LAHORE, Pakistan: “Noha which is also known as Marsiya in Urdu poetry and literature is actually a crying voice of a bleeding soul of any Muslim who loves Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his family, and cannot stop to cry after thinking about what happened to the family of his Prophet in Karbala”, said Syed Murtaza Ali Rizvi who was a known scholar of subcontinent during early 1930s.
The word Marsiya is derived from the Arabic word “marthiyya” that means a great tragedy. When heart and soul of a Muslim mourn while thinking about massacre of family of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW), he or she recites or writes Noha and Marsiya.
The city of subcontinent — Lucknow — has been a center stage for producing the voice of soul Nohay and Marsiya (s).
Great poets of subcontinent have been expressing their weeping souls into words while portraying and painting the gruesome and bloody scenes of Karbala where the greatest tragedy of mankind took place in the holy month of Muharram.
Noha and Marsiya’s explanation reached their peak in the writing of Mir Babar Ali Anis (Anees) and Mir Dabeer. Marsiya is a kind of poem written to commemorate the martyrdom of Ahl al-Bayt (family of Muhammad PBUH), Imam Hussain and Battle of Karbala.
The famous Marsiya Gu (Who writes and recites Marsiya) in Urdu are Mir Babar Ali Anis, Mir Moonis, Mirza Salamat Ali Dabeer, Mir Zameer, Ali Haider Tabatabai. Najm Afandi, Mir nafees, Mir rais,mir Qadeem, Mir Arif, Syed Husain Taashuq, Mir Ishq, Moaddab lucknavi Adab Lucknavi Mohazzab Lucknavi Syed Sajjad Husain “Shadeed” Mohammed Askari “Jadeed” Sadaq Husain “Shaheed” , Syed Karrar Hyder, Syed Yadullah Haider, Nawab Baqar Ali “Ravish Lucknavi” , Allama Dr. Syed Ali Imam Zaidi “Gauhar Lucknavi” (Great Grand Son of Mir Baber Ali “Anees” MIr “waheed” Dulha sahab “Uruj” Laddan Sahab “Faiz” Mir “Fareed” Mir “Arif” sarfaraz husain “khabeer” syed Abbas Hiader Muzter jaunpuri, Tayyab Kazmi, Ishrat Lucknavi, Syed Mohammad Ali” Mowassir Jaunpuri”.
Mir Babar Ali Anis is an Urdu poet who wrote and composed Salāms, Elegies and Nohas. The work of Mir Anees or Mir Anis was collected and published by the great Muslim thinker and writer Shibli Nomani.
Mirza Dabeer was born in 1803 in Delhi and started reciting Marsiya since his childhood during Muharram ceremonial gathering.
Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) play a pivotal role to produce Nohay and still produce best Nohay during the month of Muharram transmission. However, good Nohay are also produced by the private sector in Pakistan.
Namak-e-Khwaan-e-Takallum hai Fasaahat meri
Naatqein band hai’n sun sun ke balaaghat meri
Rang udte hain wo rangee’n hai ibarat meri
Shor jiska hai wo darya hai tabeeyat meri
Umr guzri hai isi dasht ki sa’iyaahi mei’n
Paanchvi pusht hai Shabbir ki maddaahi mei’n
Kaisay Darbar Mein Gaee Hogi Hai Nabuwat Ki Abroo Zahra
Has Rahay Hain Taman Kalma Go Kerti Ro Ker Jo Guftagoo Zahra
Jo Masaib Batool Per Aaey Din Pay Pertay To Raat Hojati
Karti Jo Bud Dua Kabhi Zahra Khatm Ye Qainat Hojati
Baad Baba Kay Na Sakoon Paya Kaisay Jeeti Rahi Hai Tu Zahra
Tere Shabeer Nay Kerbal May Deen Bachanay Ko Sar Kataya Hai
Teri Sunnat Ada Ki Zainab Nay Khutba Darbar Mei Sunaya Hai
Tu Sahaabi Kay Samnay Roee Vo Sharabi Kay Ru Ba Ru Zahra
Kabhi Yasrab Ki Paak Basti Mei Kabhi Kerbal Kay Hee Biyabaan Mei
Kabhi Kufay Ki Tang Galion Mei Ore Kabhi Shaam Valay Zindaan Mei
Deen Ki Sarfarazi Ko Her Dum Kaam Aaya Tera Lahu Zahra
Jo Tera Ghar Jalanay Aaya Hai Vo To Jannat Mei Ja Nahien Sakta
Jo Tere Ghar Pay Ro Diya Hai Kabhi Usko Dozakh Jala Nahien Sakta
Uski Bakhshish Hasan Nahien Hogi Jo Bhi Hoga Tera Adu Zahra
Ye To Sub Ravion Nay Likha Hai Hashr Mei Jub Batool Aaeyngi
Khoon Bhara Kurta Saath Bete Ka Bazoo Abbas Kay Vo Laeyngi
Matami Jo Hussain Ka Hoga Usko Kardaygi Surkhuru Zahra
Jo Tera Ghar Jalanay Aaya Hai Vo To Jannat Mei Ja Nahien Sakta
Jo Tere Ghar Pay Ro Diya Hai Kabhi Usko Dozakh Jala Nahien Sakta
Uski Bakhshish Hasan Nahien Hogi Jo Bhi Hoga Tera Adu Zahra
