Sar gaer key Agey na jukaney wala
Aur Nezey pey bhi qura'an sunaney wala
Islam sey kya poochtey ho kaun Hussain
Islam ko Islam bananey wala

SIXTAINS SELECTED FROM MARSIA OF JOSH MALIHABA'DI

(Shabbir Hasan Khan 1894 - 1982 popularly known as Josh)

Tareekh dey rahi hai yeh awaaz dam ba dam

Dasht-e-sabat-o-Azm hai Dast-e-Bala-o-Gam

Sabr-e-Maseeh wa juraa't suqrat ki qasam

Is rah mea hai sirf ek insaan ka qadam

          Jis kee rago'n mein Aatish-e-Badr-o-Hunain Hai

          Us soorma ka isme girami Hussain Hai

History is making a repeated clarian call,

It's the wilderness of resoluteness, of woe and gall,

By the fortitude of Christ, by Socrates' valour,

This path is trodden alone, by a man of honour,

          The man, tempered are whose veins, by the fire of Badr and Hunain,

          He is the valiant being, his sweet name is Hussain.

Jo Saheb-e-Mizaj-e-Naboowat tha wo Hussain

Jo waris-e-zameer-e-Risalat tha wo Hussain

Jo Khalwati-e-Shahid-e-Qudrat tha wo Hussain

Jis kaa wojood fakhr-e-mashiat tha wo Hussain

          Sanchay main dhalney key liye Kainaat ko

          Jo tolta tha Nok-e-Mazaa' par hayat ko

Of the attributes of the Prophet, the perceiver was Hussain,

Of the holiness of the Prophet, the inheritor was Hussain,

Of the Secrets of Nature, an evidence was Hussain,

Of Providence, the best creature, in existence was Hussain,

          For shaping out the universe, in the best of mould,

          With the point of his eye-lash, he measured life's gold.

Jo Ek nishan-e-Tashna dhani tha wo Hussain

Geeti pey Arsh kee jo nishani tha wo Hussain

Jo Khuld ka Ameer-e-Jawani tha wo Hussain

Jo Ek san-e-jadeed ka bani tha wo Hussain

          Jis ka Lahu Talatum-e-pinhaa'n liye huway

          Har boond mein tha Nooh ka Toofan liye huway

Hussain was a lone symbol, of utter thirst,

Hussain was a Heavenly sign, on this very dust,

Hussain was the lord, of the youths of Paradise,

Hussain was the creator of an epoch, glorious and nice,

          Into his blood, the commotion lay but calm,

          And into each drop, there was Noah's storm.

Jo Karwan-e-Azm ka Rehbar tha wo Hussain

Khud Apney khoon kaa jo shanawar tha wo Hussain

Ek Deen-e-Tazaa ka jo payambar tha wo Hussain

Jo Karbala ka dawar-e-Mehshar tha wo Hussain

          Jis kee nazar pey Shewa-e-Haq ka madar tha

          Jo Rooh-e-Inqilab ka parwardigar tha

Of the men of resolution, Hussain was the leader,

Into the pool of his own blood, Hussain was the swimmer,

Of the revival faith, the messenger was Hussain,

Of Karbala's resurrecting day, the creator was Hussain,

          In his approbation, lay the will of Providence,

          Of the spirit of revolution, he was the main essence.

Ha'n ab bhi jo manara-e-Azmat Hai wo Hussain

Jis kee nigah marg-e-Adawat Hai wo Hussain

Ab bhi jo Mehwa-e-Dars-e-Mohabbat Hai wo Hussain

Aadam kee jo daleel-e-Sharafat hai wo Hussain

          Wahid jo ek namoona hai zibh-e-Azeem Ka

          Allah rey intekhab Khuda-e-Hakeem ka

Hussain is yet, the tower of greatness,

Hussain's look is, all but sweetness,

Hussain is a lesson of amity, in its fullness,

Hussain is the testimony, of Adam's nobleness,

          A unique model he is, of the supreme sacrifice,

          Oh! What a grand selection of God, the Wise.

