The Park Bench
The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
Under the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown
For the world was intent on dragging me down
And if that weren't enough, to ruin my day
A young boy approached me, all tired from play
He stood right before me with his head tilted down
And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"
In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight
With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play
I faked a small smile and then shifted away
But instead of retreating he sat next to my side
And placed the flower to his nose
And declared with overacted surprise
"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too.
That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."
The weed before me was dying or dead
Not vibrant of colours: orange, yellow or red
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave
So I reached for the flower and said, "Just what I need." But instead of him placing the flower in my hand
He held it mid-air, without reason or plan
It was then that I noticed for the very first time
That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind
I heard my voice quiver; tears shone in the sun
As I thanked him for picking the very best one
"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play
Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying person beneath an old willow tree
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
The problem was not with the world; the problem was me And for all of those times, I myself had been blind
I vowed to appreciate every second that's mine
And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose
I smiled at the young boy with another weed in his hand
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man
A woman was waiting at the airport one night
With several long hours before her flight
She hunted for a book in the airport shop
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop
She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see
That the man beside her, as bold as could be
Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between
Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene
She read, munched cookies, and watched the clock
As the "ghastly cookie thief" diminished her stock
She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by
Thinking, "If I wasn't so nice, I'd blacken his eye!"
With each cookie she took, he took one too
When only one was left, she wondered what he'd do
With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh
He took the last cookie and broke it in half
He offered her half, and he ate the other
She snatched it from him and thought, "Oh brother,
This guy has some nerve, and he's also so rude
Why, he didn't even show any gratitude!"
She had never known when she had been so galled
And sighed with relief when her flight was called
She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate
Refusing to look at the "thieving ingrate"
She boarded the plane and sank in her seat
Then sought her book, which was almost complete
As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise
There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes!
"If mine are here," she moaned with despair
"Then the others were his and he tried to share!"
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief
A woman was waiting at the airport one night
With several long hours before her flight
She hunted for a book in the airport shop
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop
She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see
That the man beside her, as bold as could be
Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between
Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene
She read, munched cookies, and watched the clock
As the "ghastly cookie thief" diminished her stock
She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by
Thinking, "If I wasn't so nice, I'd blacken his eye!"
With each cookie she took, he took one too
When only one was left, she wondered what he'd do
With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh
He took the last cookie and broke it in half
He offered her half, and he ate the other
She snatched it from him and thought, "Oh brother,
This guy has some nerve, and he's also so rude
Why, he didn't even show any gratitude!"
She had never known when she had been so galled
And sighed with relief when her flight was called
She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate
Refusing to look at the "thieving ingrate"
She boarded the plane and sank in her seat
Then sought her book, which was almost complete
As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise
There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes!
"If mine are here," she moaned with despair
"Then the others were his and he tried to share!"
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief
O Allah, help me to live a life that is usury free and productive in this world.Thanks to You, O Allah, I always have plenty of everything that I need. O Allah, I know if I give up usury, what I have lawfully earned shall be protected by You. Thank you, O Allah, for letting me keep a part of that which I have earned. Help me to invest it wisely and resposibly in a non-usury matter and is pleasing to You. I know, O Allah, that the more I wisely spend and responsibly invest, the more I will be given to wisely spend and responsibly invest. As long as I remember that I owe everything to You, O Allah, I deserve to prosper. My wealth contributes to my aliveness and to the aliveness of others. When I prosper, other people prosper. When I succeed, other people succeed. Because of You, Allah, I have more than I need. Help me to share it with others. My cup runneth over. Because of Your mercy, O Allah, there is enough to go around for everyone, including me.
Brothers and sisters, to increase your Iman
Read the Miracle - read the Qur'an
Recite it everyday and to recite it be proud
For the word 'Qur'an' means to recite aloud
And this is to know - for those who are keener:
Around 28 Surahs were revealed in Madinah
The Book from Allah - the Lord of the worlds
Over 6000 verses / 77,000 words
Read it with respect - notice the auras
Al-Fatiha to An-Nás - all 114 Surahs
In this Book, 25 Prophets are mentioned by name
Came at different times, but the message the same
The verses revealed over a 23 year span
Sent from Allah, through an angel to man
He gave us a message and this is Islam
So read the Miracle - read the Qur'an
They lie on the table side by side
The Holy Qur'an and the TV Guide
One is well worn and cherished with pride
Not the Qur'an, but the TV Guide
One is used daily to help folks decide
Not the Qur'an, but the TV Guide
As the pages are turned, what shall they see?
Oh what does it matter - turn on the TV
So they open the book in which they confide
No, not the Qur'an, but the TV Guide
The Word of Allah is seldom read
Maybe a verse before they fall into bed
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be
Not from reading the Qur'an - from watching TV
So then back to the table side-by-side
Lie the Holy Qur'an and the TV Guide
No time for prayer, no time for the Word
The plan of worship is rarely heard
But forgiveness of sin, so full and free
Is found in the Qur'an - not on TV
It was early in the morning at four
When death knocked upon a bedroom door
”Who is there?” the sleeping one cried
”I am Izra'eel, let me inside.”
At once, the man began to shiver
As one sweating in deadly fever
He shouted to his sleeping wife:
”Don’t let the angel take my life!”
”Please go away, Oh Angel of Death!
Leave me alone, I’m not ready yet."
The Angel knocked again and again
”Friend! I’ll take your life without a pain
Bewildered, the man began to cry
”Oh Angel! I’m so afraid to die
I’ll give you gold and be your slave
Don’t send me to the unlit grave.”
