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The Crusades, a series of eight holy wars fought between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries, were a profound moment of unrest for Muslims. Initiated by Christians, they were an attempt to support the Byzantine Empire, which was losing power during this time, but with the pretext of recapturing Jerusalem, the Holy Land, from the Muslims who now dominated it. The Christians succeeded in taking hold of Jerusalem during the first crusade in 1095. In the midst of its capture, thousands of Muslims were massacred, with over 70,000 in Masjid al-Aqsa alone, and those who were permitted to live were forced to convert to Christianity. In response to this attack, an Iraqi poet named Abul Muzaffar al-Abiwardi wrote several poems as a way to speak out against the injustice and to give voice to the Muslims. In one of his poems (posted below), Abiwardi uses intense language through which he challenges Muslims to unite in order to support each other in the fight for their religion as well as for their existence.
It doesn't have a title as far as I'm concerned, but let's call it "On the Fall of Jerusalem." I first read it in a book called The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives but will give below the link where it can be found as well.
Read it carefully with an analytical approach because there is a lot of deep meaning behind it.
"On the Fall of Jerusalem"
We have mingled blood with flowing tears, and there is no room left for pity.
To shed tears is a man's worst weapon when the swords stir up the embers of war.
Sons of Islam, behind you are battles in which heads rolled at your feet.
Dare you slumber in the blessed shade of safety,
where life is soft as an orchard flower?
How can the eye sleep between the lids at a time of
disasters that would waken any sleeper?
While your Syrian brothers can only sleep on the backs of their
chargers or in vultures' bellies!
Must the foreigners feed on our ignominy, while you trail behind
the train of a pleasant life, like men whose world is at peace?
When blood has been spilt, when sweet girls must for shame hide
their lovely faces in their hands!
When the white swords' points are red with blood, and the iron
of the brown lances is stained with gore!
At the sound of sword hammering on lance young children's hair turns white.
This is war, and the infidel's sword is naked in his hand, ready
to be sheathed in men's necks and skulls.
This is war, and he who lies in the tomb at Medina** seems
to raise his voice and cry: "O sons of Hashim!
I see my people slow to raise the lance against the enemy:
I see the Faith resting on feeble pillars.
For fear of death the Muslims are evading the fire of battle,
refusing to believe that death will surely strike them."
Must the Arab champions then suffer with resignation,
while the gallant Persians shut their eyes to their dishonour?
-----------------------------------------
** "He who lies in the tomb at Medina: Mohammed, who reproaches the present-day caliphs for lukewarm resistance to the crusaders."
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/engl..._3/alathir.htm
It doesn't have a title as far as I'm concerned, but let's call it "On the Fall of Jerusalem." I first read it in a book called The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives but will give below the link where it can be found as well.
Read it carefully with an analytical approach because there is a lot of deep meaning behind it.
"On the Fall of Jerusalem"
We have mingled blood with flowing tears, and there is no room left for pity.
To shed tears is a man's worst weapon when the swords stir up the embers of war.
Sons of Islam, behind you are battles in which heads rolled at your feet.
Dare you slumber in the blessed shade of safety,
where life is soft as an orchard flower?
How can the eye sleep between the lids at a time of
disasters that would waken any sleeper?
While your Syrian brothers can only sleep on the backs of their
chargers or in vultures' bellies!
Must the foreigners feed on our ignominy, while you trail behind
the train of a pleasant life, like men whose world is at peace?
When blood has been spilt, when sweet girls must for shame hide
their lovely faces in their hands!
When the white swords' points are red with blood, and the iron
of the brown lances is stained with gore!
At the sound of sword hammering on lance young children's hair turns white.
This is war, and the infidel's sword is naked in his hand, ready
to be sheathed in men's necks and skulls.
This is war, and he who lies in the tomb at Medina** seems
to raise his voice and cry: "O sons of Hashim!
I see my people slow to raise the lance against the enemy:
I see the Faith resting on feeble pillars.
For fear of death the Muslims are evading the fire of battle,
refusing to believe that death will surely strike them."
Must the Arab champions then suffer with resignation,
while the gallant Persians shut their eyes to their dishonour?
-----------------------------------------
** "He who lies in the tomb at Medina: Mohammed, who reproaches the present-day caliphs for lukewarm resistance to the crusaders."
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/engl..._3/alathir.htm