Ashura in Climax 2

The scholar said, and from Ali son of Husayn, it was told:

As the horses approached Husayn, a story of despair to unfold,

He raised his hands to the sky, a prayer whispered,

"Oh God, in every grief, my trust is tethered.

My hope in every hardship's bitter sting,

In every matter, my trust, my everything.

How many sorrows weaken the heart's frail beat,

Where schemes dwindle, and friends retreat,

Where foes rejoice, and malice finds its day—

I brought them all to You, and You cast them away.

I cried to You, desiring none but Thee,

And You dispelled them, setting my spirit free.

You are the Master of all grace, of every good deed,

The end of every longing, fulfilling every need."

Then the people drew near, circling Husayn's abode,

Seeing the trench behind them, a fiery, stark road.

And fire blazed in the wood, in reeds cast there to ignite,

Then Shimr son of Dhi al-Jawshan cried with all his might:

"O Husayn! Do you rush to the fire, before Judgment Day's call?"

Husayn replied, "Who is this?" as if knowing the evil in all,

"It sounds like Shimr son of Dhi al-Jawshan," they confirmed, in reply.

Husayn then spoke, "O son of the goat-herdess, you are more fit to burn, to die."

And Muslim son of Awsaja aimed an arrow, a swift, deadly dart,

But Husayn held him back, a quiet plea from his heart.

"Let me shoot him," Muslim urged, "that wicked foe of God's grace,

One of the great tyrants; God has given us his place."

But Husayn forbade him, a gentle, firm decree,

"I hate to begin the fight," he said, "Let it not be from me."

Muhammad son of Abu Talib then shared his thought:

The companions of Umar son of Sa'd mounted, their dark purpose wrought.

Husayn's horse was brought, he mounted it with grave poise,

Approaching the crowd with a few companions, amidst their harsh noise.

Before him, Burayr son of Khudayr, a steadfast, loyal friend,

Husayn bade him, "Speak to the people, to what purpose they tend."

Burayr stepped forth, his voice clear, "O people, fear your Lord now,

For Muhammad's progeny stands among you, observe and obey now.

These are his offspring, his household, his daughters, his sacred women,

What have you to say? What do you intend to do to them?"

They replied, "We wish to hand them to the Amir, Ibn Ziyad,

That he may decide their fate, with judgment harsh and fraud."

Burayr asked, "Will you not let them return to the place they began?

Woe to you, O people of Kufa! Have you forgotten the plan?

Your letters, your pledges, by God you swore and bore witness there,

Woe to you! Did you summon the Prophet's family, then abandon them to despair?

Claiming you'd die for them, then when they came, you surrendered them to Ibn Ziyad,

And barred them from the Euphrates' water, a deed truly fraud!

How ill you have treated your Prophet's kin, a shameful, dire neglect!

May God deny you drink on Judgment Day, what fate can you expect?

How evil a people you are!"

A few of them spoke, with confused, unseeing eyes,

"O man, we don't know what you say," their foolish words rise.

Burayr praised God, "He has increased my insight through you all!

O God, I disown the deeds of these people, before You I fall.

O God, cast their might against themselves, till they meet You,

And You are wroth with them," his prayer, both fervent and true.

Then the people began to shoot arrows, a violent, swift reply,

So Burayr retreated, turning from the arrows that flew high.

Then Husayn advanced, standing before the vast array,

He gazed upon their ranks, like a flood, on that fateful day.

He saw Ibn Sa'd amidst Kufa's chiefs, a grim and silent stand,

Then spoke: "Praise be to God, who shaped this fading land.

A house of passing, of change, its folk it shifts from state to state,

Deceived is he whom it deceives, trapped by its fleeting fate.

Wretched is he whom it tempts, so let not this world ensnare your sight,

For it cuts the hope of those who lean on it, extinguishes their light.

It frustrates the longing of those who covet its gleam,

And I see you gathered for a matter that angered God, it would seem.

He turned His noble face from you, His wrath descended,

His mercy departed from you, forever ended.

Our Lord is the best of Lords, but you are the worst of slaves,

You acknowledged obedience, believed in Muhammad, the Prophet who saves.

Then you marched against his offspring, his household, his kin,

Desiring their slaughter, a most grievous sin.

Satan has overcome you, made you forget God, the Great,

Woe to you, and to what you intend, how dreadful your fate!

Indeed, we belong to God, and to Him we shall return, we are but dust,

These are a people who disbelieved after believing, how unjust!

Far be the wrongdoers!" Then Umar cried, "Woe to you! Speak to him, do,

For he is his father's son; by God, if he stood here a new day through,

He would not be cut off, nor silenced, so speak to him, I implore!"

Then Shimr, God curse him, stepped forward, and asked once more:

"O Husayn, what is this you say? Make us understand,

So we may grasp your words," a demand, a command.

Husayn replied, "I say, fear God, your Lord, and do not slay me,

For it is unlawful to kill me, or violate my sanctity.

For I am the son of your Prophet's daughter, my grandmother Khadija's piety,

Your Prophet's wife, a sacred lineage, a noble heritage in society.

