: Host to one of the largest databases of Bohra marsiyas, providing both text and audio. Fatemi Dawat

To the outside world, the word Marsiya (derived from the Arabic word marsa , meaning death or lament) is often associated with the tragic death of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussain, at the Battle of Karbala. However, for the Dawoodi Bohras—a sect of Musta’li Ismaili Shia Muslims primarily from Gujarat, India, and Yemen—the Marsiya is not just poetry. It is a living, breathing bridge to history, faith, and identity.

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O followers of the Truth, let your tears now flow,For the grandson of the Prophet, in the desert's glow.With parched lips and a heart so brave and pure,He stood against the darkness, steadfast and sure.

, the month of Muharram is a period of profound spiritual reflection. Central to this observance is the

Traditionally, Marsiya are composed in Lisan al-Dawat , a unique blend of Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Gujarati.

, meaning a funeral oration or a lament for the departed. In the Fatimi Ismaili tradition , these poems serve two primary purposes: Grief (Gham):