104
damka¹ vo aasmaN vo farozaaN² hui zamiN
vo Khaatim³ e jahaN ka daraKhshaN⁴ hua nagiN⁵
chamki faraaz e haq⁶ pe vo sibtain⁷ ki jabiN⁸
lau⁹ de uTha vo nassia¹⁰-e Khatm-e mursaliN¹¹
vo aal-e mustafa ki savaari ayaaN¹² hui
vo rooh-e karbala ki amaari¹³ ayaaN hui1. shone 2. brightened 3. ring, seal ring 4. brightened 5. jewel of the signet ring (Ali) 6. height/apex of truth/righteousness/faith 7. two grandsons of Mohammed, Hasan and Husain 8. forehead, brow 9. flame 10. forehead 11. last of the prophets, Mohammed 12. emerged 13. elephant houda
The sky lit up, the earth became bright, the jewel of the seal ring of the world glowed. At the apex of faith, shining brows of Hasan and Husain, the face of Mohammed aglow as if on fire. Now emerges the caravan of the house of Mohammed, there the houda of the spirit of Karbala is readied to travel.

105
abbas¹ ke shabaab² ne zulfeN vo khol³ diN
akbar⁴ ki vo fiza pe maseN bhigne⁵ lagiN
vo bavajood⁶-e sheb⁷, ba andaaz⁸-e dil nashiN⁹
ulTi habib-e ibn-e mazahir¹⁰ ne aastiN¹¹
mauj-e hava pe Ghurfa¹²-e teGh¹³-e do dam¹⁴ khula
vo sitvat¹⁵-e husain ka zarriN alam¹⁶ khula1. Husain’s younger brother who died Karbala, his youth, valour and faithfulness to Husain are legendary in Shia tradition 2. youth 3. sign of beauty (Abbas’ youth is personified as a maiden, and spreads her hair as a display of beauty 4. Husain’s 18 year old son, also killed in Karbala 5. sideburns getting wet (sign of coming of age) 6. in spite of 7. grey hair, old age 8. with a style that 9. makes a home in the heart, appealing 10. a very old associate of Husain who fought in Karbala in spite of his very old age 11. roll up the sleeve to get ready to do something 12. window, view 13. sword 14. two edged (unlike in english this in the sense of having more power) 15. majesty 16. golden standard/flag
There, the youth of Abbas appearing in all its glory. Here, Akbar’s adolescence blooming into vigorous youth. And in spite of age, in the most graceful way, ibn-e Mazahir rolled up his sleeve ready for battle. There on the horizon, a view of Husain’s sword, his golden standard fluttering gloriously in the wind.

106
toofan meN vo kishti-e eemaN ravaaN hui¹
qulzum² meN ruh-e bahr shikan³ par fashaN⁴ hui
amvaaj⁵ se vo chadar-e zainab⁶ ayaaN⁷ hui
vo baadbaN⁸ hile, vo bhanwar⁹ meN aza’aN hui
barpa¹⁰ dayaar-e sael¹¹ meN kohram¹² ho gaya
toofaN vo dekh larza bar andaam¹³ ho gaya1. got launched 2. ocean 3. ocean conquering spirit 4. to be thrown up, to spread 5. waves 6. the veil/scarf of Zainab 7. to emerge, to appear 8. sail 9. whirlpool ( “the eye of the storm”) 10. to be made to happen 11. domain of flood 12. panic 13. trembling in body
The boat of faith was launched into the storm (now that Ali was here to protect it). It was launched with an ocean conquering spirit. There on the waves, you see Zainab’s chadar (is emotionally evocative in Shia history. Zainab was inuslted by being forced to be in public without her chadar). The sails of the boat fill out, and aza’an (defiant declaration) was called from the eye/centre of whirlpool/storm. There is panic in the domain of floods/storms (floods and storms here are a metaphor for early opposition to Islam). Look, the storm (opposition) is trembling in fear.

