About the Poem
| Author | Purnam Allahabadi |
| Time Period | 20th century CE |
| Languages | Urdu |
| Type | nazm [salaam] |
| Meter | – = = = / – = = = / – = = = / – = = = hazaj musamman saalim |
Introduction
The Battle of Karbala (680 CE) has captured the minds of Muslim thinkers, writers, poets, and artists for centuries. In that tragic conflict, the prophet Muhammad’s grandson Husayn ibn Ali was killed alongside his family and supporters by the tyrannical forces of Yazid. The sorrow and trauma of this injustice gave rise to a rich tradition of commemorative poetry, literature, art, and even theater, especially in the Shi’a community. Shi’i Muslims mark the anniversary of the heroic sacrifice of Husayn every year on the day of Ashura and forty days later on Chehlum (also known as Arba’een).
In Urdu literature, several poetic forms exist to honor the sacrifice of Husayn. These include the marsiya, noha, soz, and salaam. The salaam follows the couplet-based structure of the ghazal. Purnam Allahabadi (1948-1997), a notable Pakistani poet, penned a salaam that opens with the line “Salaami Karbala Men Kya”. This poem was sung beautifully by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (1948-1997) as a qawwali titled “Ya Husain”. In 1995, the track was released on an EP titled Ya Hussain Ya Hussain.
Before Purnam’s verses, the beginning of the qawwali includes a famous ruba’i, or quatrain, that is attributed to the great Persian mystic and scholar Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (1143–1236). Chishti migrated to India during the period of the Delhi Sultanate and was responsible for spreading the Chishtiyya order of Sufism in the region. The Chishtiyya order later became famous for pioneering Sufi devotional music in South Asia, particularly qawwali.
“Ya Husain” characterizes Husayn as the ultimate tragic hero, who sacrificed his own life for the greater good and serves as an archetype for other believers to follow. The qawwali recounts the tribulations of Karbala, like the attempt by Abbas ibn Ali to retrieve water for Husayn’s daughter Sakina, as well as the deaths of Husayn and his eldest son Ali Akbar. Ultimately, however, the qawwali ends on a triumphant note. In the afterlife, good is victorious over evil, as Husayn’s sacrifice will be recognized by God and contribute to the salvation of the Muslim ummah (community).
Featured Rendition
Text, Transliteration, and Translation
Urdu (Unverified Author)
شہیدِ کربلا کی مومنو جب یاد آتی ہے
शहीद-ए-कर्बला की मोमिनो जब याद आती है
shaheed-e karbala ki momino jab yaad aati hai
Whenever we remember the martyr of Karbala, O believers,
تڑپ جاتی ہے دنیا خون کے آنسو بہاتی ہے
तड़प जाती है दुनिया ख़ून के आंसू बहाती है
taRap jaati hai dunya khoon ke aansoo bahaati hai
The world anguishes and sheds tears of blood!
یا حسین یا حسین
या हुसैन या हुसैन
ya husain ya husain
O Husayn, O Husayn!
Farsi (Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti)
شاہ است حسین بادشاہ است حسین
शाह अस्त हुसैन बादशाह अस्त हुसैन
shaah ast husain baadshaah ast husain
Husayn is king, Husayn is emperor!
دین است حسین دین پناہ است حسین
दीन अस्त हुसैन दीन-पनाह अस्त हुसैन
deen ast husain deen-panaah ast husain
Husayn is faith, Husayn is the guardian of faith!
سر داد نہ داد دست در دستِ یزید
सर दाद न दाद दस्त दर दस्त-ए-यज़ीद
sar daad na daad dast dar dast-e yazeed
He offered his head, not his hand, to Yazid’s hand.
حقّا کہ بنائے لا الٰہ است حسین
हक़्क़ा के बिना-ए-ला-इलाह अस्त हुसैन
haqqa ke bina-e la-ilaah ast husain
Indeed, Husayn is the basis of the declaration of faith!
Urdu (Unverified Author)
سجدے میں سر کٹانے کو آخر کٹا دیا
सजदे में सर कटाने को आख़िर कटा दिया
sajde meN sar kaTaane ko aakhir kaTa diya
While in prostration, he ultimately had his head cut off,
لیکن خدا کے نام کا ڈنکا بجا دیا
लेकिन ख़ुदा के नाम का डंका बजा दिया
lekin khuda ke naam ka Danka baja diya
But he made God’s name reverberate around the world.
یا حسین یا حسین
या हुसैन या हुसैन
ya husain ya husain
O Husayn, O Husayn!
