A Sky-Burning Sigh
محتشماين زمين پربلا را نام دشت كربلاست اي دل بيدرد آه آسمان سوزت كجاستاين بيابان قتلگاه سيد لب تشنه است اي زبان وقت فغان وي ديده هنگام بكاستاين فضا دارد هنوز از آه مظلومان اثر گر ز دود آه ما عالم سيه گردد رواستاين مكان بوده است روزي خيمهگاه اهل بيت كز حباب اشگ ما امروزش گردش خيمههاستكشتي عمر حسين اينجا بزاري گشته غرق بحر اشك مادرين غرقاب بيطوفان چراستاينك اينك قبه پرنور كز نزديك و دور پرتو گيتي فروزش گمرهان را ره نماستاينك اينك حاير حضرت كه در وي متصل زائران را شهپر روحانيان در زير پاستاينك اينك سده اقدس كه از عز وشرف قدسيان را ملجاء و كروبيان را ملتجاستاينك اينك مرقد انور كه صندوق فلك پيش او با صدهزاران در و گوهر بيبهاستاينك اينك تكيهگاه خسرو والا سرير كاستان روب درش را عرش اعظم متكاستاينك اينك زير گل سرو گلستان رسول كز غم نخل بلندش قامت گردون دوتاست [ صفحه 473] اينك اينك خفته در خون گلبن باغ بتول كز شكست او چو گل پيراهن حورا قباستاين چراغ چشم ابرار است كز تيغ ستم همچو شمعش با تن عريان سر از پيكر جداستاين سرور سينه زهراست كز سم ستور سينه پر علمش از هر سو لگدكوب بلاستاين انيس جان پيغمبر حسين بن علي است كز سنان بن انس آزرده تيغ جفاستاين عزيز صاحب دلدل اباعبدالهست كز ستور افتاده بيياور بدشت كربلاستاين حبيب ساقي كوثر وصي بيسر است كز عروس روزگارش زهر در جام بقاستاين سرافراز بلنداختر كه در خون خفته است نايب شاه ولايت تاج فرق اولياستاين سهي سرو گزين كز پشت زين افتاده است جانشين شاه مردان شهسوار لافتاستاين مه فرخنده طلعت كاين زمينش مهبط است قرةالعين علي چشم و جراغ اوصياستاين در رخشنده گوهر كاين مقامش مخزنست درة التاج شه دين تاجدار هل اتاستاين دلآرام ولي حق اميرالمؤمنين كامكار انت مني نامدار انماست [ صفحه 474] اين گزين عترت حيدر امام المتقين پادشاه كشور دين پيشواي اتقياستپا درين مشهد بحرمت نه كه فرش انورش لالهرنگ از خون فرق نور چشم مرتضاستدوست را گرچشم ازين حسرت نگريد واي وي كز تأسف دشمنان را بر زبان واحسرتاستمردم و جن و ملك ز آه نبي در آتشند آري آري تعزيت را گرمي از صاحب عزاستميشود شام از شفق ظاهر كه بر بام فلك سرنگون از دوش دوران رايت آل عباستطفل مريم بر سپهر از اشك گلگون كرده سرخ مهد خود در شام غم همرنگ طفل اشك ماستخاكساراني كه بر رود [1459] علي بستند آب گو نگه داريد آبي كاتش او را در قفاستتيره گشت از روبهان مأواي شيري كز شرف كمترين جاي سگانش چشم آهوي خطاستايدل اينجا كعبه وصل است بگشا چشم جان كز صفا هر خشت اين، آيينه گيتي نماستزين حرم دامنكشان مگذر اگر عاقل [1460] نه اي كاستين حوريان جاروب اين جنت سراست [ صفحه 475] رتبهي اين بارگه بنگر كه زير قبهاش كافر صد ساله را چشم اجابت از دعاستيا ملاذ المسلمين در كفر عصيان ماندهام از خداوندم اميد رحمت و چشم عطاستيا اميرالمؤمنين از راندگان درگهم وز در آمرزگارم گوش بر بانگ صلاستيا امام المتقين از عاصيان امتم وز رسولم چشم خشنودي و اميد رضاستيا معزالمذنبين غرق كباير گشتهام وز تو در خواهي مرادم در حريم كبرياستيا شفيع المجرمين جرمم برون است از عدد وز تو مقصودم شفاعت پيش جدت مصطفاستيا امان الخائفين اينجا پناه آوردهام وز تو مطلوبم حمايت خاصه در روز جزاستيا اباعبدالله اينك تشنهي ابر كرم از پي يك قطره پويان بر لب بحر سخاستيا ولي الله گداي آستانت محتشم بر در عجز و نياز استاده بيبرگ و نواستمدتي شد كز وطن بهر تو دل بر كنده است وز ره دور و درازش رو در اين دولتسراستدارد از درماندگي دست دعا بر آسمان وز قبول تست حاصل آنچه او را مدعاست [ صفحه 476] از هواي نفس عصيان دوست هر چند اي امير جالس بزم گناه و راكب رخش خطاستچون غبارآلود دشت كربلا گرديده است گرد عصيان گر ز دامانش بيفشاني رواست
A Sky-Burning Sigh
This land filled with affliction is called the plain of Karbala. O heart without pain, where is your sigh that burns the heavens?
This desert is the place of slaughter of the thirst-parched Master (a.s.); O tongue, this is the time for lamentation, and O eye, the moment for weeping.
This atmosphere still bears the traces of the sighs of the oppressed; If the world becomes dark from the smoke of our sighs, it is only fitting.
