THE TRAGEDY OF KARBALA IN THE
CONTEXT OF MARASIYA YA SYEDASH SHODAEE

The shahadat of Imam Husain (S.A.) on
the burning sands of Karbala is the
essence of a mumin's life.
A mumin is born in this world to perform
matam and do aho-zari on the zulm and
sitam that befell Imam-ul-Haq the
beloved of Rasullalah (s.a.)
Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin Moula
in his munajaat sharifa has beautifully
articulated the sentiment of, forever
remembering Husain (S.A.) in the
following words:
WA AZKURU MOULAYAL HUSAINA DAA
LANA, BE SAJDATEHE INDASH
SHAHADATAY SAEELA (I always
remember Moula Husain (s.a.) who
during his shahadat remembered us in
his Doa)

Let us travel down the centuries and arrive on the burning plains of
Karbala, where the Furat guarded by the Yezidi forces longs to quench the thirst
of masoom and mazloom Husain (S.A.) and his Ahle Bait and ashab who have
been denied food and water for the past three days.
Have you ever tried standing under the scorching sun on the desert plains, if you
have ever done so, you will realize how it must be when Maula Husain (S.A.) was
standing before the enemy flanks after having stoically overcome the grief of
loosing his eighteen year old Ali Akbar, having buried his six month old Ali Asgar
whose hulkum was pierced by enemy's arrow, and having witnessed the
martyrdom of his valiant brother Abbas Alambardar, ahle bait and ashab kirams.
We also do suffer hardships and deprivations at times, but inevitably on such
occasions, our immediate concern is our own self or our own and dear ones. Is it
not so, just try recollecting such incidents, and you will surely agree that yes - at
such times, your concern was primarily your self and your immediate family.

Here is Husain (S.A.) having lost everything, not in pursuit
of worldly powers and glory, but to uphold the promise
given to his Nana Rasullallah (S.A.) and to uphold the
principles of Deen and establish the the Dawat of Amar Bil
Maroof wa naha Anil Moonkir.
On the burning sands of Karbala under the blunted
khanzar of laeen Shimr, Imam Husain (S.A.) is not
complaining or seeking retributions, but remembering
and seeking forgiveness and aman for the mumineen who
will come till the Day of Kayamat.

YA SYEDASH SHOHADAEE written by Syedna Taher Saifuddin Moula (RA) in
1348 H. at Karachi portrays grief and sorrow based on facts and although in
Arabic its accent and lyric is that of Indo Pakistan peninsula.
There is no precedent in the literary history of the Arabic language of such a long
marsiya, which is full of oratory and easily moves one to sorrow on reading or
simply hearing, although one may not be knowing Arabic language.
The marasiya is well known around the world, millions of devoted followers of
Imam Husain (S.A.) have memorized it. The presence of this marasiya on the
Zarih Mubarak of Imam Husain (SA) is a clear proof and evidence, that the
khidmat of his Dai has been accepted by Imam Husain (SA).
The fifty one stanzas allude to his position as the 51st Dai-ul- Mutlaq. Taher
Saifuddin moula (R.A.) in a very few appropriately chosen words, conveys
emphatically the position held by Imam Husain. He explains the divine status of
Imam Husain (S.A.)

YA HUJJATAR RAHMANE,
YA SAFWATAL AZMANE,
YA ALAMAL IMANE,
YA MUTIYAN LILAMANE,
YA AKRAMAL KURAMAE,
WALAHFATA YA HUSAINA,
YA SYEDASH SHOHADAEE.
(O Allah's Hujjat! O essence of the periods! O sign of the Imam! O hope
of the seekers of benedictions! O most generous amongst generous! O
Husain our grief upon you, O leader of the martyrs.)
Imam Husain (SA) on the fateful day of Aashura clearly defined his exalted
position, not only to the Yezidi forces, but to the generations of satanic forces that
will in vain try to challenge the Deen of Allah and His Hadi, but will never ever
succeed

