A Pauper Before The King

Yet another blessing from the Kingdom of the Most Merciful
And my poverty absorbs my conscience
And my conscience absorbs my poverty
I feel like a man who out of destitution falls on his knees, his eyes gazing at the sky
And then in adoration falls prostrate

And remember! your Lord caused to be declared (publicly):
"If ye are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you;
But if ye show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed."

[The Noble Qur’an 14:7]

Click here to listen to this Ayah (verse) in Arabic

[Photo Credits: Peter Sanders]

The Book of Allah (& Our Condition)

Superficiality: Our crisis, the condition of our nation
The Book: a criterion between right and wrong
A guide unto mankind, so that we may ponder
So that we may reflect

Let alone comprehension
A once in a while half-hearted recitation
Dry eyes, silent heart, impassive conscience
The Kitab kept closed; The fire burning fiercely

‘But I don’t know Arabic’
“And whoever fears Allah,
He will provide him a way out…” [The Noble Qur'an 65:2]
If you fear Him, that is; Go, strive
may Allah be with you

‘But my family, my job, my studies’
Atleast desire it and ask earnestly with tear-filled eyes
From Him whose treasures in no way decrease

Superficiality - our crisis, the condition of our nation
The excuse precedes the rationale
And laziness blinds the eye
The lack of will domineering over his soul
Will he ever break away his chains?

[Photo Credits: gettyimages.com]

O Ramadan

Few sought your crescent
Many feared the hunger to come
Few prepared with might and soul
Many stocked their stores
Few understood true worship
Many sought emotions
and gave way to custom and innovation

Few wept as they broke the last fast
Wishing it would last forever
Hoping they’d live to see it again
O Ramadan, bear witness for us
Bear witness

Many exuberant about the corruption
They were to fill the earth the very next day
A license from the Lord, and the disbelief of the ingrate, man.
Peace Ramadan, let’s indulge, we deserve it after all

After our nights of half-hearted standing, bowing and prostration
Our days with remorse for that morsel of pie
And complaints of lethargy and heaviness
Peace Ramadan, hope to see you again (not)

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you
as it was prescribed to those before you,
that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-” (The Noble Qur’an 2:183)

O my brothers, take heed

[Photo Credits: http://gettyimages.com]

This Change of Heart

To man:
And so I have seen your eyes turn toward me
Haven’t you noticed it, this change of heart
You know I felt a cleft between us, a distance apart
A slight disliking, a frown, a fretful nod

And you as well, and you...
What has caused it, may I ask?
For before you used to despise me with a bitter heart
And so I have seen your eyes turn toward me
And your arms and breast widen
And I have seen you pray for me
Haven’t you noticed it, this change of heart?
You know I felt a cleft between us, a distance apart

Let me reflect, take a moment, and think about the past.
So I never prayed for you liking me, nor really desired it
But it would have been nice…to have a friend
But that cleft, I don’t know how to explain
It was there, but now I see your eyes turn toward me
Haven’t you noticed it, this change of heart?

So I turn to the texts, and therein I discover
Allah's Messenger, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said:
"If Allah loves someone He calls (angel) Jibreel and says: I love so-and-so, so you love him. Jibreel loves him, and calls the other angels in Heaven to love that person.
They love him, then his love will be made upon earth, and he becomes loved."
And if Allah hates someone He calls Gabriel and says: I hate so-and-so and you hate him.
Jibreel hates him and calls the angels in Heaven and says: Allah hates so-and-so, so you all hate him.
They all hate him, and his hatred is made upon earthand he becomes hated." [Sahih Muslim]

Do you see?
It seems so obvious, so crystal clear
I hope its not an illusion, me and my high ended incorrect conclusions
Is it possible, is there the slightest chance

To Allah('azz wa jal):
What if it really is true
That O Allah, You love me too?

The Tightrope

On the tight rope of dunya
I keep walking... Destination Unsure
With sweat dripping from my brow I practice my balancing act
“O Allah please don't let me fall, I'm not a loser
O Allah guide me to the middle way
and make beautiful my balancing act
Let me dance my way to the end of the tightrope
singing hymns along the way”

As I take the final step off the rope, I look back
“I was afraid you know it wasn't easy, that tightrope!
I thought I'd fall, had you not enabled me to pray and call upon You, and been Merciful to me,
I would have fallen for sure
O Allah, I'll be honest, I almost gave in
Satan suggested You were being unjust by putting me on the tightrope
that You did not care, and he whispered, maybe You aren't there"

But Your book was there to guide me
and a spirit from You to strengthen me
and to affirm me, to make certain my faith, and,
indeed You are the Most Just, Most Merciful

“What made them fall off?” you may ask
Well, they thought this life was perfect
and nothing of ill fate was to touch them
in comfort and peace they were to dwell
they thought they deserved it!
and even still, good was theirs at the end.
so when things didn't go their way
they lost heart and profited not.

