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Captain Mir Abbas Ali Abedi is a popular Urdu
poet of Hyderabad e Deccan. His poetry is aesthetic in nature and his
sole aim in writing poetry was to portray Ahle Bayt e Athar (The pure and
pious family of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him) and give his best in
poetry till the rim of his artistic satisfaction. He was bestowed with
the laquab or title Shayar e Abuturab i. e., Poet of Abuturab (Abuturab is
the title of Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Cousin and Later Son in Law of Prophet
Mohammad, peace be upon him). He has written Rubaiyat (Quatrain, which
is a complete poem, with aaba rhyming pattern.), Salam (a
lyrical salutation or respectful ceremonial greeting), Noha (a short lyrical
dirge or lament), Soz (an impassioned style of poetry) and Marsia’s (elegiac
poems in Musaddas format i.e., six lines of stanzas). His books on poetry are Nade
Ali, Yaade Ali, Ya Hussain, Ya Sakina Ya Abbas and Ya Sahebuz Akheeruz Zaman. By
nature he had a friendly disposition and was helpful to people around him and
was honest in his dealings with one and all. Some of his
contemporaries were Sayeed Shaheedi, Sajid Razvi, Qayam Jaffery, Syed Ali
Murtuza Abedi alias Tabah and Mir Abul Qasim Moosavi. This paper aims to
study the different shades of poetry of Captain Mir Abbas Ali Abedi.
Keywords: Ahle bait e Athar (The pure and pious
family of Prophet Mohammad), Manqabat, Rubai, Salam, Marsia (in Musaddas
format i.e., six lines verses)
Introduction
Captain Mir Abbas Ali Abedi was one of the
talented and optimistic Modern Urdu Poets of Hyderabad e Deccan. His
poetry depicts love and awe of Ahle Bait e Athar. (The pure and pious family
of Prophet Mohammad, peace by upon him) He was the owner of an
admirable temperament and was tall, fair and striking. He has been in
the Army of Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur (the last Nizam of the Princely State
of Hyderabad and Berar) and held the post of Lieutenant Colonel.
He was popularly known as Captain Mir Abbas Ali Abedi in the circle of his
friends and relatives. As he has written many beautiful Manqabat on Ali
Ibn Abi Talib (Brother and later Son-In-Law of Prophet Mohammad, peace be
upon him) therefore he was bestowed with the laquab or title
Shayar-e-Abuturab. (Abuturab means Father of the soil; this title was
bestowed to Ali Ibn Abi Talib.)
He was born in 1919 and expired on 12th April
1999. His father’s name was Hakim Mir Mohammad Hussain Abedi Shirazi
and he was an Advocate by profession and mother’s name was Shaher Bano.
He had four sons namely, Syed Zain ul Abedien Abedi, Syed Hussain
Abedi, Syed Aun Abedi and (Late) Syed Mahdi Hasan Abedi and two daughters,
Sayeed Fatima and Shaher Bano Fatima. His books on poetry
are Nade Ali, Yaade Ali, Ya Hussain, Ya Sakina Ya Abbas and Ya
Sahebuz Akheeruz Zaman. He has written Rubaiyat (Quatrain, which is
a complete poem, with aaba rhyming pattern.), Salam (a
lyrical salutation or respectful ceremonial greeting), Noha (a short lyrical
dirge or lament), Soz (an impassioned style of poetry) and Marsia’s (elegiac
poems in Musaddas format i.e., six lines of stanzas). He was taught the
rules and regulations of poetry by Syed Najmuddin Turabi Alias Ustad Anjum
who was one of the well-known poets. Some of his contemporaries were
Sayeed Shaheedi, Sajid Razvi, Qayam Jafferi, Syed Ali Murtuza Abedi alias
Tabah and Mir Abul Qasim Moosavi.
His poetry was loved and admired by one and
all. He was engulfed in the praise and passion of Ahle Bayt e Athar
(the pure and pious family of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him). He
used to write and recite his poetry with lot of devotion and fervor and had
melodious voice and he used his voice in the Madi’h or praise of Ahle Bait.
His first Manqabat was published in the year 1959 and it was written on the
wedding of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (Cousin and later Son in Law of Prophet
Mohammad, peace be upon him) and Fatima Zehra (the daughter of Prophet
Mohammad, peace be upon him) known as Aqd e Ali Wa Zehra. It
was praised and admired much by all.