دید کی گر تلاش ہے سر کو جھکا نماز میں
दीद की गर तलाश है सर को झुका नमाज़ में
deed ki gar talaash hai sar ko jHuka namaaz meN
If you wish to see God, bow your head in prayer.
دل سے خودی کو دور کر خود کو متا نماز میں
दिल से ख़ुदी को दूर कर ख़ुद को मिटा नमाज में
dil se khudi ko door kar khud ko miTa namaaz meN
Expel your ego from your heart; erase yourself through prayer!
آئے گا تجھ کو تب نظر روئے خدا نماز میں
आएगा तुझको तब नज़र रू-ए-ख़ुदा नमाज़ में
aa’e ga tujH ko tab nazar roo-e khuda namaaz meN
To see the Face of God in prayer, you will need to
پہلے حسین کی طرح سر کو کٹا نماز میں
पहले हुसैन की तरह सर को कटा नमाज़ में
pehle husain ki tarah sar ko kaTa namaaz meN
First sacrifice your own self, like Husayn, in prayer!
اور کہہ یا حسین یا حسین
और कह या हुसैन या हुसैन
aur keh ya Husain ya Husain
And call out, “O Husayn, O Husayn!”
کس کی مجال اے حسین کس کو ہو تجھ سے ہم سری
किसकी मजाल ऐ हुसैन किसको हो तुझसे हमसरी
kis ki majaal ai husain kis ko ho tujH se ham-sari
Who has the audacity, O Husayn, to claim parity with you?
باپ کے گھر امامتیں نانا کے گھر پیمبری
बाप के घर इमामतें नाना के घर पयंबरी
baap ke gHar imaamateN naana ke gHar payambari
Your father’s house was granted the imamate, and your grandfather’s house prophethood.
شکلِ حسین دیکھ کر حق بھی کہے گا حشر میں
शक्ल-ए-हुसैन देख कर हक़ भी कहेगा हश्र में
shakl-e husain dekH kar haqq bHi kahe ga hashr meN
Looking at the face of Husayn, the Truth [God] too will say,
اے میرے مصطفیٰ کے لال اُمّتِ مصطفیٰ بریں
ऐ मेरे मुस्तफ़ा के लाल उम्मते मुस्तफ़ा बरी
ai mere mustafa ke laal ummat-e mustafa bareeN
“O grandson of Mustafa, his community shall be raised high [to heaven]!”
یا حسین یا حسین
या हुसैन या हुसैन
ya husain ya husain
O Husayn, O Husayn!
Urdu (Purnam Allahabadi)
سلامی کربلا میں کیا قیامت کی گھڑی ہو گی
सलामी कर्बला में क्या क़यामत की घड़ी होगी
salaami karbala meN kya qayamat ki gHaRi ho gi
At Karbala, there were no salutations! It was like the hour of the Apocalypse
چھری شبیر کی گردن پہ جس دم چل رہی ہو گی
छुरी शब्बीर की गर्दन पे जिस दम चल रही होगी
chHuri shabbeer ki gardan pe jis dam chal rahi ho gi
At the moment when the knife came down on Shabbir’s throat.
کلیجہ تھام کر پیرِ فلک بھی رہ گیا ہو گا
कलेजा थाम कर पीर-ए-फ़लक भी रह गया होगा
kaleja tHaam kar peer-e falak bHi reh gaya ho ga
Even the sky must have been stunned, grasping its heart
کلیجے پر علی اکبر کے برچھی جب لگی ہوگی
कलेजे पर अली अकबर के बर्छी जब लगी होगी
kaleje par ‘ali akbar ke barchHi jab lagi ho gi
When the dagger struck the heart of Ali Akbar!
مجھے جانے دو پانی بھر کے یہ عباس کہتے تھے
मुझे जाने दो पानी भर के यह अब्बास कहते थे
mujHe jaane do paani bHar ke ye ‘abbaas kehte tHe
“Allow me to go and fetch water!” is what Abbas said,
کئی دن کی پیاسی ہے سکینہ رو رہی ہو گی
कई दिन की पियासी है सकीना रो रही होगी
ka’i din ki piyaasi hai sakeena ro rahi ho gi
“Sakina has been thirsty for days and must be crying!”
لٹی ہے جیسے دنیا کربلا میں ابنِ حیدر کی
लुटी है जैसे दुनिया कर्बला में इब्न-ए-हैदर की
luTi hai jaise dunya karbala meN ibn-e haidar ki
The way that the son of Haydar’s world was destroyed at Karbala,
کسی مظلوم کی دنیا نہ دنیا میں لٹی ہو گی
किसी मज़लूम की दुनिया न दुनिया में लुटी होगी
kisi mazloom ki dunya na dunya meN luti ho gi
No victim’s world has ever been destroyed like that on earth.
