mojoN meN Kham e teGh10 o mizaj e sang11 tha
Nooh12 ka toofan13 jis ke dabdabe14 se dang15 tha
1. drop 2. ocean 3. flood, flow 4. level plain (low status) 5. mountain 6. kingship 7. kingship, royalty 8. drowned 9. catering to worldly needs 10. curve of a sword 11. determination like a rock 12. Noah 13. storm 14. majesty, greatness 15. amazed
“Blood” is also used metaphorically to mean heritage. Thus Husain was literally offering his blood but also carrying with him the heritage received from Ali and Mohammed. The attributes of this blood so poetically described are to viewed in that light. The blood every drop of which had the power of stormy seas. The blood which could reduce the grand mountain of royalty to a dusty plain. The blood which could douse the fire of royalty into extinction. The blood which could drown worldly hedonism. Blood with waves rippling like a curved sword and determination like a rock. Blood whose power amazed even Noah’s storm.
70
jo navaa1 e azm2 o e’lan3 e sadaqat4 tha vo Khoon
jo chiraaGh e hikmat5 o shama e hidaayat6 tha vo Khoon
Khaak par jo abshaar7 e aadmiyat8 tha vo Khoon
jo alil9 insaaniyat ka Ghusl e sehat10 tha vo Khoon
jis ne zulmat11 ko Khiyabaan e chiraGhaaN12 kar diya
kufr13 par vo raNg barsaaya ke imaaN14 kar diya
1. sound, announcement 2. greatness 3. declaration 4. truth, righteousness 5. lamp of wisdom 6. light of teaching 7. waterfall, rain 8. quality of being human – humanness 9. sick 10. bath of wellness recovery (traditionally in India that sick don’t bath until they are well and it is celebrated) 11. darkness, evil 12. garden of lights (virtue) 13. non-belief, evil 14. faith, virtue
Blood that was the proof of greatness and the declaration of truth. Blood which was the light of wisdom and the lamp of teaching. Blood which rained on earth like a blessing of humanness. Blood which brought sick humanity back to health. Blood that changed evil into a garden of virtue. Blood that rained such color/beauty/brilliance on evil that it turned into virtue.
71
jo tabib1 o chaara saaz2 e nau e insaaN3 tha vo Khoon
gardan e qatil4 pe jo shamshir e burraN5 tha vo Khoon
saGhar6 e maqtul7 meN jo aab e haivaN8 tha vo Khoon
jo nubbuvat9 ke idaare10 ka nigahbaaN11 tha vo Khoon
arsa e aafaq12 jis ki vusa’atoN13 par taNg14 tha
jis ki partau15 se ruKh e paiGhambari16 gul raNg17 tha
1. healer 2. care giver 3. humanity 4. killer 5. sharp sword 6. flask 7. victim, murdered 8. water of life 9. prophethood, particularly of Mohammed 10. school, institution, system 11. protector, guide, savior 12. spread of the horizons 13. expanse 14. narrow 15. reflection 16. prophethood 17. colour of rose=beautiful
Blood, which healed and nurtured humanity (Shia’s believe that “Khaak e shifa” – clay of Karbala – has curative powers). Blood which became a sword for the throat of the killer (Husain’s throat was slit and his head was cut off, so the shamshir (sword) prevailed over the gardan (neck, throat), Josh turns this on its head to say that the spilled blood of Husain prevailed over the power of the killer i.e. the message of Husain prevailed over the evil actions of Yazid). Blood that was the water/elixir of life carried in the flask of the martyr. Blood that was the savior of the message/institution Mohammed. Blood with a message more vast that the expanse of the horizons. Blood in whose reflection the face of Mohammed shone bright.
72
jis meN Ghaltida1 tha auj2 e rooh e insaani3 vo Khoon
jis meN thi rooh-ul-amiN4 ki baal junbaani5 vo Khoon
jis meN thi mehr e nubbuvat6 ki daraKhshani7 vo Khoon
dekhte the jis meN muNh8 ayaat e Quraani9 vo Khoon
jis ki har ek boond10 meN toofaan e sad aahaNg11 tha
jis meN roo12 e murtuza13 o mustafa14 ka raNg tha
1. dissolved 2. epitome 3. human spirit, soul 4. jibril (Gabriel –carries god’s message to prophets) 5. fluttering of the wings (Jibril has wings and flies to convey messages) 6. sun of prophethood 7. brilliance 8. to look at their reflections, to find their own meaning 9. Quranic verses 10. every drop 11. storms of a hundred melodies 12. face 13. another name of Ali (Husain’s father) 14. another name of Mohammed
Blood which had the epitome of the human spirit dissolved in it. Blood which gave strength to Jibril’s wings to flutter. Is Josh saying that the message of god which Jibreel carried derives its strength from the blood (the character) of Husain? Blood which reflects the brightness of the sun of prophethood. Reflecting the brightness of prophethood (of Mohammed) means carrying his message forward. Husain’s blood is the legacy of Mohammed. Blood which reflects the verses of the Quran. The blood every drop of which contains storms of a hundred melodies. The blood that carries the color of the face of Murtuza and Mustafa.
73
charKh1 par maanind2 e abr e Kaaba3 jo chhaaya vo Khoon
jis ne rooh4 e nau e insaani5 ko chauNkaya6 vo Khoon
Doobte Qura’an ko saahil7 pe jo laya vo Khoon
Khud mashiat8 ke jo aaRe vaqt9 kam aaya vo Khoon
kaaT kar baatil10 ka sar apni anokhi12 dhaar12 se
jis ne yazdaN13 ko bachaya ahrman13 ke vaar se
1. sky 2. like 3. cloud (protection) of Kaaba 4. spirit, soul 5. humanity 6. alerted 7. shore 8. god’s will, intention 9. difficult time 10. evil, injustice 11. unusual, uncommon 12. jet, edge (as of a sword) 13. Zoroastrian terms for god and satan, good and evil
Blood which provides shade/protection like a blessed cloud over Kaaba. Blood which woke the human spirit from its stupor. Blood which brought to shore (from stormy seas) the message of the Qura’an. Blood which rose to serve god in a time of need. The blood which, with its uniqe sharp edge slit the throat of evil. “dhaar” is the sharp edge of a sword that cut Husain’s throat, and metaphorically this “sharp edge of blood” cut the head of evil off … it was victorious in its defeat. The blood which saved righteousness from the forces of evil.
74
bint e paiGhambar1 ki jis meN nauha Khwaani2 thi vo Khoon
zainab o kulsum3 ki jis meN kahaani thi vo Khoon
phool se bachche ki jis meN bezabaani thi vo Khoon
qaasim o akbar4 ki jis se naujavani thi vo Khoon
jis ki har ek boond meN yaad e alambardar5 thi
jis se ek bimaar6 ki zanjir7 meN jhankaar thi
1. Mohammed’s daughter (Fatima) 2. mourning 3. sisters of Husain 4. Husain’s young nephew and son 5. standard bearer-Abbas, Husain’s brother 6. sick 7. chain
The Blood which carried the echoes of the wails of Fatima. Blood which also contained the stories of Zainab and Kulsum (Husain’s sisters were taken prisoner and subjected to public humiliation). The blood that showed the innocence of an infant in spite of being mute (this refers to refers to asGhar, the six month old infant son of Husain, who was also killed on the battlefield). The blood which endowed youth to Qasim and Akbar (Husain’s nephew and son – both young men killed in battle). The blood that carried memories of Abbas in its every drop (Husain’s half-brother who was also the commander in battle). The blood that carried the jangling of the fetters of Abid (Husain’s oldest son who was too sick to fight, but was taken prisoner and put in chains and public display).