After his retirement he continued working for the
Nizam of Hyderabad as a palace officer for twenty two years at Falaknuma and
Cheeran Palace. He also worked as an administrator in the graveyard of
Daire Mir Momin and used to help momineen (people with faith) in various
facets of tadfien or funeral services. He used to involve himself in
various religious activities especially in the month of Moharram (Mourning
season of Hussain Ibn Ali) in the Bargah (congregation hall) of Abbas Ibn Ali
(the younger brother of Hussain Ibn Ali) and Aza Khana e Zehra (congregation
hall named after Prophet Mohammad’s daughter Fatima Zehra).
Perusal of Stanzas
When it comes to poetry writing Captain Abbas
Abedi is one of those poets who justify his characters with realistic and
sensible touches. His poetry is richly textured and explores in-depth
connections of human-psyche touching various emotions like; love in
relationships, grief, depression, nostalgia and emotional touches of joy and
happiness.
To understand the poetic lines of Captain Abbas
Abedi’s Manqabat titled Aqd e Ali WA Zehra let us have a
brief insight about the preface of that era. While growing in the home
of Prophet Mohammad and Khatija the most pious parents, Fatima Az-Zehra, the
daughter of Prophet Mohammad was endowed with excellent morals and was
perfected in faith and piety. And after the demise of his beloved wife
Khatija, Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, the messenger of God, gave
maximum concentration on the training and nurturing of his daughter Fatima
Az-Zehra. With his upbringing she became the description of divine morality
and goodness. She was the archetype of loveliness, sophistication,
radiance and style. By her devout compliance and service to God, Fatima
Az-Zehra rose to highest rank in the eyes of God.
In ‘Nazlul Abrar’ the following titles were
given to her by her noble father Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him as:
Al-Batool [The Chaste], Sayyedatun Nisa [The
Leader of the Women], Afzalul Nisa [The Highest Amongst
Women], Khairun Nisa [The Best Amongst Women], Al-Siddiqua [The
Utmost Truthful], Al-Mubarakah [The blessed one], At-Tahirah [The
virtuous or pure], Az-Zehra [The Splendid], Az-Zakiyyah [The
chaste], Umme Abhiha [The Mother of Her Father] . . .and
many more. (Shabbir, 87)
In nature and behavior she bore a striking
likeness and resemblance to her father, Mohammad e Mustafa, peace be upon
him. If Prophet Mohammad represented to be a model for all men in Islam she
as his offspring represented ‘the chosen Leader of women of the world’ in
Islam. In the book Bihar Al-Anwar, Volume ten, Ibn Abbas narrated that
Prophet Mohammad said: “Surely my daughter Fatima is: The Mistress of all
women from the beginning to the end. She is part of me, and the light of my
eyes, she is the flower of my heart, and is my soul, (Fatima) is a human
Huri, who whenever she stands in prayers in the presence of Her Lord (Exalted
is His Name), her light illuminates the skies for the angels, like stars
shine to people on Earth. (Ordoni, 101)
When Fatima Az-Zehra was old enough to be married
many prosperous alliances came to her. Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon
him and his progeny) did not respond to these alliances as he was waiting for
the guidance of Allah, the Almighty. After the battle of Badr, Ali Ibn
Abi Talib (Cousin of Prophet Mohammad) made his suit. Prophet
Mohammad (peace be upon him) asked him to wait as he wanted to know the
opinion of his daughter Fatima Az-Zehra. In the meantime, Prophet
Mohammad also received the divine revelation that Allah, the Almighty, the
Omnipotent approved the marriage of Fatima Az-Zehra with Ali Ibn Abi
Talib. Khwarzini narrates and so does Abdul Mo’eed in the book
‘Manaqib’ that an Angel by the name of ‘Zarzakeil’ was sent from the Heavens
by the command of Allah, The Almighty bearing the message: “O Apostle! The
Most Honourable Lord commands you in the matter of the marriage of Fatima, to
join her Noor (light) with the Noor (light) of Ali.”(Shabbir, 90-91)
He then took the proposal of his cousin Ali
Ibn Abi Talib to his daughter Fatima Az-Zehra (peace be upon her) and told
her of his (i.e., Ali Ibn Abi Talib’s) praiseworthy traits and