”Let me in, Oh Friend!” the Angel said
”Open the door, get up from your bed
If you do not allow me in
I will walk through it, like a Jinn.”
The man held a gun in his right hand
Ready to defy the Angel’s stand
”I’ll point my gun, towards your head
You dare come in, I’ll shoot you dead.”
By now, the Angel was in the room
Saying, “Oh friend! Prepare for your doom
Foolish man, Angels don't die
Put down your gun - no need to sigh.”
”Why are you afraid; tell me Oh man,
To die according to Allah’s plan?
Come, smile at me, do not be grim
Be happy to return to Him.”
”Oh Angel! I bow my head in shame
I had no time to take Allah’s name
From morn till dusk I made my wealth
Not even caring for my own health.”
”Allah’s commands I never obeyed
Nor five times a day I ever prayed
Ramadan came and Ramadan went
But no time had I to repent.”
”The Hajj was already Fardh on me
But I would not part with my money
All charities I did ignore
Taking usury more and more.”
”Sometimes I sipped my favourite wine
With flirting women I sat to dine
Oh Angel! I appeal to you:
Spare my life for a year or two.”
”The Laws of Qur'an I will obey
I’ll begin Salat this very day
My Fast and Hajj, I will complete
And keep away from self-conceit.”
”I will refrain from usury
And give my wealth to charity
Wine and wenches I will detest
Allah’s oneness I will attest.”
”We Angels do what Allah demands
We cannot go against His commands
Death is ordained for everyone
Father, mother, daughter and son.”
”I’m afraid, this moment is your last
Now be reminded, of your past."
”You lived in this world, for decades and more
Never did you, your people adore
Your parents, you did not obey
Hungry beggars, you turned away.”
”Your two forgotten, female offspring
In night-clubs, for livelihood they sing.”
”You ignored the Mu’adhin’s Adhan
Nor did you read the Holy Qur'an
Abusing your wife, all your life
Backbiting friends, and causing strife.”
”From hoarded goods, great profits you made
And your poor workers, you underpaid
Horses and cards were your leisure
Money-making was your pleasure.”
A pint of blood you never gave,
Which could a little baby save.”
”Paradise for you? I cannot tell
Undoubtedly you will dwell in Hell
There’s no time for you to repent
I’ll take your soul for which I am sent.”
The ending, however, is very sad
Eventually the man became quite mad
With a cry, he jumped out of bed
And suddenly, he fell down dead
Oh Reader! Take a moral from here
You never know - your end may be near
Assess your living and make amends
For Heaven, on your deeds depends
I am a Book in elegant prints
To know my name, here are some hints:
Rich in cover and nicely bound
In hearts of Muslims I am rarely found
High on a shelf I am usually kept
Forgotten and neglected, I am left
With respect I do get lots of kiss
My main point is what they always miss
At times I am used for phoney swear
My true use though is very rare
A Miracle I am that can change the world
All one has to do is heed my word
I am your saviour, I am your guide
So come and take heed, come and abide
I have wisdom, I have treasure
So much so, there is no measure
Right from wrong is my fame
Today, upon a bus
I saw a girl with golden hair
And wished I was as fair
When suddenly she rose to leave
I saw her hobble down the aisle
She had one leg and wore a crutch
But as she passed - a smile
Oh Allah, forgive me when I whine
I have two legs, the world is mine
I stopped to buy some sweets
The lad selling them had such charm
I spoke to him, he seemed so glad
If I were late, it'd do no harm
And as I left, he said to me
"I thank you; you've been so kind
It's nice to talk with folks like you,
You see," he said, "I'm blind."
Oh Allah, forgive me when I whine
I have two eyes, the world is mine
Later, while walking down the street
I saw a child with eyes of blue
He stood and watched the others play
He did not know what to do
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word
And then I knew, he couldn't hear
Oh Allah, forgive me when I whine
I have two ears, the world is mine
With feet to take me where I'd go
With eyes to see the sunset's glow
With ears to hear what I'd know
A View of Death It was a day of cutting sadness and endless sorrow. Outside, a grayish mist under a somber sky hid a street, Leading to a gentle home, whose door I peered through, To catch a glimpse of the turmoil coming from within; A home once packed with energy and vigor Now flooded with melancholic rivers of tears; I stared at the ghostlike face of the woman lying on the cot; A woman, once full of life, now as cold as a winter's chill, Surrounded by those who admired and loved her; The aura around her sending rays of sadness into my heart, Unearthing from my childhood, the precious memories of her And as I thought and thought in a mindless trance I saw the Angel of Death bowing before her, Tears coming out of his lustrous eyes That life so precious as hers, he had to take "Please, don't take her," the words whispered out of my mouth; But he managed to bring himself together and flew away Taking her soul into the higest heavens in the sky My heart sunk, as tears flooded out of my eyes And my eyes simply stared into the dismal sky.
I have two (even if I think theyre not that great):
Muslimah
Many years I have wandered,
Under clouded skies.
Seeking nothing-I thought-nothing
Like religion-so deluded are they
In their Churches and Mosques,
Men preaching lies, no fool am I...
And yet more the fool, for
Having so little faith in the wisdom of the wise!
Niqaabi/No Face
Hide yourself under
Swathes of darkest night,
Eyes like stars in a
Far away place.
No skin to see,
No figure No face.
You smile as they try
To judge and to rate.
To give you a place.
Outside of that tent
That you wear in name
Of Gods Grace.
With your eyes like stars in a
Far away place.
No skin to see,
No figure No face.
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