10 Muharram 1442
Karbala Lament: "The Field of Misfortune" from the Rawdat al-Shuhada’
Sung by Abdal Hakim Murad, Mohsin Badat and Kenneth Cook
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Rawdat al-Shuhada’ picks up the story where the Burdah leaves off and takes us through to Karbala.
Written by Imam Husayn Vaiz Kashifi (d.1505), it recalls the sufferings of the Ahl ul-Bayt and the reward that lies in wait for them in the next world.
Originally written in Farsi, this devotional hymn has been overlooked until recently in the English speaking world but was once sung in awe amongst the peoples within the Ottoman and Mughal empires.
Booklet and audio recording available at http://www.hubooks.com
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The Field of Misfortune
Upon the field of misfortune
All my people lie
Their ruddy wounds all untended
Open to the sky.
The devil’s blade has been fashioned
In the blaze of hate,
Its poison spirit impassioned
In its fiery fate.
The edge knows thirst that is rabid
Questing here its point
To holy flesh for its scabbard
Blood it shall anoint.
The rainless airs of the valley
Hear my lonely cry
The widowed daughters of Ali
Teach the dust to sigh.
Behold Abbas, hero regal
Hear Sakina’s thirst
Father of grace of the eagle
place that maiden first.
To see the blood of my brothers
dye the sorry sands
to hear the keening of mothers
cheeks clenched in their hands.
So teach the ways of fair patience
To the weak and wronged.
Strengthen with hope and forbearance
wretchedness prolonged.
Ya rahmanu
Ya hannanu
Ya rahimana
Anta ghafarul masawi
tub ‘alayna.
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Special lectures & talks from Cambridge Muslim College.