characteristics. “Fatima Az-Zehra there upon bowed her head in modesty, Umm
Salamah (wife of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him) narrates: ‘The face of
Fatimah bloomed with joy and her silence was so suggestive and conspicuous
that the Holy Prophet stood up reciting Allahu Akbar (Allah
is most merciful)’. Fatimah’s silence is her acceptance”. (Wofis 40;
Tusi Al Amali 113)
In the book Uyoun
Akhbaar al-Ridha by Shaikh Al-Sadooq it is written that Prophet
Mohammad called Ali Ibn Abi Talib (his cousin and later son in Law) and he
conveyed to him that Angel Gabriel has descendant and gave “Glad Tidings”
that in the Heavens: “The Honorable the Exalted God has ordered the callers
to call out, ‘Verily, today is the banquet of Ali Ibn Abi-Talib. All Bear
witness that I marry off (the Blessed Lady) Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad,
to Ali Ibn Abi Talib. I am pleased with this. These two are one from the
other.’ (Sadooq, Uyoon Akhbaar al-Ridha Vol: 1 Ch. 21) Thus, after two
months of battle of Badr (war in 624 CE in the Hejaz region of western
Arabia) i.e., two years after Hijrat (the migration of Prophet Mohammad from
Mecca to Yathrib now known as Madina), Fatima Zehra, the daughter of Prophet
Mohammad e Mustafa and Ali Ibn Abi Talib were married.
The following lines of the Manqabat (a Sufi
devotional poem, in praise of Ali Ibn Abi Talib the cousin and later
son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad), portrays the joy of the poet
while depicting the wedding of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (Cousin and later son in law
of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him) with Fatima Az-Zahra (daughter of
Holy Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him.)
آج
شیرُ خدا کی شادی ہےُ
آج
مشکلکشاُ کی شادی ہے
وہ جو شہزادیُ دوُ عالم ہے
اُس کنیزِ خُدا کی شادی ہے
عآبدی
حد ہو کیا مسّرت کی
آج
نفسِ خُدا کی شادی ہے
Transliteration
Aaj Sher e Khuda ki Shaadi hai
Aaj Mushkil Kusha ki Shaadi Hai
Woh Jo Shahzadi e Do’
Aalam Hai
Oss Kaneez e Khuda Ki
Shaadi Hai
Abedi Had Hai Kya Masarrat ki
Aaj Nafse Khuda Ki Shaadi Hai (Abedi, Nade
Ali 39-40)
Today is the wedding of ‘Tiger of God’. (‘Sher e
Khuda’ was the title of Ali Ibn Abi Talib)
Today is the wedding of the one who removes
difficulties.
She, (Fatima Az-Zehra, daughter of Prophet
Mohammad) who is the princess of both the worlds
Today is the wedding of that servant of Allah.
(God)
Abedi there is no limit of happiness.
Today is the wedding of essence of God.
(Translated by Fatima, Farhat)
Captain Abbas Abedi very beautifully portrays the
Manqabat of Ali Ibn Abi Talib and Fatima Az-Zehra’s wedding. He
articulates today is the wedding of the ‘Tiger of God’ or Sher e Khuda.
Today is the wedding of the one who helps everyone in difficulties. He
praises Fatima Az-Zehra and says she is the princess of both the worlds and
also she is the slave of Allah. He (poet) addresses to himself and says today
is the happiest moment for him as it is the wedding of the essence of Allah,
the Almighty. And he further goes on in this Manqabat saying; let us
praise the family of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) in this moment of
happiness. This is not an ordinary wedding as it is the wedding of
Fatima Az-Zehra, Prophets Daughter. Both the worlds i.e., the
earth and the heaven are illuminated as it is the wedding of ‘the Light of
God’. The inhabitants of heaven are full of praise of Almighty Allah
(God) as on the heavens it is the wedding of Fatima Az-Zehra. All the
attendants of the marriage are pious people.
He conveys in his beautiful Manqabat that we
Momin (people of faith) have brought our hearts as a gift on this wonderful
occasion of marriage. As this is the wedding of the leader of righteous
people. So that by our actions we make our Prophet Mohammad (peace be
upon him) happy as the wedding of Ali Ibn Abi Talib and Fatima Az-Zehra is
the intention of Almighty Allah (God). In the book ‘Firdous-ul-Akhbar’
Dailami quotes from Abdullah Ibn Masood that the Prophet Mohammad, peace be
upon him said “Verily, Allah the Honourable has ordered me to marry Fatima to
Ali.” (Shabbir 91) Thus in all in its fundamental nature, we will be
celebrating the intention of God.
