Muntakhab al-tawarikh 30.3.6

30.3.6

Now it has become customary to wear blue — so that hence-forth it behoves the weavers of white cloth to dye their thread blue in the spindle.
In every street of Cairo a river blue like the Nile was flowing; to such an extent were blue garments being washed in tears on all sides.
The dyers of blue cloth were as happy as if there was a bridal in their houses, because so many brides had their garments dyed blue in mourning for their husbands.
The lovely ones who were smiting their foreheads and shedding tears of blood had their cheeks below their eyes red (with blood) while above their eye-brows it was blue.
The beauties have no need of blue (patches) and redness (rouge) after this,
For the cheeks are torn till they are red (with blood) and the face is smitten till it is blue (with bruises).
In such quantities do they tear their hair from their delicate brows, one and all
That the root of every hair becomes blue from such rough treatment.
[How long shall I tear out the hair of my head in this lamentation and mourning!
Nay I will pluck this body of mine like a hair from the head of my life].
Alas! that my heart has suddenly turned to blood on account of (the loss of) my friends.
Alas! for that assembly who were a constant fresh joy to their friends.
The eyes became flooded with water and blood on account of their friends, so long as I saw my friends in the midst of blood and water.