Ha'n wo Hussain Jis kaa abad Aashna Sabat

Kehta Hai Gaah Gaah Hakeemoo sey bhi yeh baat

Yaney duroon-e-pardaa-e-Sad Rang-e-Kainaat

Ek Karsaz Zehn hai, Ek zee Shaoor zaat

          Sijdoo'n sey khainchta hai jo masjood kee taraf

          Tanhaa jo ek ishara hai maabood kee taraf

He is Hussain, whose name shall live till eternity,

At times, he guides the wise men, with all solemnity,

That within the multi-colored dome of this universe,

There abides the Creator, the Conscious Being of ours,

          With his bowings, he attracts the masses to the object of prayer,

          A lone semblance he is, of the Diety of prayer.

Taaqat see shaei ko khaak mein jis ney mila diya

Taqtaa Ullatt key qasr-e-huqoomat ko dha diya

Jis ney hawa mein ruab-e-Imarat Urhaa diya

Thokar sey jis ney afsar-e-Shahi Gira diya

          Is tarha jis sey Zulm Siyah Faam ho gaya

          Lafz-e-yazeed dakhil-e-Dushnam ho gaya

He smashed the pride of power, reducing it to dust,

He tumbled the throne, crushing the ruler and his lust,

He shook the empire, undoing its pomp and pageantry,

He dealt a blow to the kingship and bureaucracy,

          Thus, the rule of tyranny, was abased for ever,

          And the word "Yazid", was debased for ever.

Pani sey teen roz huway jis key lab na tar

Teg-o-Tabr ko sompp diya jis ney ghar ka ghar

Jo mar gaya Zameer kee Izzat key nam par

Zilaat key Aastaan pey Jukaya magar na sar

          Lee jis ney saans rishtey-e-Shahi ko Tor kar

          Jis ney Kalai maut kee rakh dee maroar kar

For three days, he remained without water,

He had put his whole house, on spear and lancer,

He laid down his life, in conscience's fair name,

Bud had never yielded to the demand, full of shame,

          Unemcumbered he was, when kingship he had quashed,

          And the icy hands of death, he had smashed.

Har chand ahl-e-joer ney chaha yeh barhaa

Ho jaey mehaw yaad-e-Shaheedaan-e-Karbala

Baqi rahey na naam zameen par Hussain kaa

Laikin Kisi ka zoar Azizo Na Chal saka

          Abbas-e-Namwar key lahu sey dhula huwa

          Ab bhi Hussainiat ka alam hai khula huwa

Despite that many a tyrant, has attempted about,

That the memory of the martyrs of Karbala, be washed out,

And from the face of world, Hussain's name be effaced,

But to the ground, each such conspiracy is razed,

          Dyed with the blood of Abbas is set,

          The banner of Hussainism, is unfurled as yet.

Yeh subh-e-Inqilab kee jo aaj kal hai zoe

Yeh jo machal rahi hai Saba, Phatt rahi hai poe

Yeh jo Chirag-e-Zulm kee tharaa rahi hai loe

Dar parda yeh Hussain kee Anfaas kee hai roe

          Haq key Chiray huway hain jo yeh Saaz Dosto

          Yeh bhi isee jari kee hai Awaaz Dosto

The beam of the revolution morn, which is appearing,

The zephyr is dancing, the dawn is emerging,

Tyranny is but throbbingm its tail-end is quivering,

Underneath them, the self of Hussain is glimmering,

          The tunes of righteousness, all around, my friends,

          Are but the echos of the valiant, which resound, my friends.

SIXTAINS SELECTED FROM MARSIA

OF NAJM EFFENDI

Surat gar-e-Jalaalat-e-Islam Hai Hussain

Ek markaz-e-Rawabit-e-Aqwam hai Hussain

Fiqr-o-Nazar Mashiat-o-Elhaam hai Hussain

Mehboob-e-Ahl-e-Dard Bas Ek naam hai Hussain

          Darya Mukhalefat key Charhai,aur Utar gaiy

          Baqi raha yeh naam, hawadis guzr gaiy

Of the fair face of Islam, the embellisher is Hussain,

Of the unity of nations, the coherer is Hussain,

Hussain is the will of God, His revelation and vision,

On the lips of men of inspiration, Hussain is the name in repetition,

          There indeed waxed and waned his opposition,

          But his name lasted, despite many a revolution.

