Ocean of Melancholy: The Tragedy that was Karbala

By Mir Mosharraf Hossain

One of the best known works of Mir Mosharraf Hossain, Bishad Sindhu (Ocean of Melancholy) is an epic historical novel centred on events that led to the battle of Karbala and its aftermath. The book revolves around the tragic story of Hassan and Hussein, grandsons of the great Prophet Muhammad, who were exterminated by their bitter enemy Yazid, the son of the king of Damascus, for his desire for Zainab—Hassan’s beautiful wife—and his greed for the throne of Medina. The plot is dramatic, has a mythical undertone to it, and deeds of heroism and supernatural occurrences render an epic flavour to its narrative. The storyline explores the sufferings and agonies of human life and the covetousness and hatred of men, and, at the same time, imparts a historical background to the bloodbath and killings that took place in Karbala, Iraq on the 10th of October, AD 680.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Niyogi
• Release date: Jul 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9789386906502

Book preview

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Prologue

Prophet Muhammad was among his chief disciples, preaching, when Archangel Gabriel came down to him from heaven with a message from God. After communicating with the Prophet, the archangel vanished, filling the surroundings with a celestial fragrance.

The strange visit left Muhammad grave and downcast.

The disciples were worried. Ignorant though they were of the content of the archangel’s despatch, they were sure that it was something grim. So, they, too had tears in their eyes.

Muhammad, on observing the sorrowful faces of his devotees, asked, ‘What are you weeping for? What has pained you so much?’

Each of the devotees, joining his hands in supplication, replied, ‘Master, when the full moon has hidden behind the clouds or has paled at the brightness of daylight, how can the stars remain shining? We are your ardent followers. We cannot bear to see a sad expression on your glorious countenance. As long as you are sad, we are bound to be so. We can guess that it is not a gentle puff of breeze but a strong blast of wind that has hit our magnificent mountain—that it is a major storm that has caused the upheaval in our great ocean. Master, please oblige your humble disciples by revealing what has happened.’

Gently, the Prophet revealed, ‘The child of one among you will become a staunch enemy of my beloved grandsons, Hassan and Hussein. He will kill Hassan by poisoning him and slay Hussein with weapons.’

Muhammad’s followers were stunned! Rendered dry-mouthed, they could not utter a word for a while. Later, they said, ‘Our master knows everything. Please tell us whose child is expected to commit that heinous crime. As soon as we come to know his name, we would take measures to prevent the tragedy. If you do not reveal the name of that future culprit’s father, we will jointly kill ourselves by taking poison. Or, we will banish our wives, even if it is a sin to do so. We will stop looking at women’s faces and never pronounce a feminine name.’

The Prophet said, ‘Brothers! Nobody in the world can undo what God has willed. When He is writing a verdict, no mortal can stop His pen. What He orders cannot be reversed. Don’t fret for what will happen in the future. And don’t punish your wives for no fault of theirs. Our scriptures count that as a terrible sin.

‘My announcing the name you fear is sure to hurt one amongst you. That is the reason why I wanted to keep it a secret. But since you insist on hearing it, listen. My esteemed Muawia will have a son who will be known to the world as Yazid. Yazid, growing up to become a grave enemy of Hassan and Hussein, will kill them.

‘It is true that Muawia has not married yet. But that won’t stop what God has proclaimed. God’s might and skill defy definitions. And, He never fails.’

Muawia immediately promised in the name of his religion that not only would he remain single all his life, but he would also refrain from looking at a woman’s face.

Prophet Muhammad said, ‘Dear Muawia, this is God’s will. And I know how much you trust Him. So, don’t displease Him by vowing not to marry. That won’t be right for a person like you. God is magnificently wise, infinitely glorious, and capable. Submit to His will.’

After such exchanges, the meeting was over. Taking their master’s leave, the devotees went home.

A few days later, Muawia, after urinating, used a pebble to clean himself (as recommended by his religion where water is unavailable). The pebble, however, was composed of toxic particles, which severely infected his urinary tract. Muawia was in pain. In fact, his discomfort was so acute that it made him fall on the ground and writhe in agony.

Days passed by, but Muawia did not recover. On the contrary, his sepsis turned worse. The news of his misfortune spread among his friends. He was treated with all kinds of medicines, but, alas, in vain. People feared that Muawia would soon die.

When the news of Muawia’s affliction reached Prophet Muhammad, he rushed to his devotee’s side. Wanting to help him, the Prophet, taking the name of God, was about to blow over the affected part of Muawia’s body. But before he could do so, Archangel Gabriel appeared again. ‘O, Muhammad, beware, beware!’ said the archangel. ‘Don’t try to abate that illness by taking God’s name. Your efforts will be futile, as God has other designs regarding it. Muawia will recover only if he sleeps with a woman. Nothing else in this world can give him relief.’ Delivering his message, the archangel vanished.

Prophet Muhammad called his followers, ‘Brothers, there is no medicine for Muawia’s illness. But he can still do something to cure himself. He can take a woman. If he agrees to have a woman with him, he will be saved.’

When the patient strongly objected to having a woman with him, the Prophet accused him of intentionally preparing to kill himself, ignoring the fact that suicide was a major sin.

In the end, it was decided that Muawia would lawfully marry an eighty-year-old lady and live together with her. After that marriage, Muawia recovered as Muhammad had predicted.

To understand the logic of the infinitely merciful Almighty’s ways is beyond the power of mortals. Muawia’s wife, however old, conceived and gave birth to a male child. Muawia had resolved to kill his own offspring if it was a boy, but as soon as he set eyes upon the newly born, his hatred melted and his heart filled with fatherly love. Muawia came to deem the child dearer than his own self. Instead of killing him, he was ready to sacrifice his own life for the child, if needed. And, as days passed, the father’s love for his son grew in intensity. Only occasionally did he remember the terrible forecast about his son’s future role in life and was genuinely saddened.

Sometime later, Muawia sought Prophet Muhammad and honourable Ali’s permission to let him settle down with his family in the city of Damascus. ‘I have not forgotten what has been predicted about my son, Yazid,’ he said. ‘My going away to Damascus with him will help him keep away from young Hassan and Hussein.’

It was Hazrat Ali who had fought and won the city of Damascus. But, large-hearted that he was, he had no hesitation in cheerfully giving it away to Muawia, a brother from his extended family. Prophet Muhammad said, ‘Dear Muawia, let alone Damascus, even if you leave this world and go to another, what God has decreed will come about.’ Those words shamed Muawia, but not enough to make him change his plans. In a few days, he left Medina and, with his family, moved to Damascus. There, enthroned as the ruler, he governed the domain well and spent long hours in