Poem About Martyrdom

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1. أَأَخُيَّ لَا تَشْكُو الْمَذَلَّةَ بَاكِيًا * فَإِلَى مَتَى سَتَظَلُّ تَبْكِي شَاكِيًا

   Oh my brother, do not complain of humiliation while weeping, for how long will you remain weeping and complaining?

2. أَتَطِيبُ نَفْسًا أَنْ تَثِيرَ مَدَامِعِي * مِثْلَ النَّوَائِحِ يَنْتَحِبْنَ سَوَاسِيًا

   Do you find ease of soul in stirring my tears like the wailing women who lament together alike?

3. أَتَظُنُّ أَنَّ الْعِزَّ يُرْجِعُهُ الْبُكَا * فَالْمَجْدُ صَارَ قَصَائِدًا وَأَمَانِيًا

   Do you think that weeping will bring back honour, for glory has become mere poems and wishes.

4. قُلْ لِي بِرَبِّكَ هَلْ تُرِيدُ نَصِيحَتِي * إِنِّي سَأَلْتُكَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لِسُؤَالِيَا

   Tell me, by your Lord, do you want my advice? Indeed, I have questioned you, so listen to my question.

5. أَوَلَيْسَ مَوْتِي فِي حَيَاتِي مَرَّةً * لِمَ لَا يَكُونُ خِتَامُهَا اسْتِشْهَادِيًّا

   Isn’t my death only once in my life? Why should it not be sealed with martyrdom?

6. لَمَّا سَمَتْ نَفْسُ الشَّهِيدِ مَطَالِبًا * أَعْلَى الْإِلَٰهُ لَهُ الْمَكَانَةَ عَالِيًا

   When the soul of the martyr rose high in its aspirations, Allah raised for him a lofty rank.

7. فِي جَوْفِ طَيْرٍ فِي الْجِنَانِ مُحَلِّقًا * وَمُغَرِّدًا فَوْقَ الْقُصُورِ وَشَادِيًا

   Within the belly of a bird, soaring in the gardens, and singing above the palaces, chanting joyfully.

8. مَعَ أَصْفِيَاءِ الْخَلْقِ فِي فِرْدَوْسِهَا * وَالْأَنْبِيَاءُ وَصَحْبُهُمْ جِيرَانِيَا

   With the chosen ones of creation in its Firdaws, and the prophets and their companions as neighbours.

9. وَأَرَى إِلَهَ الْعَالَمِينَ كَمَا يُرَى * بَدْرُ التَّمَامِ عَلَى الْمَشَارِفِ بَادِيًا

   And I see the Lord of the worlds as is seen فhe full moon, appearing upon the horizons.

10. سَبْعٌ يَفُوزُ بِهَا الشَّهِيدُ كَرَامَةً * إنْ كُنْتَ ذَا لُبٍّ فَقُلْ لِي مَا هِيَا

    Seven things the martyr attains as an honour; if you possess understanding, then tell me what they are.

11. الذَّنبُ يُغفَرُ عِندَ أَوَّلِ قَطْرَةٍ * وَأَرَى الْمَكَانَةَ فِي المَنَازِلِ عَالِيًا

    The sin is forgiven at the very first drop (of blood), and I see my rank among the abodes as high.

12. وَالْقَبْرُ يُؤمَنُ هَوْلُهُ وَعَذَابُهُ * يَا فَرْحَةً وَمِنَ الْقِيَامَةِ نَاجِيًا

    And the terror of the grave and its punishment are made safe. What a joy — and I am saved from the day of Resurrection.

13. وَمُتَوَّجًا تَاجَ الْوَقَارِ وَشَافِعًا * فِي ذِي الْقَرَابَةِ قَاصِيًا أَوْ دَانِيًا

    And crowned with the crown of dignity, and an intercessor for relatives, whether distant or near.

14. وَالْحُورُ تَرْقُبُ فِي اشْتِيَاقٍ مُقْبِلِي * يَا قُبْلَةً هِيَ دَائِيَ وَدَوَائِيَا

    And the houris watch, in longing, my approach. Oh kiss — it will be my ailment and my cure.

15. طَرْفُ الْعُيُونِ لِوَجْنَتَيْهَا جَارِحٌ * سُكْرُ الجَمَالِ بَلَحْظِهَا مُتَعَدِّيًا

    The gaze of her eyes in her cheeks is wounding. Intoxicating beauty overflows from her gaze.

16. لَمَّا رَأَتْ عَيْنَايَ لَحْظَ عُيُونِهَا * سَكَنَتْ لَذَائِذُ لَحْظِهَا أَعْمَاقِيَا

    When my eyes saw the glance of her eyes, the pleasures of her gaze settled deep within me.

17. لَمَّا نَظَرْتُ احْتَرْتُ فِي قَسَمَاتِهَا * أَيَّ الثِّمارِ يَنَالُ ثَغْرِي جَانِيًا

    When I looked at her, I was bewildered by her features: Which fruit will my mouth pluck first?

18. فَاقَتْ خَيَالَ المَادِحِينَ لَوْصْفِهَا * صُبَّ الجَمَالُ عَلَى الجَمَالِ فَأَرْوِيَا

    She surpasses the imagination of those who praise her. Beauty poured upon beauty, until it overflowed.