107
mauj-e hava tarana-e tahlil¹ ho gayee
kaunain² zer-e shahpar³-e jibril⁴ ho gayee
ahkaam⁵-e zuljalaal⁶ ki ta’ameel⁷ ho gayee
mansha⁸-e kirdegaar⁹ ki takmil¹⁰ ho gayee
insaaN ki azmatauN¹¹ ke dafeene¹² ubhar gaye
vo dekh zindagi ke safeene¹³ ubhar gaye1. declaration of faith, declaring “la ilaha illalah” 2. both worlds, here and hereafter 3. under the main wing, under the protection of 4. archangel Gabriel, messenger of god 5. orders, instructions 6. another name of god 7. obey 8. wish, desire, intention 9. god 10. completion 11. greatness 12. buried or hidden treasures 13. boats
Every gust wind became a declaration of faith. All creation came under the protective wing of Jibril. Instructions of god began to be obeyed. The will of god was carried out to completion. The treasure trove of the greatness of man emerged (was brought out by Ali). Life began sailing smoothly over the ocean of time.

108
aivaan¹-e saltanat² ke vo dar³ Gharq⁴ ho gaye
jin meN hava bhari thi vo sar⁵ Gharq ho gaye
vo qasr ha⁶-e la’al o gohar⁷ Gharq ho gaye
uTThi lahu ki mauj⁸ bhaNwar⁹ Gharq ho gaye
chamke alam¹⁰ vo gumbad¹¹-e badr o hunain¹² par
damka¹³ vo taaj-e fateh¹⁴ jabin¹⁵-e husain par1. halls 2. monarchy, royalty 3. door, abode, domain 4. drown 5. heads filled with air or swollen heads (with pride) 6. palaces 7, rubies and pearls 8. wave of blood (a metaphor for rebellion) 9. whirlpool (Josh is saying that whirlpools (oppression) drowned/were overcome by waves of blood 10. flags, standards 11. dome 12. Badr and Hunain were two famous battlefields where early followers of Mohammed were victorious against overwhelming odds, and thus are major milestone in the establishment of Islam 13. shone 14. crown of victory 15. forehead, head (the crown of victory on Husain’s head in Karbala and Josh is implying it is also a major milestone)
The halls of royalty were drowned (Josh portrays Islam as a people’s movement). Heads swollen with pride were crushed. Palaces of rubies and pearls crumbled. Waves of rebellion overcame storms of oppression. Look at those shining standards atop the dome of Badr and Hunain. Look at the brilliant crown of victory on the head of Husain.

109
phir mauj ek uThi vo bat-e mae¹ meN saaqia
jaaga Kharosh-e fatah² har ek nae³ meN saaqia
lapTi zia⁴-e kaun o makaaN⁵ lae⁶ meN saaqia
vo pau phaTi⁷ fiza⁸-e rag o pae⁹ meN saaqia
goonji sadaa-e naGhma-e dil¹⁰ kayenaat¹¹ meN
shahnaiyaN bajiN vo harim-e hayat¹² meN1. literally bat is “duck”, but bat-e mae here means flask of wine (love of Ali) 2. cry/declaration of victory 3. tune 4. ray of light 5. time and place 6. tune, rhythm 7. dawn, light of dawn breaking out 8. ambience 9. literally, vein and fiber – the whole being 10. sound of the song of the heart 11. creation 12. sanctuary of life, Ka’aba
A huge wave rose in the flask of wine of love of Ali. A cry of victory went out. The brilliant ray of time and space was woven into every tune (on earth). The light of dawn broke out in my whole being, O saaqia. All creation broke out into a song of love and shahnaai played in celebration in the Ka’aba.

110
le, vo najaf¹ ki simt² se aane lagi sada
aye josh-e nukta sanj³, meri anjuman⁴ meN aa
aa, aur jhoom jhoom ke naGhmat-e nau⁵ suna
saaqi, mera salaam-e adab⁶ le ke maiN chala
maula-e kayenaat⁷, aur avaaz de mujhe
aye jibraeel!⁸ quvvat-e parvaaz⁹ de mujhe1. city of Ali’s mausoleum 2. direction 3. one who understands fine points 4. assembly, gathering 5. new songs/compositions 6. respect 7. lord of all creation (Ali is referred to by this apellation in Shia tradition) 8. archangel Gabriel 9. strength/ability to fly
Ah! I hear a voice coming from the direction of Najaf (Ali is calling Josh!). O, Josh who understands fine culture, come to my gathering and joyfully sing your new songs. Saaqi, with respectful salaams I depart. O! Lord of creation, call me once again. O! Jibraeel, grant me the power of flight.