The year I don’t see his grave… is the year I become blind
The Arbaeen I’m not there… rest assured, is the day I’ve died
* * *
Be it that I’m full of youth or that I’m frail and old
His shrine gives me warmth and without it I’m frail and cold
God forgive me, if on Judgement Day I’m asked when called
“You missed Arbaeen once – of its greatness weren’t you told?”
When I’m called for questioning… with dust in my hair I’ll come
Holding the flag that I held… when I walked to Ali’s son
Whatever I lost in life… on that walk much more I’d find
The Arbaeen I’m not there… rest assured, is the day I’ve died
* * *
I smelt the dust of my Heaven, walking on that road
The dust that rose travelled with me to Heaven’s abode
Perhaps because the flood of Noah’s ark here once flowed
And upon it Hussain’s ship of salvation had rode
I saw waves flow to his grave… waves of souls and of people
I saw him take them with him… when his ship had set sail
The people he took with him… on the road to him had dined
The Arbaeen I’m not there… rest assured, is the day I’ve died
* * *
It was once upon this road, that they walked as captives
Yet alongside her daughters, know that Zainab still lives
I see that flags into our hands, Ruqaya’s hand gives
The walk of the Queen of Hashim each walker relives
But remember as we walk… as in our eyes trickles tears
We all walk by mawakib… Zainab walked by heads on spears
The stars that sit in the sky… with mawakib are aligned
The Arbaeen I’m not there… rest assured, is the day I’ve died
* * *
Yes we walk yearly on this road, the road of the free
But would we return if impossible it would be?
Recall those who were executed for walking on this way
Those who when they reached Hussain’s grave, for their lives they’d pray
O’ Allah make me of those… when by Hussain’s grave they’d stand
Had no left hand to be cut… so had offered their right hand
When presented with their deaths… for Hussain they gladly signed
The Arbaeen I’m not there… rest assured, is the day I’ve died
* * *
The walk to Heaven is reserved for the courageous
Is step a Hajj and Umra and a step on ISIS
When I see my flag flutter, I see fall terrorists
Those blessed to walk on this road are reserved for greatness
No, I am not arrogant… but I know well of my worth
Those that kill us on this road… cannot be of a pure birth
I saw those who know of God… leave their work and home behind
The Arbaeen I’m not there… rest assured, is the day I’ve died
* * *
Those who visit believe in God and in God alone
As narrations say, it’s like visiting Allah’s throne
The believers cry as on his grave themselves they’ve thrown
“Peace be upon the flesh that still remains on these bones”
As we hold onto those bars… and wonder – what is Heaven,
If it’s not here saluting… the last of Ali’s children?
We thank Allah for we are… the luckiest of mankind
The Arbaeen I’m not there… rest assured, is the day I’ve died
* * *
The day I die and my body’s placed into the ground
In distress of yearning Hussain’s grave, my head I’ll pound
But know if any miss me, to return I’ll be bound
Every Arbaeen, on that walk, my soul can be found
Take a look at those walking… you’ll find me still amongst them
Or you’ll find me at the end… in his shrine doing maatam
And if any need a prayer… just ask my grave, I won’t mind
The Arbaeen I’m not there… rest assured, is the day I’ve died
* * *
(London – 29/10/16)