لَو كان يدري يوم عاشوراء

مـا كان يجري فيه من بلاء

مـا لاح فـجره ولا استنارا

What calamity in it went on.

Had `Ashura Day only known

Its light would not have shown,

Its aura would not have dawned,

Its grief stole from the days their light.

Its sun would not have been bright,

O Allah! What a momentous day!

And so every month, and so every day.

Everyone from the family of Ayat al-Tat-heer

It removed my patience, out did it my sleep wear,

That Day the life of every hafiz was robbed,

Was either slain or in the dust rubbed;

On that very Day, Ashura day...

And the creed in grief almost passed away.

As the faithful's eyes wept.

The foes' eyes slept

How under the hooves the ribs were low,

Woe upon me and many a woe

A severed head did appear.

And atop every spear

Grieving women coming out of the chamber

And on the plains the corpses did scatter:

And a suckling woman lolling her babe, crying:

Wailing, crying, frightened by the danger,

And women taken captive on she-camels bare

Their protectors from them did depart,

Their veils taken away, agonized, wearing a stare;

Was only to mourn, to weep, and to wail,

Whereas the Turks eat, drink, laugh and feast...