محمد کے نواسے نے جو کی تیغوں کے سائے میں
मुहम्मद के नवासे ने जो की तेग़ों के साए में
muhammad ke navaaase ne jo ki teghoN ke saa’e meN
The way the grandson of Muhammad prayed under the shadow of swords,
بشر تو کیا فرشتوں سے نہ ایسی بندگی ہو گی
बशर तो क्या फ़रिश्तों से न ऐसी बंदगी होगी
bashar to kya farishtoN se na aisi bandagi ho gi
Not even angels, let alone humans, could worship in that way!
نبی سے پیشتر محشر میں اُمّت بخشوانے کو
नबी से पेशतर महशर में उम्मत बख़्शवाने को
nabi se peshtar mehshar meN ummat bakhshvaane ko
Before the Prophet, to plead for the ummah on Judgment Day,
حسین ابنِ علی آئیں گے دنیا دیکھتی ہو گی
हुसैन इब्ने अली आएंगे दुनिया देखती होगी
husain ibn-e ‘ali aa’eN ge dunya dekHti ho gi
Husayn, son of Ali, will arrive, while the world will watch!
ہمارے خون کے بدلے میں اُمّت بخش دے یا رب
हमारे ख़ून के बदले में उम्मत बख़्श दे या रब्ब
hamaare khoon ke badle meN ummat bakhsh de ya rabb
“Forgive the ummah in exchange for my blood, O Lord!”
خدا سے حشر میں یہ التجا شبیر کی ہو گی
ख़ुदा से हश्र में यह इल्तिजा शब्बीर की होगी
khuda se hashr meN ye iltija shabbeer ki ho gi
That will be Shabbir’s plea to God on Judgment Day!
بڑے غم خوار ہیں وہ غم نہ کر بخشش کا اے پرنمؔ
बड़े ग़म-ख़्वार हैं वह ग़म न कर बख़्शिश का ऐ पुरनम
baRe gham-khwaar haiN vo gham na kar bakhshish ka ai purnam
He [Husayn] is a great consoler, so do not bemoan your fate, O Purnam!
کرم سے پنجتن کے حشر میں بخشش تری ہو گی
करम से पंजतन के हश्र में बख़्शिश तिरी होगी
karam se panjtan ke hashr meN bakshish tiri ho gi
By the grace of the Holy Five, you shall be pardoned on Judgment Day!
یا حسین یا حسین
या हुसैन या हुसैन
ya husain ya husain
O Husayn, O Husayn!
Urdu (Unverified Author)
جب جان نکے تن سے لب پر میرے ہو کیا
जब जान तन से निकले लब पर मेरे हो क्या
jab jaan nikle tan se lab par mere ho kya
What should be on my lips when my soul leaves my body?
یا حسین یا حسین
या हुसैन या हुसैन
ya husain ya husain
“O Husayn, O Husayn!”
حسن کی ابتدا ہے کون عشق کی انتہا ہے کون
हुस्न की इब्तिदा है कौन इश्क की इंतिहा है कौन
husn ki ibtida hai kaun ‘ishq ki intiha hai kaun
Who is the source of beauty and the utmost limit of love?
یا حسین یا حسین
या हुसैन या हुसैन
ya husain ya husain
O Husayn, O Husayn!
* Note on names: Haydar is another name for Ali, so the “son of Haydar” mentioned in the poem is Husayn. Shabbir is also another name for Husayn. The panjtan or Holy Five include the prophet Muhammad, his daughter Fatima, her husband Ali, and their two sons Hasan and Husayn.
Further Reading and References
- On Sufinama, you can read other works by Purnam Allahabadi. [link]
- On Apple Music, you can find basic information about the 1995 EP Ya Hussain Ya Hussain. [link]
- Newman, Andrew J. “Battle of Karbala.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 9 February 2023. This encyclopedia entry has more historical information about the Battle of Karbala, in which Husayn was killed. [link]
- Akhtar, Suleman. “From Mystics to Marxists: Karbala in South Asian Culture.” Dawn. 21 October 2015. This article explains the impact of the Battle of Karbala on Islamic mysticism and poetry. [link]
Further Listening
- Live performance by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in Bradford, UK in 1983 [link]
- Cover by Amjad Baltistani, with some different lyrics, from 2022 [link]
Suggested Citation
Shad, Hamza. “Ya Husain: The Tragedy of Karbala.” The Khusrau Circle. 4 September 2023. https://www.khusrau.com/ya-husain.