At the core if we see any work of art the
revolving question is about thought process of the poet, how he imagines and
senses and perceives things. Captain Abbas Abedi has used numerous
tools to portray this thoughts and feelings in a realistic manner. They
might be gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice. The following
Rubai (quatrain and shortest complete poem in Urdu) portrays the positive
traits of Fatima Az-Zehra, daughter of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him.
جوہرِ
نورِ محمدُ مصطفے ہے فاطمہُ
مادرِ
حَسنیُن مرضیُ خُدا ہے فاطمہُ
حیدرُِ
کرّار ہیی مُشکالکشاےُ دو جہاں
حیدرُِ کرّار کی مُشکالکشا ہے فاطمہُ
Transliteration
Jowhar e Noor e Mohammad e Mustafa Hai Fatima
Madar e Hasnain; Marziye Khuda Hai Fatima
Hyder e Karrar Hain Mushkil Kusha e Do Jahan
Hyder e Karrar Ki Mushkil Kusha Hai Fatima (Abedi, Nade
Ali 9)
Fatima is the Precious stone or visible essence
of Prophet Mohammad’s light (Noor).
She (Fatima) is the Mother of Hasnain, and the
will of God.
Hyder e Karrar is the remover of difficulties of
the two worlds.
Fatima is the remover of difficulties of Hyder e
Karrar. (Translated by Fatima, Farhat)
In the above lines Fatima is the daughter of
Prophet Mohammad, Hasnain is the plural form of the grandsons of Prophet
Mohammad i.e., Hasan and Hussain, Hyder e Karrar translates itself as
Impetuous Lion is the name of Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and later Son in
Law of Prophet Mohammad.
In the above lines of verses of poetry, versifier
Captain Abbas Abedi very wonderfully portrays the significant position and
rank of Fatima Az-Zehra, the daughter of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him.
He says she is the precious stone of Prophet Mohammad’s light. In other
words she is the heart of his soul. In the second line of the
quatrain or Rubai he depicts that not only she is the mother of Hasnain
(plural form of the grandsons of Prophet Mohammad i.e., Hasan and Hussain),
but also she is the will of God. He further says if Hyder e Karrar (son
in law of Prophet Mohammad) is the remover of difficulties of the two worlds
than she Fatima (daughter of Prophet Mohammad) is the remover of difficulties
of Hyder e Karrar.
For the successful running of any relationship
the essential pre-requisites are nurturing, caring, work and commitment in
the relationship. The poet quite skillfully portrayed the relationship
of Fatima Az-Zehra and Ali Ibn Abi Talib i. e., if he was removing the
difficulties of both the worlds than she too as his kufu or equal was
removing his difficulties. In other words the poet portrays the superior
character of Fatima (daughter of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him) and
says she was not only a good wife but also an excellent mother, daughter and
the leader of the women of the world as she was the will of God.
In all the lines of his poetry Captain Abbas
Abedi has portrayed the personalities of Ahl Al-Bayt(family of Prophet
Mohammad) in a realistic, poetic and remarkable way so that the reader is
overwhelmed and is in awe with their superior status. In the following
lines of the Salam (A Lyrical Salutation) he praises Kulsum bint Ali (the
youngest granddaughter of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him).
نورِ
نظرِ احمُدِ مختار ہے کلُثوم
لختِ
جگرِ حیُدرِ کرار ہے کلُثوم
زینُب
کی طرح مجلسِ ماتم کی بنا کی
شبیرُ
کے مقصد کی مددگار ہے کلثُوم
Transliteration
Noor e Nazr e Ahmed e Mukhtar Hai Kulsum
Laqte Jigar e Hyder e Karrar hai Kulsum
Zainab
ki tarah Majlis e Matam ki Bina ki
Shabbir ke Maqsad ki Madadgaar hai Kulsum (Abedi Ya Hussain 54)
Kulsum is the light of Ahmed e Mukhtar’s eyes
She is the darling of Hyder e Karrar or the
valiant lion
In the manner of Zainab she too was the founder
of Mourning of Hussain Ibn Ali
Kulsum is the helper of Shabbir’s
intention. (Translated by Fatima, Farhat)
In the above lines Ahmed e Mukhtar is the name of
Prophet Mohammad the chosen one, Hyder e Karrar is the title of Ali Ibn Abi
Talib, Son in law of Prophet Mohammad. Zainab is the eldest
granddaughter of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him and Shabbir means the
pious, beautiful Lion and it is the other name of Hussain Ibn Ali, the
youngest grandson of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him.