This place was once the encampment of the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.); Today its tents are formed from the bubbles of our tears.
Here the ship of Imam Husain (a.s.)'s (a.s.) life sank in sorrow; Why should this shoreless flood not become an ocean of maternal tears?
Behold, behold this radiant dome whose light, from near and far, Illuminates the world and guides those who have lost their way.
Behold, behold the sacred sanctuary, where continually The wings of spiritual beings lie beneath the feet of the visitors.
Behold, behold this holy threshold, whose honor and dignity Make it a refuge for the heavenly beings and a sanctuary for the cherubim.
Behold, behold this luminous tomb before which The celestial treasury, with its thousands of pearls and jewels, is worthless.
Behold, behold the resting place of the exalted sovereign, At whose threshold even the Supreme Throne leans in support.
Behold, behold beneath the earth the cypress of the Prophet’s garden (s.a.w.a.), For whose lofty palm the stature of the heavens has bent in grief.
[ صفحه 473]
Behold, behold the rose-tree of the garden of Batul (a.s.), lying in blood, Whose breaking has torn the garment of the Houri-like Lady into shreds like a flower.
This is the light of the eyes of the righteous, who through the sword of oppression, Like a candle, was left with his head separated from his bare body.
This is the joy of the heart of Zahra (a.s.), whose chest, filled with knowledge, Was trampled from every side by the hooves of calamity.
This is the beloved companion of the soul of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), Imam Husain (a.s.) ibn Ali (a.s.), Who was wounded by the spear of Sinan ibn Anas and the sword of cruelty.
This is the beloved master of Duldul, Abu Abdillah (a.s.), Who fell without helper or supporter in the plain of Karbala.
This is the beloved of the giver of Kawthar and the successor left without supporters, For whom the bride of time mixed poison into the cup of eternity.
This noble one of lofty fortune who lies in blood Is the deputy of the King of Wilayah and the crown upon the heads of the saints.
This chosen cypress who fell from the saddle Is the successor of the King of Heroes, the rider of “laa fataa illaa Ali”.
This blessed-faced moon whose resting place is this earth Is the delight of Ali’s (a.s.) eyes and the light of all the successors.
This shining pearl whose treasure-house is this shrine Is the jewel of the crown of the King of Religion, the bearer of the taajdaar hal ataa.
This comfort of the heart of the Wali of Allah, Amir al-Mu'minin (a.s.), Is the one honored by the words “anta minni” and renowned through “innamaa”.
[ صفحه 474]
This chosen descendant of Haydar (a.s.), the Imam of the God-conscious (a.s.), Is the king of the realm of religion and the leader of the pious.
Enter this shrine with reverence, for its radiant floor Is tulip-red from the blood of the head of the light of the eyes of Murtada (a.s.).
Woe to the friend whose eyes do not weep from longing here, For even the enemies utter “waa-hasrataa” in regret.
Humankind, jinn, and angels burn from the sighs of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.); Indeed, the warmth of condolence comes from the one who suffered the loss.
The redness of twilight appears in the evening sky, As though the banner of the Family of the Cloak (a.s.) has fallen from the shoulders of time.
The son of Maryam (a.s.) has reddened his place in the heavens with crimson tears; His cradle in the night of grief has become the same color as our tears.
Let those wretches who blocked water from Ali’s (a.s.) river [1459] Preserve some water for themselves, for fire pursues them from behind.
The dwelling of a lion whose nobility was such That the lowest place of his dogs would be beyond the gaze of the gazelle, has been darkened by foxes.
O heart, this is the Ka'bah of union—open the eye of your soul, For every brick here, through its purity, is a mirror displaying the world.
Do not pass by this sanctuary carelessly if you are wise [1460], For the sleeves of the heavenly maidens sweep the floors of this paradise-like abode.
[ صفحه 475]
Look at the rank of this court: beneath its dome, Even a hundred-year unbeliever finds his supplication answered.
O refuge of the Muslims, I remain trapped in disbelief and disobedience; My hope is in Allah’s mercy and my gaze fixed upon His generosity.
O Amir al-Mu'minin (a.s.), I am among those driven away from the gate, Yet I listen for the call of forgiveness from the Forgiving Lord.
O Imam al-Muttaqin (a.s.), I am among the sinners of the community, Yet I seek the pleasure of the Messenger (s.a.w.a.) and hope for his approval.
O Exalter of the Sinful, I am drowned in major sins, And from you I seek my desire within the sanctuary of Divine Majesty.
O Intercessor of the Guilty, my sins are beyond counting, And from you I seek intercession before your grandfather, al-Mustafa (s.a.w.a.).
O Security of the Fearful, I have taken refuge here, And from you I seek protection, especially on the Day of Judgment.
O Aba Abdillah (a.s.), behold this one thirsty for the cloud of your generosity, Seeking a single drop while wandering upon the shore of the ocean of your bounty.
O Wali of Allah, Muhtasham, the beggar of your threshold, Stands at your door in humility and need, devoid of provision and wealth.
For a long time he has abandoned his homeland for your sake, And from a distant and lengthy road has turned his face toward this court.
In helplessness he raises his hands in supplication toward the heavens, And through your acceptance alone is his desire fulfilled.
[ صفحه 476]
Though, O Amir (a.s.), because of the passions of the soul and disobedience, He has sat in the gatherings of sin and ridden the steed of error,
Yet since he has become dust-covered by the plain of Karbala, It is fitting that you brush the dust of sin from his garment.