“Or do you think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!”

(The Noble Quran 2:214)

[Photo Credits: brubeckcom.com]

My Child

My child, fear not the looks of strangers
Or the comments of the passerby - in your faith find salvation
Walk with your head high among people
And yet have a heart humble, submissive to the Most Gracious
Defend your honor and guard your chastity
As did Mary, peace be upon her

Take not to heart evanescent words and pathetic looks
They have not valued you with justice
Let their criticism increase you in naught but closeness to Allah
They feel themselves small, and out of envy, they speak, they glance and they stare,
To them is visible only the outer appearance of this life
They fail to look beneath the surface, and proudly deny that which is certain

If you are upon the truth, then why fear?
The sun rises in the morn only to set at eve
The earth rotates, only one day to halt
We age and return to dust
The day the trumpet is blown all of us shall go back to Allah,
Glorified and Exalted be He, the Lord of you and me

That which Allah has prepared for you is superior and everlasting
Put your trust in Him, never would He forsake you
No al terrosismo el Islam no mata
Allah with surety knows
pray to Him that he guide these people
to comprehension and correct belief

A young Muslim immigrant holds a poster reading 'No to terrorism, Islam does not kill' during a rally to pay tribute to the victims of the Madrid train bombings, in Madrid on Sunday. — Reuters

The Night Prayer

In the last hours of the night,
a man awakens to call upon his Lord:
In a condition of fear and hope
He stands trembling, ashamed
His eyes bear the burden of his sins
and upon sensing his weakness, they overflow

His standing, sitting, bowing, and prostration
His recitation, supplication, and remembrance
His reflection, gratitude, and repentance
are all in the best of forms:
The form most beloved to Allah (swt),
The way of the messenger Muhammad (s.a.w)

(Photo Credits: gettyimages.com)

Ebb and Flow

I try to revive the spirit

Of the works which lead me to You
I tread the path stumbling upon little stones, (and) then am left behind

My heart attaches itself to the world; I cling to evanescent dust
Realisation, a mercy from you penetrates these ears deaf
And causes the cover on this heart to melt

I turn to You and plead respite
Never again, never again
Will I commit sin – O Allah, forgive me

You unlock all doors
Suddenly a most passionate breeze takes hold of me -
I am taken into the realm of calm

And am no more, in Your sight, one despised
I feel the bounties overflow as my nose and fore touch the ground
I whisper unto You words soft and tender

Ah how ironical
These sweet utterances from a heart once covered;
One stained by careless hands

And then I feel Your existence:
For all doubt but You
And all hurt but You

"Oh what exalted disposition, I must say
None but a Lord can be such!"
I try to come closer- I stand before You with soiled hands, tongue, eyes, ears and limbs

As I step into prayer, I submit my whole self to You
Allah is Most great, I remind myself
As I recite, bow down, and prostrate

I feel my life renewed.
Thank You O Lord, I truly do feel You
Please guide me unto the path so that I may worship You and that I may please You

And grant me, so that I be the man
Who gives his all...
O Allah, indeed I submit to You

I turn to the Turner of Hearts
And feel as if I’m the jack of all trades
As if “my” sweet words were the cause of this bounty immense

As if my “righteous” deeds tipped the balance whole
As if my sins- mere flies warded off the tip of my nose
What! Hypocrisy still?

Deep-rooted, subtle, disturbing
A disease!!
…I see I have a long way to go

(Photo Credits: gettyimages.com)

The Cartwheel

dunya-
it's like a cartwheel, a never ending cycle
a continuous random circular dynamic motion
wherever life takes you
goals, ambitions, aspirations
plan, plan, plan
needs, wants, heartfelt desires
gratitude, patience
prosperity, adversity
my life your life
my benefit your sacrifice
your benefit i don't care
use abuse use abuse
money money money
more more more
happiness, sorrow
high, low
up down
right left
here there
more more more
life life life

slow down, here's a reality check:

"Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception."

[Quran, 3:185 (Aal-e-Imran)]

And So I Learnt

Learnt to love God and obey His Will,
Find peace in His Grace, recite His words, and kneel to pray,
Beg His forgiveness and ask for guidance
For He is Exalted in Power, Wise.

We are blind and deaf to His signs
And unfamiliar to His trials.
At times, we tend to lose faith
For all we desire we cannot take
Thus we disobey and welcome Wrath.
But He is the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful

So we learn to diminish our desires and limit our undignified proceedings.
Bow to His grace and seek refuge in His calm
For it is where serenity is found, in superfluity.
Blessed be He, the Lord of Honor and Majesty
He is Allah: the Manifest, the Only, the First and the Last.