Perhaps the saying of your Prophet has reached your ear,

'Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn are the masters of the youth of Paradise,' let this be clear."

(To the end of what will follow in Al-Mufid's narration).

Al-Mufid said: Husayn then called for his riding best,

He mounted it, and cried aloud, for most of the Iraqis to hear, lest:

"O people! Hear my words, do not hasten, I plead,

Until I advise you of what is due to you, and fully concede.

If you grant me justice, you will be happier by far,

But if you do not grant yourselves justice, then gather your resolve, like a burning star.

Let your affair not be a sorrow to you, then pass judgment on me,

And grant me no respite! Indeed, my protector is God, who sent the decree,

And He protects the righteous." Then he praised God, and glorified His name,

He invoked God as He deserves, and prayed for the Prophet, and for angels, in sacred flame.

Never before, nor after, was a speaker heard with such eloquent grace,

Such power of words, in any time or place.

Then he said: "Now, look at my lineage, examine who me is the man,

Then reflect upon yourselves, and rebuke them, and what they plan.

Is it right for you to kill me, to violate my sacred claim?

Am I not the son of your Prophet, and his successor, his cousin, his very name?

The first believer to confirm the Messenger of God, who came,

With what his Lord brought? Is not Hamza, the master of martyrs, my uncle, in fame?

Is not Ja'far, who flies in Paradise with two wings, my uncle, truly?

Has it not reached you what the Messenger of God said to my brother and me, overtly:

'These two are the masters of the youth of Paradise'? If you believe what I say,

And it is the truth, by God, I have never intentionally lied, to this very day,

Since I knew that God detests those who do. And if you disbelieve my plea,

Indeed, among you are those who, if asked, will confirm this truth to you, you'll see.

Ask Jabir son of Abdullah al-Ansari, and Abu Sa'id al-Khudri,

And Sahl son of Sa'd al-Sa'idi, and Zayd son of Arqam, and Anas son of Malik, they will agree.

They will tell you they heard this saying from the Messenger of God, to my brother and to me,

Is there not in this a barrier to the shedding of my blood, for all to see?"

Then Shimr son of Dhi al-Jawshan replied, his words sharp, unkind,

"He worships God precariously, if he knows what he says, what's on his mind."

Then Habib son of Mazahir retorted, "By God, I see you worship God, so blind,

On seventy edges, and I bear witness you speak truly, you don't know what he means to find.

God has sealed your heart."

Then Husayn said to them, his voice holding firm,

"If you are in doubt of this, do you doubt I am your Prophet's daughter's son?

For by God, between east and west, there is no prophet's daughter's son but me,

Among you, or among others, can this not be?

Woe to you! Do you seek me for a slain one among you, whom I slew,

Or for wealth of yours I squandered, or for vengeance of a wound, a deed anew?"

They remained silent, unable to reply, their words lost in the air,

Then he cried, "O Shabath son of Rib'i! O Hajjaj son of Abjar! O Qays son of al-Ash'ath! O Yazid son of al-Harith, hear!

Did you not write to me that the fruits were ripe, the land green and wide,

And that I would come to an army of yours, by your side?"

Qays son of al-Ash'ath said to him, "We don't know what you mean to convey,

But submit to the judgment of your cousins, they will only show you what you wish, today."

Husayn replied to them, "No, by God, I will not give you my hand, as one debased,

Nor concede to you like slaves, my spirit unlaced."

Then he cried, "O servants of God! I seek refuge with my Lord and yours,

Lest you stone me! And I seek refuge with my Lord and yours, from all who flaunt, who ignore,

Every arrogant one who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning, its ultimate call."

Then he made his riding horse kneel, and ordered Uqbah son of Sim'an to bind it all.

And they began to crawl toward him, a slow, deliberate march,

As Al-Mufid stated, may God have mercy on his righteous heart.

And in Al-Manaqib, it is narrated, with a chain of narrators,

From Abdullah son of Muhammad son of Sulayman son of Abdullah son of Al-Hasan,

From his father, from his grandfather, from Abdullah, who recounts:

When Umar son of Sa'd arranged his companions for war against Husayn son of Ali,

And arrayed them in their ranks, planting banners where they should be,

And arrayed the right and left wings, he said to the heart of the army, "Stand firm, you see."

They surrounded Husayn from every side, forming a tight ring,

He came forth to the people, asking for silence, but they wouldn't bring,

Their voices down, until he said, "Woe to you! Why do you not hear me,

And listen to my words? I only call you to the path of guidance, to be free.

Whoever obeys me will be guided, and whoever disobeys will be undone,

And all of you disobey my command, my words you shun.

Indeed, your stomachs are filled with forbidden things, your hearts are sealed and bound,

Woe to you! Will you not listen? Will you not hear the truth profound?"

Then Umar son of Sa'd's companions blamed each other, in a hushed tone,

And said, "Listen to him."

Husayn then stood, his voice ringing out, clear and deep,

"Woe to you, O assembly, and sorrow! When you cried out to us, distraught,

Bewildered, I rushed to your aid, ready and prepared, secrets to keep.

Yet you drew swords against us, at our throats, your own malice brought.

