Shoukat Lohar is Assistant professor in English at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro. He can be reached at Shoukat.ali@faculty.muet.edu.pk

An elegy: Remembering the Gallantry of Hussain!

In the realm of sorrow,

Let my words now flow,

A tale of anguish, where tears ceaselessly flow.

Amidst the pages of history, a chapter unfolds,

Of Karbala’s tragedy,

Where a mighty tale was told.

It’s time, by dodge,

The Brutus Kufi wrote,

A letter of defiance,

With courage he spoke.

For Great Hussain, a noble soul so revered,

He embarked on a

Journey, undeterred and fearless.

To Karbala they ventured,

Seventy-two strong,

Men, women, and children, a faithful throng.

But deceit awaited, as Yazid’s treachery spread,

A web of lies and falsehood, the righteous bled.

Yazid, the deceiver, his true colors unmasked,

A tyrant, a cheat, in his heart darkness basked.

Hussain, undeterred, stood firm and condemned,

For he knew the path of righteousness wouldn’t bend.

With gallantry, he fought, never kneeling down,

Defending truth and justice, his noble crown.

Through the scorching sands, his banner held high,

A symbol of unwavering strength, touching the sky.

In Muharram, we gather, hearts heavy with pain,

To remember the

Sacrifice, to honor Hussain’s name.

Lessons echo through time,

A sacred legacy,

To be uncompromising before despotism’s decree.

Karbala’s tale, a tragic and solemn decree,

A reminder of valor and unwavering loyalty.

In Hussain’s memory, an elegy we proclaim,

A tribute to his greatness, forever aflame.

So let us weep for Karbala, shed tears for Hussain,

For his sacrifice resonates, our souls it does sustain.

In the annals of history, his name shall forever endure,

A beacon of inspiration, his legacy pure.

***

Karoonjhar Hills Hearts Above!

In the heart of Sindh, a memory stands tall,

Karoonjhar Hills, witness to it all.

A history’s glory etched upon its face,

Symbol of dignity for this ancient place.

Like the mighty Indus, it flows with pride,

A symbol of heritage, never to subside.

Just as Shah Latif’s verses gracefully soar,

Karoonjhar’s greatness we must restore.

But why, oh why, have you turned a blind eye?

To sell your soil and hills, heedless of the cry?

Are you not Sindhi, in heart and soul?

Or descendants of invaders taking their toll?

Your insatiable hunger, never appeased,

Conquering prosperity, the Sindhi people squeezed.

Robbing them of their language, their pride,

Enough is enough, it’s time to decide!

No more will we let you auction our land,

Imperialistic ways, we can’t withstand.

Your atrocities, like wounds, run deep,

But we rise together, from slumber, we leap.

“You,” the new-era Brutus, heartless and cold,

Rasputin of corporations, your grip takes hold.

Hitler of this time, spreading fear and hate,

Genghis Khan reborn, your greed won’t abate.

But know this now, we’ll resist and fight,

Against your oppression, with all our might.

Sindh will stand tall, undeterred,

And into Karoonjhar, your tyranny will be interred.

United, we’ll save our cultural identity,

Preserve our history,

Our precious Karoonjhar, undoubtedly.

Let the winds carry our call across the land,

Stop the cutting, let Karoonjhar’s legacy forever stand.

______________

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Mujeeb Ali Samo

The land of Karbala is known today because of the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (a.s).  This is the land which is most visited in the world.  All the people of faith other than the Hypocrite come to pay homage to the Imam Hussain (a.s) – he may be Muslim, Christian, Hindu or people of other religion. Humanity mourns the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (a.s) and his family.

Undoubtedly, Imam Hussain (a.s) is the most discussed and loved personality of the world. Every peaceful person is sobbing and his eyes are weeping and giving a loud call Laib-Ya- Hussain, Laib-Ya-Hussain. Every street, road and Imam Bargaha is full with the followers of Imam Hussain (a.s). They are busy cooking a Naiz-e-Hussain and distributing it as Tabbaruk, and quenching the thirst of passer-by momineen with cold water and in addition with sweet red and milk mixed water.  This act of stalling a tent is to serve fresh and cold water to the thirsty person which is called a Sabeel-e-Hussain.  Sabeel is a stall set up to supply drinkable water. Why? Because, Imam Hussain (a.s) and his family were kept thirsty for three day before he was martyred with perched lips and dry tongue.  In his memory, Shias establish these sabeels so that people on their way to processions or majlis do not get thirsty. All these practices are performed to please the Imam Hussain (a.s).

On the beginning of every first of Muharram, the followers of imam Hussain (a.s) wear the black dress which is the symbol of sorrow and hoist the Gazi (Alam Pak) as identification. The Alam Pak, which means flag, is considered a sacred symbol for Shia Muslims because it is associated with Imam Hussain’s (a.s) brother Hazrat Abbas (a.s), the flag-bearer of Banu Hashim.  Alam Pak is taken out during majalis and processions.

Every year thousands of followers go to the shrine of Imam Hussain (a.s) with a hope to pay the homage and commemorate the sacred sacrifice given in the name of Allah and save the religion Islam.  His (Imams) followers across the globe mourn the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) grandson Imam Hussain (a.s), who was martyred brutally along with 72 of his closest companions, in Karbala, Iraq, in 680 AD.  The tragedy of Karbala took place some 1400 years ago but it is mourned as if it has happened today.

Each eye is sobbing today for the brutal treatment of Yazid-ibn-Muuaywah to Imam Hussain (a.s).  Imam Hussain was most loved by the holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).  There is a hadith of Holy Prophet (pbuh) that says, “These two – Hassan & Hussain are the swords of the heavens.” Prophet also stated that, “Hussain O Minni Wa Ana Minal Hussain”. It means,   “Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain.” At another place Prophet says, “May Allah keep him as a friend who keeps Hussain (a.s) as his friend.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 3800, Vol. 5, Page 429]

When the Yazid Ibn Muaywah asked for allegiance to his foul kingdom, Imam Hussain (a.s) defied. Yazid turned disappointed and felt defeated.  Yazid and his tyrant force in total vengeance mistreated Imam Hussain (a.s) and the Ahl al- Bait.  Hussain (a.s) was true to his faith and accepted martyrdom along with his entire family. He safeguarded the Islam from tyrant rule of Yazid, accepted the martyrdom of one after another son of Ali (a.s) but never took oath of allegiance to Yazid.  The Karbala is marked as the battle of vengeance.  But, in a real sense, this tragedy of Karbala is a fight of just and unjust. Imam Hussain (a.s) is the symbol of just, right, and peace and so on. On the other side Yazid is unjust, cruel, unfair and foul.

Humanity is bemoaning today that son of Imam Ali (a.s) and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is ruthlessly murdered by the Muslims of that time. Though, he was innocent and true to his faith. Karbala has taught us the message that Hussain (a.s) refused to pledge allegiance to a corrupt leader because he saw the moral values of his society being destroyed under the corrupt leadership of a tyrant.

______________________

The Writer is a columnist and social activist.

The post The Truth of Karbala: ‘Sacrifice for Right ’ first appeared on Sindh Courier.