Poetry commemorating sacrifice of Imam Husain, his companions at the battle of Karbala

The tragedy of Karbala has inspired mankind for ages. 

 

Countless Urdu poets have used 'Karbala' as a symbol, in fact, it is one of the most powerful expressions in Urdu poetry.

It is a metaphor, it exhorts to raise voice against tyranny, to resist and fight.

The message is to stand by the principles, against all odds. Numerous poets have used it in poetry.

From Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti's famous tribute to Imam Husain and Muhammad Ali Jauhar's couplets and Iqbal's Nazm, it is a long list. Also, progressive and modernist poets have used the metaphor.

Here are a few couplets to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Husain and the message of the supreme sacrifice in the battle of Karbala. For the most popular couplets on Husain's martyrdom, CLICK, HERE & HERE

وہی پیاس ہے وہی دشت ہے وہی گھرانا ہے 

مشکیزے سے تیر کا رشتہ بہت پرانا ہے 
    
हुसैन, तुम नहीं रहे, तुम्हारा घर नहीं रहा
मगर तुम्हारे बाद ज़ालिमों का डर नहीं रहा
--इफ़्तेख़ार आरिफ

वही प्यास है वही दश्त है वही घराना है 

मश्कीज़े* से तीर का रिश्ता बहुत पुराना है
--इफ़्तेख़ार आरिफ

फ़िक्र-ए-हक़-सोज़ यहां काश्त कर नहीं सकती
कर्बला ताज को बर्दाश्त नहीं कर सकती
--जोश मलीहाबादी

ज़िंदा इस्लाम को किया तूने
हक़-ओ-बातिल दिखाया तूने
जी के मरना तो सबको आता है
मरके जीन सीखा दिया तूने
--कुंवर महिंदर सिंह बेदी 'सहर'

Read the couplets in Roman English transliteration:


Husain tum nahiiN rahe, tumhara ghar nahiiN raha
Magar tumhaare baad zaalimo.n ka dar nahiiN raha
[Iftikhar Arif]

Vahi pyaas hai, vahi dasht, vahi gharaana hai mashkeeze se teer ka rishta bahut puraana hai

[Iftikhar Arif]

Firk-e-haq-soz yahaan kaasht kar nahiiN sakti
Karbala Taaj ko bardaasht nahiiN kar sakti
[Josh Malihabadi]

Zinda Islam ko kiya tuu ne
Haq-o-baatil dikhaa diya tuu ne
Ji ke marnaa to sab ko aata hai
Mar ke jiina sikhaa diyaa tuu ne
[Kunwar Mahender Singh Bedi 'Sahar']

For the most popular couplets on Husain's martyrdom, CLICK HERE & HERE
Read legendary Urdu poet Mirza Salamat Ali Dabeer's 'marsiya' CLICK
Imam Husain was the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Husain and his companions were killed mercilessly in the battle of Karbala, by the evil Yazid.

*mashkeeza=bag carrying water

Famous Urdu couplets on Imam Husain's sacrifice: Poetry on Prophet's grandson, the martyrdom and battle of Karbala

The martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, has inspired not just Muslims but people belonging to different faiths, for centuries.

 

Innumerable elegiac verses have been written by poets in Urdu, Persian, Arabic and other languages, recalling the events at the battle of Karbala. As the month of Muharram begins, we share these couplets:

हुसैन, तुम नहीं रहे, तुम्हारा घर नहीं रहा
मगर तुम्हारे बाद ज़ालिमों का डर नहीं रहा
इफ़्तेख़ार आरिफ

फ़िक्र-ए-हक़-सोज़ यहां काश्त कर नहीं सकती
कर्बला, ताज को बर्दाश्त नहीं कर सकती
जोश मलीहाबादी

शाह अस्त* हुसैन, बादशाह अस्त हुसैन

दीं अस्त हुसैन, दीं पनाह अस्त हुसैन

सर दाद, न दाद दस्त दर दस्त-ए-यज़ीद**

हक़्क़ा कि बिना-ए-ला-इलाहा अस्त हुसैन

ख्वाजा मोईनुद्दीन चिश्ती 

Translation:

Ruler is Hussain, Emperor is Hussain,

Faith is Hussain , guardian of faith is Hussain

Offered his head and not the hand to Yazid

Truly, the mirror of faith is Hussain 

क़त्ल-ए-हुसैन असल में मर्ग-ए-यज़ीद है

इस्लाम ज़िंदा होता है हर कर्बला के बाद

मोहम्मद अली 'जौहर' 

इंसान को बेदार तो हो लेने दो

हर क़ौम पुकारेगी हमारे हैं हुसैन

जोश मलीहाबादी 

Now read the couplets in Roman English script:

Husain tum nahi rahe tumhara ghar nahi raha

Magar tumhaare baad zalimoN ka Dar nahi raha

Iftikhar Arif

Fikr-e-haq-soz yahaan kaasht kar nahi sakti 

Karbala Taj* ko bardasht nahi kar sakti

Josh Malihabadi

wahi pyaas hai, wahi dasht hai, wahi gharana hai 

mashkize se teer ka rishta bahut puraana hai 

Iftikhar Arif

Shah ast* Husain, baadshah ast Husain

Dee.n ast Husain, Dee.n panaah ast Husain

sar daad, na daad dast dar dast-e-yazeed**

haqqa, ki binaa-e-la-ilaaha ast Husain

Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti

Qatl-e-Husain asl mein marg-e-yazeed hai

Islaam zinda hota hai har Karbala ke baad

Maulana Mohammed Ali 'Jauhar'

insaan ko bedaar to ho lene do

har qaum pukaaregi hamaare hain Husain

Josh Malihabadi

Mini-dictionary

[*Ast=is, है][dee.n=faith, religion, दीं/दीन]

[**Hussain gave his head, but didn't give his hand i.e. allegiance to the evil Yezid][bina=basis, बुनियाद]