Insaaniat ko jis ney sanwara hai wo Hussain

Jo Husn-e-Maanawi kaa sahara hai wo Hussain

Jis ney Diloan mein dard ubara hai wo Hussain

Rohey bashar ko jis ney pukara hai wo Hussain

          Awaaz jis kee dour key insaan taq gaee

          Bijli see sameaa kee fazaa mein chamak gaee

To humanity, Hussain has undoubtedlty graced,

The real grandeur in life, Hussain has traced,

In every human heart, Hussain has created pain,

And has set free each human soul, from slavery's chain,

          The echo of his voice, reached the most distant man,

          Like a flash of light it was, on the acoustic span.

Khudaar zindagi kaa jo hami hai wo Hussain,

Izzat ki maut ka jo payami hai wo Hussain,

Jo Khaliq-e-shaoor-r-awami hai wo Hussain,

Har qoum kee nazar mein girami hai wo Hussain,

          Waqif nahee bashar jo payambar key naam sey

          Manoos hain Hussain Alai-his-salaam sey

Of noble and virtuous life, Hussain is an exponent,

Of an honourable death, Hussain is the champion, most fervent,

Of the mass consciousness, Hussain is the creator, most notable,

In all clans and tribes, Hussain is a name, all venerable,

          One who is yet ignorant, of the Holy Messenger,

          With the name of Hussain, he is indeed familiar.

SIXTAINS SELECTED FROM MARSIA

OF SYED A'LEY RAZA MARHUM

Thaa jahan phir wahee'n quran ko ley aaye Hussain

Saj gaee jaey Muhammad key qareen jaey Hussain

Marzee-a-Haq sey muzayyan tho jo Eimaey Hussain

Mashal-e-Raah bana Naqsh-e-Kafe-paye Hussain

          Taey Maslak-e-Islaam Dobara Chamka

          Phir sey Insaan kee qismat kaa sitara Camka

Hussain restored the Qur'an, to its pristine position,

Not too distant from the place of Mohammad, was his position,

In consonance with the Divine will, was the very act of Hussain,

For mankind thus became a guide-line, the footprints of Hussain,

          The fortune of Islam was, re-ascendant vigorously,

          And the star of man's destiny, shone more brilliantly.

Kitnaa nazuk tha fareeza jo baja laey Hussain

Ta ba dil Halqaey Mazhab ko barhaa laey Hussain

Kalma-e-rasm key phanday sey churaa laey Hussain

Haq ko Nahaq kee milawat sey bacha laey Hussain

          Naql ko Asl-e-Haqiqat mein jo khapney na diya

          Dhong Islam-e-Majazee ka panapney na diya

How challenging was the task, which Hussain has completed,

To the beat of the heart, Hussain had Divinity stretched,

From the mechanical acknowledgement of faith, he made Islam free,

To adultrate the Wrong with the Right, Hussain allowed in no degree,

          The spurious, he made to segregate with the original,

  To the façade of false Islam, he jolted a blow eternal.

Haq mein Islam key Naana kee Tamanna they Hussain

Jo Beharhaal na ho kam wo bharosa they Hussain

Bap bhai key maqasid key Mohaiyaa they Hussain

Silsilay Dar Faraez kaa Tatimma they Hussain

          Deen o Dunyaa kee Qiyadat ko alag kar key rahey

          Badshahat ko Imamat sey Alag kar key rahey

For the survival of Islam, Hussain was the hope of his grand-father,

And the unflagging confidence, which indeed knew no falter,

Of the mission of his father and brother, Hussain was the fulfilment,

Of the duties and obligations, Hussain was a sheet and its supplement,

          Between the spiritual and temporal lordship, a line he demarcated,

          To Kingship from the Imamate, he most certainly separated.

