What is a Marsiya

The word ‘Marsiya’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘Risa’, meaning a great tragedy or lamentation for a departed soul. It was a common word, used for one and all. But after the major tragedy of Karbala, when on the 10th day of Moharram, Imam Hussain, (A.S.) the younger grand-son of the Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.W.) was martyred, hungry and thirsty along with his 71 relatives and companions by the unruly and merciless hoards of the tyrant king Yazid, ‘Marsiya’ became a word used exclusively to describe the Events of the Battle of Karbala and the Tragedy of Imam Hussain(AS).

If we look at a Marsiya in the light of its subject matter, it is a poetry full of pathos, love, emotions, bravery, patriotism and the ultimate sacrifice. No other form of poetry gives the writer as much space to portray their creativity and knowledge as a Marsiya does. Mir Anees that succeeded in making marsiya-goi the most creative form of poetry. Mir Babar Ali Anees, a Musavi sayyed i.e. decendent of the 7th Holy Imam Hazrat Moosa Kazim(as), belonged to a family of poets. Mir Anees’ father, Mir Khaleeq who was a famous poet and litterateur, took personal interest in the education and upbringing of his son, and entrusted him to the care of reputed contemporary teachers, Mir Najaf Ali Faizabadi and Maulvi Hyder Ali Lucknavi. In addition, Anees’s mother who was an educated and pious lady, played a significant role in shaping the personality of the boy poet. But above all, it was the boy’s own instinctive urge for learning and literature that made him an accomplished poet, proficient in Arabic and Persian scriptures, and well-versed in logic, literature and philosophy. Poetry came to him as ancestral heritage, for his forbears, going back to his great grandfather, were eminent poets and men of letters. Mir Anees was the grandson of Mir Hasan who is remembered for his immortal Masnavi, Sehir-ul-Bayaan. Mir Zaahak, great grandfather of Mir Anees, was also a poet. Mir Anees has mentioned him in the verse below as Jadd-e-Aali. Other poets from his family are his uncles, his father Mir Khaleeq’s brothers, Mir Khulq and Mir Makhlooq. Mir Anees’ younger brothers Mir Uns and Mir Monis too were known for their marsiyas. Mir Anees groomed his sons into fine poets. Their names are Mir Raees, Mir Nafees and Mir Salees. Among his nephews Mir Waheed, son of Mir Uns, was famous. His parents had migrated in their old age to Lucknow, where he spent the best part of his life. Arther E Hudson in his book, Epics of the Western World, says:“An Epic is a poem embodying a noble story told in a noble verse. A more stringent definition is almost impossible; yet any attempt at such definition must use words like grand, noble, universal. Poetry to attain Epic structure, must possess above all else the qualities contained in these words and the Epic poet must tell of people, their actions and emotions, in such a way that his story expresses everything about the world. The material of the Epic poet, are the ideal customs, traditions and the moral values of the whole society.” L.M. Bowra in his book, From Virgil to Milton, says:“An Epic is by common consent a narrative of some length and deals with events which have a certain grandeur and importance and come from a life of action, especially of violent action such as war. It gives a special pleasure because it’s events and persons enhance our belief in the worth of human achievement and in the dignity and nobility of man.”

Jaunpur is also famous for marsiya khwani.My Grand father marhoom Syed Mohammad Nasir Ali, was famous for marsiya khwani and till date his grand and grand grand son continuing this.

Marsiya By Syed Mohammad Ahsan Jaunpuri

 

Marsiya by Syed Ali Ahsan

Shabeeh-e-Imaam-e-Zamaa’nShabeeh-e-Imam-e-Zamaa khenchte hain

Tassavur meintasveer-e-jaa’n khenchte hain

Zameedar seraab hain Karbala ke

Azeeyat Imam-e-Zamaa’n khenchte hain

Jagaa mol li hai mazaaro’n ki khatir

Zamee’n pe Shah-e-Dee’n nishaa’n khenchte hain

Idher khushq hai Fatima ki zara’at

Wo kheto’n me aab-e-rawaa’n khenchte hain

Hawa lagne deti na thi jis ko bulbul

Wahi gul jafa-e-khizaa’n khenchte hain

Kahaan bediyaan aur kahaan paay-e-Abid

Ye langar kahin natawaa’n khenchte hain

Ajab haal hai Dukhtar-e-Fatima ka

Rida sar se eezarawaa’n khenchte hain

Pukaarien Sakina duhaai hai baba

Sitamgar meri baaliyaa’n khenchte hain

Kati jaatein hain gardanein Bibiyon ki

Rasan ko jo eezarawaa’n khenchte hain

Ye aalam hai furqat mein kehti thein Zehra

Ke rag rag se jis tarha jaa’n khenchte hain

Kaha Sheh ne “Hushyaar ai qaum-e-nari”

Hum ab taigh-e-aatish fishaa’n khenchte hain

Qalam youn hai kagaz pet ham tham ke chalta

Qadam jis tarha natawaa’n khenchte hain

Bohot baagh duniya ke kaanto se uljhay

Bas ab rakhs soo-e-jinaa’n khenchte hain

Qadam bediyon mein, hain rassi mein bazoo

Ye dukh Aabid-e-natawaa’n khenchte hain

Kaha ro ke Akbar ne “Ai dard tham jaa”

Kaleje se baba sinaa’n khenchte hain

Bohot hum ko peesa hai, ik din tujhay bhi

Shikanje mein ai aasmaa’n khenchte hain

Mohabbat ka rishta nihayat hai nazuk

Mujhay kis liye qadrdaa’n khenchte hain

Qaree sar ke hai aaftaab-e-Qayamat

Lehed par abas saaibaa’n khenchte hain

Dikha doo Zameen-e-Najaf ki bulandi

Bohot aap ko aasmaa’n khenchte hain

Nas-e-ghum ki shiddat se kehte thay Abid

Ajab sakhtiyaa istakhwaa’n khenchte hain

Zamee ke tale jin ko jaana hai ik din

Wok yon sar ko ta aasmaa’n khenchte hain

Faqeeron ne yaa paav phaila diye hain

Ajab haath ahl-e-jafaa’n khenchte hain

Abas hai adu dar pe ai qatl-e-Asghar

Ye eezaa kahin bezabaa’n khenchte hain

Wo hain pehelwaa, hum jo qoowat dikhayein

Falak pe sipar kehkashaa’n khenchte hain

Sukhan hai agar baa’is-e-tulkh kaami

To hum aap apni zabaa’n khenchte hain

ANEES is zamee’n mein bohot kam hai wus’at

Kumait-e-qalam ki inaa’n khenchte hain