Way of the Believer

click to enlarge

(in arabic, are relevant verses from the Holy Qur'aan)

A fine-looking bird,
His plumage, arresting
His goal: One,
He remains focused, undeterred
Never does he swerve from his path
or drift from his goal

He is humble,
Yet brave, undefeatable
His heart, a vessel of gold,
Filled with nothing except the Light of Allah
Nothing but the Guidance of Allah
Nothing other than the Love of Allah

His mind, an auricle of purity and firmness
His intentions: droplets of Tasneem,
Crystal-clear
His wings, diligent,
As if the roots of a tree

He spreads his wings and folds them in
Oh, the liability they bear, is known to none but his Lord
To Him Alone he complains of his poverty
When he falls prostrate in ways you comprehend not
“Ya Allah, Firdaus-ul-Aala, Ya Allah, with the highest companions”
“Ya Allah, Your Blessed Face, Full of Majesty and Honor”

And you may ask:
What builds these wings of Hadeed
And what will moves them unrelentingly?
He replies softly,
I ask for no praise,
nor sympathy from you, O man

In my heart is true faith,
In my head, an intention firm
My right wing is patience and my left gratitude,
And praise me not, O disillusioned one,
Tis a little secret I hold fast to,
For all things come from Allah and to Him do all return

He pushes me forward by wind at my back
(The bounties of my Lord)
And He lifts me higher, with winds in my face
(The tests from my Rabb)
This is what you call aerodynamics my friend
And none bestows them except the Lord of all mankind

To the Ameer of the Student’s Cottage

An unwashed dish or an unclean sink,
a bite of food or a sip of drink
decreases not your assets in the least-
nay, it multiplies it in the life after

An unlocked door or careless word
replaced with a smile fills the world
and all that is in it -
your sadaqah ...after all

If treated unjustly, employ patience
be soft in word and kind at heart
like your Prophet (peace be upon him)
and in him you must find your exemplar

There is blessing in food shared
so, invite your brothers and free your heart
be satisfied with less: that was the way of the saints of old
And the blessing from your Lord
weighs more, much more, than a stomach full...

(Photo Credits: gettyimages.com)

Nature's Ways

I marvel at Nature's ways
how mountains so great
in the due course of time
are split apart by mere liquid

how on one face of earth
fruits grow in superfluity
whilst on the other
sands (of human despair) lie amassed

how trees branch and support
leaves bowing in humility
some stand haughty
while others oppressed, weak

each leaf has its own legacy
either detached from mother by human mediocrity
or blown away, with siblings alike
far from mother and far from life

(Photo Credits: zaytuna.org)

Follower of Vain Pursuits

“Should the day come wherein
I increase not in knowledge (wherewith)
To draw nearer to Allah
Let the dawn of that day be accursed.” (Hadith)

So let it be cursed, the day you wasted in vain pursuits
Your goal other than the Most Gracious
Your core taxed with corruption and bereft of purity
Your mind focused on lusts and devoid of humility
Forgetful of the Fire whose fuel is men and stones

So let you be cursed O follower of vain desire
Questions on time management and balance you put forward
And then sleep the dawn through, quenching thirst and satiating hunger by night
Showing people your false concern

So let you be cursed you pig - always dissatisfied
Frowning, ungrateful beast! You take in and don’t give out
You frequent trips to the privy , naked girls and pleasure city
So let you be cursed you dog: with pride you traverse the earth
Pressing the earth beneath your feet, You pollute the air you breathe
and kill the very flower you pretend to treat
So let you be cursed evil one, Let you be cursed.

But now as remorse trickles to slowly fill the vessels
Inside your heart, out of a faucet
(Remember) the source is your Most Generous Lord
As your dormant conscience awakens and pulls you apart
You desire to rewind and erase the days you lived

of disgraceful impiety

So fall prostrate
O loved one
And Aslim… (Submit)
To the Lord of All Mankind

Hawwa

It comes and it goes
That’s the nature of all things (in life)
You hold on to it like something sacred
You grasp it real tight
And let it dwell in your heart

It starts as a desire
And grows into a dream,
Cursed be this little source of ecstasy
You let it grow, it comes and it goes
Hawwa- everchanging!