Hussain Ek Idara hai, Ek Naam nahee

Husainiat ko Makani Hadoan sey kaam nahee

Hussainiat mein zamani koi maqam nahee

Yeh faiz who hai key tafreqq Subho-sham nahee

          Dare-Hussain hai Insaan Nawazeeon key liye

          Game-e-Hussain bana chara sazeeon key liye

Hussain is not a mere name, but an institution of merit,

To the confines of space, Hussainism has no limit,

Hussainism is in fact timeless,

It transcends all such barriers, it's all matchless,

          His gates are ever open to humanity, for its betterment,

          The mournings for Hussain are for man's cure and treatment.

SIXTAINS SELECTED FROM MARSIA

OF NASIM AMROHVI

Hussain paikar-e-Insaniyat kee jaan too hai,

Zameen-e-Sabr-o-Tahammul kaa Aasmaan too hai,

Na sirf deen-e-muhammad kee Izzo-e-Shan too hai,

Rahe-e-Hayat mein Salar-e-Kaarwaan too hai,

          Jahan ko Khawab-e-fana sey jagaa diya too ney

          Baqa key wastey marnaa sikha diya too ney

Hussain, thou art the inner soul, of the best of humanity,

Of the land of patience and fortitude, thou art the highest conopy,

Not only the religion of Mohammad, thou art the upholder,

But of the whole caravan of life, thou art the standard-bearer,

          From the deadening sleep, awakened the world hast thou,

          How to die for life, taught a lesson hast thou,

To hee hai zulm key panjay ko morhney wala,

Yazeediat kaa sare-nahas tornney wala,

Darindagan-e-Bala ko Janjhorney wala,

Musibataun kee kalai marorney wala

          Pahaar sey bhi sabat-e-qadam ziyada tha

          Dil-e-Hussain Thaa, Allah kaa Irada tha

Of the cruel clutches of tyranny, thou art the breaker,

Of the brutal force of Yazidism, thou art the shatterer,

Of all the evils and villainies, thou art the slayer,

Of the worst of adversities, thou art the challenger,

          For more than the mass of mountain, was indeed the resolution

          It was Hussain's heart, or the undying Divine determination.

Zabaan sey kartey ho dawa Hussainiat ka Agar

Dikhao kuch to Hussain-e-Shaheed key Johar

Sajo who asleha jin par fida ho Fath-o-Zafar

Sabat-e-Azm kee talwar lo, Haya kee Sipar

          Jo Haidery ho to Himmat karo, Dilair bano

          Barho, Na barh key hatoa, Barthey Jao, Shair bano

If you claim yourself to be Hussain's follower,

Show at least, some of the martyr's feats of valour,

Arm yourself with such weapons, which are victory's pride,

Let the sword of will and shield of modesty be by your side,

          Should you be a supporter of Haider, be courageous and daring,

          Advance, not to retreat, go on, be a lion raging.

SIXTAINS SELECTED FROM MARSIA

OF FAIZ AHMED FAIZ

Raat aaee hai Shabbir pey yalgaar-e-bala hai

Sathi na koi Yar na gamkhawr raha hai

Monis hai to Ek dard kee Gangore Ghata hai

Musfaq hai to Ek Dil key Dharakney kee sada hai

          Tanhai kee, gurbat kee, pareshani kee shab hai

          Yeh Khana-e-Shabbir kee Wirani kee shab hai

Night has set in, manifold miseries have Shabbir chained,

No friend, no companion and no well-wisher has remained,

The dark clouds of pain and suffering, are but his soother,

And the throb of his wounded heart, is the only comforter,

          It's the night of a lonely being, stranger, stranded and molested,

          It's the night of Shabbir's house, which is desolate and devastated.