You ignited the fire of discord, hidden by your enemy and ours, a wicked game,

So you became allies against your friends, a hand against them, a source of shame.

Without justice, you spread it among yourselves, no hope you found in their sight,

Save the unlawful gains of this world, a paltry life, a fading light.

You coveted it without cause from us, no thought did we delay,

So woe to you! When you disliked us and abandoned us, you prepared your way,

While the sword was not drawn, and courage was calm, and judgment not yet sealed.

But you rushed upon us like flies, swarming, in a battlefield, revealed.

And you converged like moths, a disgraceful sight to behold!

For you are the tyrants of the nation, the scattered of factions, a story to be told.

The rejecters of the Book, the whispers of Satan, a band of transgressions,

The distortors of the Book, the quenchers of traditions, in your evil obsessions.

The killers of the prophets' children, the destroyers of the successors' kin,

The joiners of the corrupt to lineage, the tormentors of believers, the great sin.

And the loudmouths of the mocking leaders, who made the Quran into fragments, to tear."

"And you—you rely on the son of Harb and his followers, a heavy, wicked share,

And us, you abandon! Yes, by God, abandonment is known in you, it's there.

Your roots are intertwined with it, your ancestors and descendants have inherited this dread,

Your hearts are firm upon it, your breasts are covered, your souls are dead.

So you are the most evil in origin for the enemy, a morsel for the usurper, you see,

Indeed, the curse of God be upon the breakers of oaths, who violate their pledge with glee,

After confirming them, and you made God your guarantor, with Him you made your plea,

And by God, you are them!"

"Indeed, the bastard, son of a bastard, has placed me between two choices, I confess,

Between slaughter and humiliation, but far be it that I accept baseness.

God rejects it, and His Messenger, and noble ancestors, pure lineage, a proud grace,

And zealous noses, and defiant souls, who choose not the deaths of the lowly in any place,

Over the deaths of the noble! Behold, I have offered excuses, and warned you to take heed!

Behold, I advance with this family, with little provision, and few friends, a desperate deed."

Then he began to recite:

"If we are defeated, we are ancient conquerors, our glory bright and bold,

And if we are defeated, we are not truly vanquished, a truth to be told.

And indeed, our nature is not cowardice, but our destinies' decree,

And the rise of others' rule, for all the world to see."

"And after this, you will not linger, save for the time it takes to saddle a horse,

Until the millstone turns upon you, a crushing, relentless force.

A covenant my father entrusted to me, from my grandfather, ever true,

So gather your resolve, and your partners, and plot against me, all of you.

And give me no respite! Indeed, I have put my trust in God, my Lord and yours, in His might,

There is no creature but He holds its forelock, in His divine light.

Indeed, my Lord is on a straight path. O God, withhold from them the sky's rain,

And send upon them years like Joseph's years, bringing drought and pain.

And set over them the youth of Thaqif, to make them drink a bitter cup,

Leaving no one among them, but killing them, one by one, to finish them up.

A killing for a killing, a blow for a blow, for me and my allies, to take revenge for my kin,

And my household, and my followers, for they deceived us, and lied, and let us fall into sin.

And You are our Lord, in You we trust, to You we turn, and to You is the return, forevermore."

Then he said, "Where is Umar son of Sa'd? Call Umar for me, from shore to shore."

Umar was called, though he came unwillingly, not wanting to meet Husayn's gaze,

Husayn said, "O Umar, will you kill me? You claim that the bastard, son of a bastard, will raise,

You to the lands of Rayy and Jurjan? By God, you will never enjoy that, it's a known decree,

So do what you intend, for after me, you will not rejoice in this world, nor in eternity.

And I see your head on a spear, set up in Kufa, a gruesome sight,

Boys throwing stones at it, making it a target, in their cruel, childish delight."

Umar was enraged by his words, turning his face away from his plea,

And cried to his companions, "What are you waiting for? Attack him, all of you, with glee!

It is but one bite, one swift meal!" Then Husayn called for the Messenger of God's horse, Al-Murtajiz,

He mounted it, and arranged his companions, for the battle's cruel quiz.

I say: The sermon has been narrated in Tuhaf al-Uqul, similar to what has passed,

And the Sayyid narrated it with change and abbreviation, for all time to last.

And it will also come in the narration of Al-Ihtijaj.

Then Al-Mufid, may God have mercy on him, said: When Al-Hurr son of Yazid saw,

That the people were determined to fight Husayn, without any flaw,

He said to Umar son of Sa'd, "O Umar, will you fight this man indeed?"

Umar replied, "Yes, by God, a fierce fight, the least of it, heads will fall, hands will bleed."

Al-Hurr asked, "Are you not content with what he offered you, a path to peace?"

Umar replied, "If the matter were up to me, I would do it, but your commander refused, to our release."

Then Al-Hurr advanced, and stood before the people, with a man from his tribe beside him,

Named Qurrah son of Qays, and Al-Hurr said to him, "O Qurrah, have you watered your horse today, within him?"

He said, "No." Al-Hurr said, "Then what do you intend to do, what's your plan to unfold?"

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