Ṣubaḥ-e-Ṣowayre — The Morning Hymn of Mysore: Tipu Sultan’s Martial Poetry
- Musaib Hussain
- Nov 10, 2025
- 2 min read
On November 10th, the world marks the Gregorian birthday of Tipu Sultan, the legendary ruler of Mysore, a name that echoes with courage, faith, and innovation. Known to history as the Tiger of Mysore, Tipu Sultan was not merely a warrior who fought the British Empire with unmatched valour; he was also a visionary who transformed the Deccan into a symbol of resistance, dignity, and scientific progress.
Among the many lesser-known aspects of Tipu Sultan’s legacy lies his contribution to Urdu and Persian literature, particularly through his military treatise Fath-ul-Mujahideen (The Victory of the Warriors). Commissioned in 1783, Tipu Sultan entrusted his court poet Zain-ul-Abideen to compose this remarkable work, a blend of strategy, theology, and poetry.
While the main text of Fath-ul-Mujahideen was written in Persian, it was accompanied by Urdu martial songs, meant to be recited by soldiers before battle. These were not ordinary verses; they were hymns of courage, poetic invocations that merged faith with the thunder of war drums.
One such composition, titled “Ṣubaḥ-e-Ṣowayre” (Morning and Dawn), stands out as a glowing testament to Tipu Sultan’s spirit. The poem exalts him as a divinely guided warrior, invoking the majesty of his sword and the mercy of his reign:
صبح سویرے
فرنگ و زنگ تیری تیغ سے کیوں نہ لرزاں ہوکہ جس کے خوف دم بسیں برق ہر دم پا بہ دامن ہودعا کرتا ہے ہر اک مور جس وادی سے تو گزرےکہ یا رب یہ جہاں داورِ زمانہ کا سلیمان ہولب ہر زہ بسیں یہ لفظ نکلے ہے بصد آمینفلک پر مہر ہے جب تک زمین پر ٹیپو سلطان ہو
Translation: Morning and Dawn
Why should the foreigner and the foe not tremble at the gleam of your sword? Even lightning itself shudders in its radiance. Across every valley, the peacocks raise this prayer as you pass: O Lord, let this just king be the Solomon of our age. And from our lips this blessing flows a hundred times over: So long as Tipu Sultan walks the earth, the heavens overflow with mercy.
Each line reveals the spiritual fervour that shaped Tipu Sultan’s rule: his reliance on divine justice, his compassion for his people, and his unyielding defiance against oppression. The imagery of lightning trembling, peacocks praying, and heavens overflowing with mercy transcends the battlefield, it portrays a king whose strength was as moral as it was military.
Tipu Sultan’s poetry and patronage of Urdu symbolized a fusion of faith and intellect that defined the Deccan during his reign. He envisioned a society where technology, art, and devotion could thrive together. His introduction of advanced rocketry, his architectural patronage, and his correspondence in Persian and Arabic all reflect a ruler deeply attuned to both worldly progress and spiritual duty.
Legacy
To this day, Tipu Sultan remains one of the most misunderstood yet revered figures in Indian history. His life embodies the Quranic principle of standing firm against tyranny, and his death on the battlefield, fulfilled his own words:
“Better to live one day as a lion than a thousand years as a jackal.”
The martial songs like Ṣubaḥ-e-Ṣowayre remind us that resistance is not only fought with weapons but with words, words that ignite conviction, awaken conscience, and inspire generations.
