there is a debate
between nominalism and essentialism
are words just words or do they point to realities
is Islam a word or is it a reality
Husayn’s deeds
speak realities that human words can never fully convey
your mind cannot encompass it
which is why the tears flow through your body like waves
slowly ripping you from this world
as soul is teared from body
dying before you die
as the most essential part of you fights with everything it has
to be free from all of this
free from all these words
it is enough to know that the son of Husayn died at Karbala
enough to bring you through every disappointment, trial and confusion
enough to make you bow down in fear-laced gratitude
for if such a precious human being can be slaughtered
than anything is possible
in the name of Islam
every ugliness, cruelty, deception, and lie
can be clothed in the garb of Arabic words
but none of it can stain
the deeds of the Moon of Banu Hashim
as if the falling water
washes away anything impure
before any book other than the Qur’an was written down
these deeds blazed in history
eternal testimonies
الثقلين
each yearning for the Pool
so i say again
before the final moment of ‘Ashura comes
that my body is yours
Husayn, ‘Abbas, and ‘Ali al-Akbar
i don’t want it anymore
it is for you
and please forgive me for spending so many years
thinking i deserve better than you
accept me into your army like Hurr
my masters, if I could see you tonight
i would not write these words
but i cannot
and so i sacrifice something of my eyes and fingertips
something of my time
for your honor
for your continued memory
i intend it as nothing other than a manifestation of
ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ
please pray that our Lord accepts it from me
that this will not be just another string of words
but emerge as eternally felicitous realities
A Mercy Case 
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