A strange poet and The Day of Áshúrá – H. Nur Artıran

 strange poet and The Day of Áshúrá

Our beloved Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “A Mu’min (true believer) can be known (recognized) by his grieving heart.”  But this grief, this heartache is different… This is such a (wound) ache that nobody can ease the pain or find a cure.  The month of Muharrem became a time of mourning for centuries to Islamic countries and nations. Even all of the tears which have fallen and become a flood by Fuzuli’s work “Hadîkatü”s-süedâ” is not enough to wash away one drop of blood that was shed.  Even when a thousand years have passed, still it will not be enough.  But again Hz. Mevlana comes to our aid as a godsend.  He stimulates our hearts opening new horizons and holding a mirror to us.  He becomes light within our darkness, and becomes a salve to our wounded hearts.

May Allah give us understanding of the intangibles and protect and own the values for which these martyrs gave their heads.  And may He enable us to comprehend the secrets of the month of Muharram, insâ Allâh.

Mathnawí Book VI no: 777

On the Day of ‘Áshúrá all the people of Aleppo gather at the Antioch Gate till nightfall,

Men and women, a great multitude, and keep up a constant lamentation for the (Holy) Family.

During the ‘Áshúrá the Shí’ites wail and lament with tears and sobs on account of Karbalá.

They recount the oppressions and tribulations which the (Holy) Family suffered at the hands of Yazíd and Shimr.

They utter shrieks mingled with cries of woe and grief: the whole plain and desert is filled (with their cries).

A stranger, (who was) a poet, arrived from the road on the Day of ‘Áshúrá and heard that lamentation.

He left the city and resolved (to go) in that direction: he set out to investigate (the cause of) those shrill cries.

He went along, asking many questions in his search—“What is this sorrow? Whose death has occasioned this mourning?

It must be a great personage who has died: such a concourse is no small affair.

Inform me of his name and titles, for I am a stranger and ye belong to the town.

What is his name and profession and character? (Tell me) in order that I may compose an elegy on his gracious qualities.

I will make an elegy—for I am a poet—that I may carry away from here some provision and morsels of food.”

“Eh,” said one (of them), “are you mad? You are not a Shí’ite, you are an enemy of the (Holy) Family.

Don’t you know that the Day of ‘Áshúrá is (a day of) mourning for a single soul that is more excellent than a (whole) generation?

How should this anguish (tragedy) be lightly esteemed by the true believer? Love for the ear-ring is in proportion to love for the ear.

In the true believer’s view the mourning for that pure spirit is more celebrated than a hundred Floods of Noah.”

“Yes,” said he; “but where (in relation to our time) is the epoch of Yazíd? When did this grievous tragedy occur? How late has (the news of) it arrived here!

The eyes of the blind have seen that loss, the ears of the deaf have heard that story.

Have ye been asleep till now, that (only) now ye have rent your garments in mourning?

Then, O sleepers, mourn for yourselves, for this heavy slumber is an evil death.

A royal spirit escaped from a prison: why should we rend our garments and how should we gnaw our hands?

Since they were monarchs of the (true) religion, ’twas the hour of joy (for them) when they broke their bonds.

They sped towards the pavilion of empire, they cast off their fetters and chains.

‘Tis the day of (their) kingship and pride and sovereignty, if thou hast (even) an atom of knowledge of them.

And if thou hast not (this) knowledge, go, weep for thyself, for thou art disbelieving in the removal (from this world to the next) and in the assembly at the Last Judgement.

Mourn for thy corrupt heart and religion, for it (thy heart) sees naught but this old earth.

Or if it is seeing (the spiritual world), why is it not brave and supporting (others) and self-sacrificing and fully contented?

In thy countenance where is the happiness (which is the effect) of the wine of (true) religion? If thou hast beheld the Ocean (of Bounty), where is the bounteous hand?