Nabi is truly the greatest Shia artist of our era https://twitter.com/ab_varaham/status/1299878721055121408

Re: the second piece

کربلا اک آفتاب اور اس کی تنویریں بہت
اک کتابِ آگہی جس کی ہیں تفسیریں بہت

ہیں بہتر تن شریک مقصد ذبح عظیم
اک خلیلی خواب تھا جس کی ہیں تعبیریں بہت

Karbala is a sun emanating many rays of light
A book of cognizance with many interpretations!

72 bodies partake in the purpose of "the Great Sacrifice" (37:107)
It was an Abrahamic dream with many manifestations!

Another reason why the second piece is so fascinating is that it flips the common trope where Hussain and Karbala are presented in the foreground and explained through Abraham’s sacrifice. I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard any depiction where Hussain is THE background

and THE context to Abraham’s sacrifice. This captures popular Shia belief - while Sunnis and Shias both believe the Prophet foretold Hussain’s martyrdom, many Shias go a step further and believe all the prophets were told of Hussain’s martyrdom and wept for him.

It informs one of my favorite images in Urdu nauhas where all the prophets are portrayed watching the Battle of Karbala from the heavens and turning away because it’s too unbearable to watch.

جبکہ ہٹ گئے سارے مرسلیں
بڑھ گئے نبی چومنے جبیں
کہہ کے یا علی کھینچی جو سناں

When all the prophets turned away
The Prophet stepped forward to kiss his forehead
As Hussain exclaimed, “ya Ali!” and pulled out the spear (from his son’s chest)