AZHAL HUSAINU YUNADI,
BAEENA JUMOIL AADI,
INNIBNU TAHA WA SAADEE,
MUNZO SALASEEN SADEE,
ATLOOBU SHURBATA MAEE,
WALAHFATA YA HUSAINA,
YA SAYEDASH SHOHADEE.
(On the day of Ashaura before Shahadat, Husain (s.a.) performed the duty of Hujjat
with enemies and asked. Don't you know I am the son of that Nabi (s.a.) whom
Quran has addressed as Tahaa and Suaad ? I am thirsty since last three days. I only
ask of you just one sip of water. O Husain our grief upon you, O leader of the
Shohada)
You have deprived me of water, deprived me of my family, I the son of Saqi -e- Kauser has
been denied a sip of water. Ah!! But this azeem sacrifice of Husain (s.a.) is not in vain, a
clear line has been drawn between the forces of darkness, who have surely been deprived of
Allah's Rehmat in this world and will burn in hell hereafter, and the true followers of Ahle
Bait who will never ever face deprivation, in this world and will live in glory and peace in
Akherat.

LAM YASMAU MINHU QAWLA,
WAIZ SHAQU MA SAQAWLA,
BAL QATALU MINHU MAWLA,
AAMAL BARAYA TAWLAN,
ALA ASHADDE ZAMAEE,
WALAHFATA YA HUSAINA,
YA SYEDASH SHOHADAEE.
(Enemies did not listen to his call, due to cruelty and enmity none of
them gave water, but they killed him in the extreme of the thirst,
one whose ahsaan covered the whole Universe.
My unlimited sorrow and grief upon you, O leader of the Shohada.)

ANAL BANIL WAHI DARAT,
RAHIL BALAYA WAJARAT,
AEDIZ ZAMANE FAGHARAT,
NUJUMUHUM WATATWARAT,
FI YAUMAY ASHOORAEE,
WALAHFATA YA HUSAINA,
YA SYEDASH SHOHADAEE.
(Husain (s.a.) whom Rasulullah (s.a.) loved as his own son, was entitled to be
addressed as the son of wahi. He suffered bala and countless afaat which gathered
around the Imam. He and his Ahul Bait faced such trials and tribulations, which
none can imagine. All the stars of the galaxy of Nubuwat set in the maghrib of
Karbala, on the day of Aashura. My unlimited sorrow and grief upon you O Husain! O
leader of the Shohada!)
All the stars of the galaxy of Nubuwat set in the maghrib of Karbala on the day of Aashura,
but not in vain, for surely they will come forth in all their resplendent glory as the Shams of
Nubuwat on the day of Kayamat and seek justice and retribution of Shaitan and his legions
for their dastardly deeds perpetuated on the day of Aashura and for generations on the
believers.
Thus it becomes obligatory for mumineen to remember their Moula, and to this effect
Taher Saifuddin Moula (a.q.) poignantly alludes in the words...

HAL MOMINUN YATASALLA,
AHAL KAHAZI JULLA,
RAAS UL HUSAINE MOALLA,
ALAS SINANE TAJALLA,
LALHO KAZUKAEE,
WALAHFATA YA HUSAINA,
YA SYEDASH SHOHADAEE.
(Can a momin afford to take rest? Is there any bigger tragedy then this musibat? Enemies
raised the head of Imam Husain (s.a.) on the top of the lance. It was that head which shined
like sun, and the sun also shined with its Noor. O Husain! Our unlimited grief upon you, O
leader of the Shohada.)
Thus pathos flows like torrent in each verse, washing away the sins of one who is moved to tears, this
marsiya for ever moves the heart of the followers of Ahlul Bait, it will continue to refresh the tragedy of
Karbala for eons, and generations of mumeneen will be indebted to Syedna Taher Saifuddin
Moula (A.Q.) for this azeem ahsanaat.
Acknowledgement for Transliteration and Translation of stanzas : Article 'Syedna Tahir Saifuddin's
Tribute to Imam Husain' by Qazi Abbas Borhany.
Asgar Fakhrudin
www.hikmaah.com