Mir Babbar Ali Anees (r.a.) was the most prestigious Urdu
poet who took the art of ‘Marsiya goi’ to the peak.
The word “Marsiya” is derived from the Arabic word “Risa”
meaning a great tragedy or lamentation for a departed soul. But after the Great
Sacrifice, the tragedy of Karbala, Marsia used exclusively to describe the
events at Karbala. It is poetry full of pathos, love, emotions, bravery,
patriotism and ultimate sacrifice. It was this incredible talent, enormous vocabulary
of Urdu, Arabic and Persian and commendable mastery of Mir Anees. He added
beauty through perfectly balanced verses, simplicity, emotional painting,
psychological treatment depicting moral and human values, universally
acknowledged and acclaimed. His treatment of different relations in the tragedy
of Karbala as evidenced in South East Asia is commendable.
Mir Anees had compiled 92 Marsias, 70 Salaams,
and numerous Rubaais, Nauhas, Munajaat, and Mukhammas.
Appended below are a few stanzas of his famous Marsiya “Jab Qata Ki Musafat e Shab
Aftab Ne” which was translated by Dr. David Matthews, professor of Oriental and
African Studies at University of London. This Marsiya is a long one describing
the shahadat of some of the Bani Hashim. At the end, he described the brave and
fearless jihad of Imam Husayn. The Marsiya consists of 194 couplets of six
verses each.
Jab qata’ ki
musafat e shab aftab ne The
sun had run its journey over the night
Jalwa kia sahar ke
rukhe be hijab ne Unveiled,
the dawn revealed her glorious face.
Dekha sooe falak shahe
gadroon rikab ne The
King who rides the heavens saw her light
Mud kar sada
rafiqoon ko de us janab ne And
called his brave companions to their place.
A’akhir hai raat
hamd o sana e khuda karo The
time has come at last; to God give praise
Uttho fariza e sahri
ko ada karo Arise!
In fitting prayer your voices raised.
Haan Ghazio ye din
hai jidal o qital ka Brave
hearts! For strife and slaughter dawns this day
Yan khoon bahega
aaj Muhammad ki aal ka Here
the blood of Muhammad’s race will flow
Chehra khushi se
surq hai Zahra ke lal ka Zahra’s
darling, honored, seeks the fray;
Guzri shab e firaq
din a’ya wisal ka The
night of parting fades ‘neath union glows.
Ham wo hain gham
karenge malik jin ke waste We
are those for whom the angels weep;
Raaten tarap ke kati
hai is din ke waste To
libve this day we sacrificed our sleep.
Ye subha hai wo
subha mubarek hai jis ki sham This
morning brings an evening ever blessed;
Yaan se huwa jo
kooch to hai khuld me muqam We
who depart for Paradise will slake
Kausar pa aabru se
pahoch jain tishnakam Our
thirst by Kausar’s spring, and there find rest
Likkhe Khuda
namazguzaraun me sab ke naam May
God exalt our names for honor’s sake
Sab hain waheed e
asr ye ghul char soo uthe Unequalled,
each one of them to joy gave birth
Duiya se jo shaheed
uthe sur khuroo uthe Let
martyrs rise in glory from this earth.
Jungal se aie
Fatima Zahra ki ye sada Far
from waste came Fatima’s pure voice
Ummat ne mujh ko
loot lia wa Muhammada Se
Muhammad! Our family despoiled
Is waqt kaun haqqe
muhabbat kare ada Now
who will save our friendship and rejoice?
Hai hai ye zulm
aur do alam ka muqtada Against
what tyranny our Leader toiled
Unnis sau hain
zakhm tane chak chak par Full
nineteen hundred wounds were on him thrust
Zainab nikal Husayn
tarpta hai khak par Ah
Zaynab! Come Husayn writhes in the dust
It should be stressed
that any translation cannot convey the entire message of the writer. Hence, in order to thoroughly appreciate the
Marsiyas or Ruba’I, one must learn the Urdu language.
Sources used:
The Battle of Karbala by:
Dr. David Matthews
MirAnees.com
well done
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