Transience

(Photo Credits: gettyimages.com)

The transience of life I now comprehend
Preparation today begins for the nearing end
When my soul shall part to a heavenly abode
Where sinners forgiven their sins and righteous raised in rank
But authority remains in hand of the Lord I now befriend

Foolish I was to ridicule the beggar
Foolish I was to gather wealth
Foolish I was in days gone by
And foolish I was
(Almost) till the very end

The life I once lived is now past
One in which I had not time for Allah (when it is He Who grants me time)
It grieves me now to see
I longed for none but illusion
A spiritual ill, an incorrect conclusion

My friends wronged themselves
with weed and pornography
It took us not long to part
for Allah soon guided me
to His Light

Now I beg Allah
To guide them as He guided me
Nothing special was there about me
'Tis a mercy and a blessing unbounded
By His decree

(dua - the key to guidance, to everything)

Love Unconditional

Steadily God tiptoed into my heart,
And I prostrated, as He welcomed me with open arms;
Unconditional love, I then experienced.
Pure of mind, Pure of heart,
Purest of all.

He needed not I,
But I needed Him;
He loved me still,
But I not Him;

I claimed that He I loved most,
Followed by Prophet and kinsfolk.
Loving Him meant obedience and humility,
Virtues I dispelled as mere mediocrity.

It took me not long to repent,
And bid adieu to my unhealthy core.
Hypocrisy my heart did harvest,
And Satan I did befriend,
It took us not long to part,
For God soon made me,
Pure of heart.

It grieves me now to see,
That I longed for none but illusion;
A spiritual ill,
An incorrect conclusion.

The life I once treasured
Is buried in the past,
Now that I submit my soul to His Grace,
I feel so small,
For a repeat offender,
I surely was.

(Image Credits: islamic-world)

Earnest Desires

Wish to be free, desire to soar
Like an eagle, strong and determined
A dove, tranquil and soft
A lovebird, chirping a song
A one legged-stork, practicing restraint
A Muslim, submitting to Allah, the Most High

Instability

Instability, Insecurity
dominate the consciences of the faithless;
Seeking asylum in arms of the inanimate,
We give ourselves a false sense of proximity,
Only to later find ourselves deceived, deprived.

Those in whose bosoms we found serenity
Forsake us every now and then.
We were beguiled by their charm, and led astray by their tongues.
Our reverence for each of them changing,
As the winds in the turn of season

Our instability we try to shadow
By haughty behavior;
We stand pretending to dominate, while inside us dwells a little mole
Furtively making its way through hills and burrows,
Seeking refuge in one or the other, hiding behind closed doors.

We live our lives contradicting our own reality,
Seeking the approval of those around us:
Some like ourselves; others weak, but inside strong
We feed them with fruits of envy,
Ourselves being unproclaimed demagogues

Some of the weak are thinkers,
And of great intellect;
They understand us, and our behavior
They know our condition, but deceptively play their parts,
Mocking us behind our backs.

Our gods are the greens, and the hands that posess them.
Awestruck and aloof!
We look on in adulation and glorify their actions.
Our attire and dialect, an imitation of theirs
So superficial, so empty

After journeying for long - having traveled afar,
We sought composure through submission to a Divine Power
Whose Mercy - Benevolence - Omnipotence - we now acknowledge
Whose signs we denied since times immemorial,
Whose love we took for granted, and trials we sullenly lived through.

But now, instability from us has been far removed
And tears only of repentance and awe we shed
Our every prayer He answers - every desire He fulfills
He is our Lord, the Remover of despair
And The Benefactor of humankind

Introduction

In the Name of Allah Most Beneficent Most Merciful

In conjunction with a revival of religious thought in Muslim hearts and minds, a revival of lifestyles and sources of entertainment is also very much needed. Today, most youth are not fully formed (even at ages where the Sahaaba were major contributors to society).

We have cartoons, movies, junk food, music and computer games for entertainment! We have nurtured inactivity, lack of motivation and boredom in our children’s lives, while they (the Sahaaba) had labor, shepherding, swimming, archery, each other, and most importantly, families nurtured by the greatest teacher: Muhammad (p.b.u.h).

Just a tiny step towards betterment (as grown-ups) would be to introduce beneficial, healthy entertainment into our lives so the young could follow suit; entertainment which would help us grow and add to our balances on the Day of Resurrection inshaAllah.

InshaAllah, this web log will serve that purpose - at least for me. I intend to post poetry and pictures every now and then. You are welcome to comment on the poem/picture, and better still, initiate a discussion.

All the good in these poems is from Allah (swt) among whose most beautiful names is Al-Barr (the source of all goodness); it is He who grants ability and talent, and it is He who can take it away whenever He wills, Glorified and Exalted be He, Lord of the Supreme Throne.

Wrting these poems gave me an eman-rush, and served as a means of approach to Allah (swt) … may they be the same (and even more) for you. (Aameen.)