Poet in the above lines of the Salaam praises
Kulsum Bint Ali (peace be upon her) and says she was not only the light
of her grandfather Prophet Mohammad’s eyes but also darling and loved
daughter of her father Ali Ibn Abi Talib. ‘She was married to her
paternal cousin Mohammad, son of Jaffer Ibn Abi Talib.’ (Aza e Zainab
198) She resembled her paternal grandmother Fatima Bint Asad and was
among the pioneers along with Zainab Bint Ali to start the tradition of
Azadari or mourning for Hussain Ibn Ali. If her elder sister Zainab Bint Ali
was the helper in promoting Hussain Ibn Ali’s message she was the helper of Zainab.
She was quiet eloquent in her speech and wording. She was also a
poetess. If her younger brother Abbas Ibn Ali (Son of Ali Ibn Abi
Talib) was brave and chivalrous, she as his sister was fakhr or pride of
Abbas Ibn Ali. She was patient in heaviest hardships and tortures
on her and her family. She was imprisoned along with her family members
and was in severe and distressing hardships. But always she held back
her tears because for her carrying the message of her brother’s martyrdom to
masses was more important than her own grievance of losing her brother and
family members. But after her mission was over she cried throughout her
life. She along with her sister Zainab Bint Ali tried to spread the
last message of her brother Hussain Ibn Ali to save Islam.
Conclusion
Captain Abbas Abedi portrayed deep, opulent and realistic characters
in his poetry. Especially, the emotional portrayal about the
aftermath of the battle of Karbala is outstanding. His poetry is
widely read in Majalis (mourning gatherings) of Hussain Ibn Ali
(Youngest grandson of Prophet Mohammad). This pacesetter in the world of
poets of Ahl Al-Bayt (family of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him) left
this mortal world on 12th April 1999. He is buried
in a graveyard located in Hyderabad known as Daire Mir Momin. He is not only survived
by his children but also by his outstanding and evergreen poetry.
References
Abedi, Captain Mir Abbas Ali Abedi Nade
Ali Seerat e Zehra Committee, Aijaz Printing Press Pg. 9 Print
- - - Nade Ali Seerat e Zehra Committee, Aijaz
Printing Press-Hyderabad Pg. 39-40 Print
Abedi, Captain Mir Abbas Ali Abedi Ya
Hussain (1973) Seerat e Zehra Committee,
National Fine Printing Press Pg. 54 Print
Askari, Sakina Hasan Aza E Zainab (A
Collection of Salams, Marsias, Hadees & Nohas) (2001) pg.198
Print.
Ordoni, Abu-Muhammad Fatima The Gracious .Chapter
17 pg.101 Ansarian Publications
Shabbir, Hamid Bin Trans. Mir Baqir Ali
Khan, Syed Hamid Razvi, Kaniz Fatima Ali Khan The Truth Revealed (An
Abridged English Translation of Kalematul Haqq) Volume II pg.87
Print
- - - Trans. Mir Baqir Ali Khan,
Syed Hamid Razvi, Kaniz Fatima Ali Khan The Truth Revealed
(An Abridged English Translation of Kalematul haqq) Volume II pg.90-91
Print
- - - Trans. Mir Baqir Ali Khan, Syed
Hamid Razvi, Kaniz Fatima Ali Khan The Truth Revealed (An Abridged
English Translation of Kalematul Haqq) Volume II pg.91 Print
Shaikh Al-Sadooq Uyoun Akhbaar al-Ridha, Volume
1, Chapter 21
Tusi, Sheikh Al-Amali Trans.
Jafferi, Allama Riyaz Hussain Idara e Minhajul Saleheen Lahore First Edition
pg.113 Print.
English Translation and Transliteration is done by Dr. Farhat Fatima, Visiting Faculty in Communication Skills, School of Planning and Architecture, Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture And Fine Arts University, Mahaveer Marg, Masab Tank, Hyderabad-028
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