Dushman kee sipah khawab mein madhosh pari thee

Pal bhar ko kisi kee na idhar Ankh lagi thee

Har ek ghari Aaj qiyamat kee ghari thee

Yeh Raat bhot Aal-e-Mohammad pey karhi thee

          Reh reh key bukaa Ahl-e-Haram kartey they Aisay

          Tham tham key Diya Aakri shab jalta hai jaisay

Fast Asleep, the enemy soldiers were senselessly lying,

But this side, non could even wink in a situation trying,

This day, each and every moment was mortifying,

To the progeny of the Holy Prophet, this night was most terrifying,

          The house-folks bewailed so, at times but helplessly,

  As if the snuffed-out candle, flickers at the night-end slowly.

Ek ghoshay mein Un Sokhta Samanoan key Salaar,

Un Khak basar, Khaknuma Weeranaoun key Sardaar,

Tasna lab-o-Darmanada-o-Majboor-o-Dil-Figaar,

Is shaan sey bhaithay they Shah-e-Lashkar-e-Ahraar,

          Masnad thi, na khilaat thi, na khuddam kharaey they,,

          Haa tan pey jidhar  dekhyee, So Zakham Sajay they

In a nook there was, the Commander of the deprived creatures,

The Chief of those uprooted and molested creatures,

Broken-hearted, exhausted, helpless and thirsty,

The Leader was sitting but with great dignity,

          Neither was royal cushion, nor robe, nor were the attendants standing,

          Multiple wounds were on his body, blood from each was oozing.

QUATRAIN OF KHWAJA MOINUDDIN CHISTI

Shah hast Hussain, Badshah hast Hussain

Deen hast Hussain, Deen Panah hast Hussain

Sardad na dad dast, dar dast-e-yazeed,

Haqaa key binaey La ila hast Hussain

It's Hussain the Prince, it's Hussain the king,

He is Faith, and Faith's Defender most daring,

He preferred death to Yazid's allegiance,

With his blood, Islam has verily been living.

ARABIC MERSIA BY HAZRAT ZAINAB A.S.

When the house-folks of the Prophet were released from the captivity of Yazid, Hinda invited them to her palace. It was therefore, the first congregation which was held at no other place but at the house of Yazid himself. Hazrat Zainab recited there the most moving mersia. The whole mersia is still extant in Bihar-ul-Anwa'r from which are extracted the following few couplets:

Tamassuk bil kitaab wa min Talaho

Fa ahlul bait-e-hum Ahl-ul-Kitabe

O faithful ! follow the Book and the knowers of the Book,

None but the progeny of the Prophet are the possessors of the Book.

Imami wahidur Rahmanu Tiflan

Wa Aaman'a qaba'l Tasdeed-il-Khitaabe

My leader (Ali) acknowledged God at that age,

When one can hardly speak at that stage.

Aliyunn kaan Siddiq-al-Baraya

Aliyunn kaan Farooq-al-Azaabe

He was Ali, who was truthful and truth lover,

He was Ali, who between reward and sin was the distinguisher.

Shafiee fil Qiayama Einda Rabbi

Nabiun Wal Wasiyol Buturabe

On the Dooms Day before God, my interceder,

Are the Holy Prophet and Abu Turab, his successor.

Wa Fatimatol Batoolo wa Syeda man

Yukhalado Fi Jinane Ma-Shababe

My mother, Batool, is my interceder,

Hasan and Hussain who, of the youths of Paradise, are leader.

Alat Tafis Salaamo Wa Saakiniyaa

Wa Rohollahe Fi Tilkal Qibaabe

My compliments to Taf and its dweller,

May God bless these men of valour.

Mazajeo Fityattin Abdoi Afanamoo

Hajoodan Fil Gadafire Was Shaabe

Taf is the resting-place of youths who worshipped the Almighty,

And slept in the deserts and valleys eternally.

Faqad Nokeloo Elaa Janaat-e-Adenin

Wa Qad Aedhoon Naeema Minal Eiqabe

Gone are they now to the Paradise of Eden,

For the sufferings of this world, Heaven is retribution

Banaato Muhammadin Adhat Sabaya

Yusqan Maal Usaraa Wanehabe

What a pity ! the daughters of Mohammad were arrested,