A Mercy Case

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

يا أرحم الراحمين