As you shrouded them in simple white calico
And made them fragrant with the perfume of Kafoor (1)
As you lay their precious bodies in a bed of rich, warm, soil
Take solace from the knowledge that many have done so before you
And many more will do so after, too

Their faces were radiant, no doubt you saw,
Their sleep so peaceful, they'll know pain no more
Radiant, lustrous, perhaps joyful too
Yes, they loved you, indeed it's true
But to their Beloved they return
A blissful Garden, have they earned
To dwell therein forever, what joy, what utter bliss

The Prophet too (SAW) lay Khadija, Ebrahim, Qasim, Zainab and Hamza, all dear to his blessed heart
In their final resting place, grieved that it was finally time to part
As tears fell from his blessed eyes, they washed over his aching soul
A balm for his wounded heart
He hoped for reward, as should you too
From Allah , Most High, whose wisdom
Defies comprehension
Whose reward defies calculation

Your grief has driven peace from mine own restless heart
But Sabr (2) for someday you too will depart
To join them in that garden on high
So take courage even though you can't help but sigh
And know that Allah and the passage of time too
Will work to heal your broken heart
At the loss of so many, so dear to you
And you'll smile again, that beautiful smile
And it will reach your eyes, your soul, your heart
And you'll know that they're happy
And you'll be happy too
And a gracious reward from Allah will be waiting for you


1.camphor      2.patience

Today is the dance
***
Nataraj with his crown thrown back
And ringlets of goldness let down
Like rapunzel, and your own imagination
Down in the dance
So that when you cry
Your tears appear as sweat
And the onlookers need not know
That there is a tear inside
***
Today is the dance
So give us your hands and your heart
And spin like a whirling dervish
Then lose sight of all the limbs and their snarls
Whirl back into His fold
And the origin of your name
When you were called for the first time
And life was unknown
***
Today is the dance
So live today
And do not shy away
From the circle that spins you
In between tragedies and unknowns
Strange as it may be
He blessed you with these
And the dance of His creation
***
He blessed you, indeed.
******

There was a young girl,
She loved Allah.
She didn't know why,
Just how much.

She talked to Him when she was lonely,
Knowing He was the One and Only.

Why, she wondered, do people fight?
When everyone knows what's right?
Why do those who should love each other,
Lie and manipulate their brother?

She thought of Allah as her best Friend,
And knew He'd listen until The End.
She wanted to please Him and do what's right,
and be surrounded by His light.

But as this bud grew into a flower,
She realized people too have power.
Power to cloud your way of thinking,
And soon she felt her Iman sinking.

Although on the outside she went along,
On the inside she was still strong.
She knew Allah was just waiting,
For the right time for her awakening.

Alhamdulillah, the love for Him was always there.
Although it was in need of repair.
One day she decided to make her Hajj.
And make Allah her only Judge.

So a New Muslim she became,
And again began to praise His name.

I thank Allah from the bottom of my heart,
And thank the Teacher that gave me my new start.
May Allah bless you, you know who you are.
You have my Dua, whether I'm near or far.

"Ya Allah, keep me on the straight path,
And not the way that earns Your wrath.
Forgive me for the mistakes I've made,
Let me walk with patience, on the path You've laid.
Help keep my intention to please only You.
And keep my Iman as it was, when I was new."

With so much wind
And so much rain
And so many storms
With added pain

We have a will
We have a life
We have a chance
To make things right

We can leave
In a heated rush
And lash out slander
To even it up

Or we can step back
And realize
Every heart
Individualized

On its own orbit
On its own plane
With its own moons
Yet alike and the same

No one will see
Unless they consider
No eyelid will move
No wiseman will whisper

No ear will hear
No heart will feel
No soul will rise
Unless its clear

And to be told
Makes no difference
One has to travel
Gain experience

We are not here
To watch over men
But to submit
To stop and listen

To hold a child's hand
And let the child lead
To know your truth
And be finally freed

In the serene Early Hours I sit Alone
Alone with Allah, the Most Compassionate.
He, the Most High descends and asks,
What is it you need?
So He may grant it, and I may be thankful.

My heart is fertile ground
for the seed of submission.
In the Early Hours.

The black canopy brightens,
and the clouds tinted pink appear on the horizon.
before the colors vanish into whiteness.
When was the period in between?
I witness the Resurrection of a New Day,
An Ayah of Allah.  

So I sit alone,
Alone with Allah.
To witness in awe,
and reflect in silent dhikr,
and renew my covenant with Him
As the night again becomes the day,
In the Early Hours.