Weep not for this poet nor for his blood-like plight- Jaihoon’s chaotic poem on spiritual mayhem citing anecdotes from Rabia Basri and Umar Qazi.
Oh! this hypocrite is forgiven
By the one who suffered pain
For a sinner of his stature
A great relief this is for sure!
For long had he waited
Why this miracle had belated
At morn and night
He’s used to reciting:
‘Ya Badee’al Ajaaib
Bil Khairi Ya Badee’
In Your sight
Nothing is ghaaib
About sounds loud and quiet
You are As-Samee’
Now
His hands may Allah restrain!
His heart may Allah not constrain!
May his ambitions never drain!
Nor any harm upon him strain!
Now,
Since from the one on earth
He’s been forgiven
He can now dare to raise
His hands towards the Heaven
But
Like that ‘Seeker of Babylon’
He is in want of a moon
To reflect upon His Signs
And for heart to cleanse
When asked Khalil
For the life and death to reveal
He was certainly not in doubt
About His Glory and Might
Rather,
This ‘Friend of the Lord’
Wanted only to strengthen his faith
On the Lord who made life and death
Still,
He keeps his heart alive,
As a bee busy in the hive
This and that,
Like a starving rat
Feeding on worldly things
He struggles to survive
The food of his soul is gone:
Damned back to the worldly zone
Expelled from that Fearful Town
His heart: hardened to a stone
Day and night
He is in constant moan
Ah! This dog has lost
His only bone
Hey Reader!
Weep not for this poet
Nor for his blood-like plight
For, against the imitative world
He is up in a rebellious riot!
Forget this poem
Filled with mayhem
This is no lullaby
To swing you in melody
Expect not any harmony:
Accused who is of felony
Forget these lines:
They carry no sense
Though a sinner in despise,
Take it from me
This handsome advice
For which you pay no price
Those words of Umar-
The poet-like Qazi of Malabar”
“The love and praise of Our Sire
Is blessed indeed:
He may fulfill your desire
For which you are in need”
Remember the Green Dome
Of Medina
Of that Adorable Son
Of Amina!
When my greetings
Are sent on Medina
Entire life becomes
A beautiful Tasbih in qarina
These are among the wonders
Of the Originator of Wonders
Praised be His Glory
Glorified be His Mercy
What can I say,
O my treasured friend!
With me is there
Just a tiny heart
To thank and praise Him
I know not where to start
On your lips am I reading
Those words of Rabi,
The priceless gem of Basra
Who never wore an earring
For whom His Fear was dear
And the mystics saw her as a seer
“God be praised: He conferred His grace
We could pass the whole night in prayers;
As a mark of gratitude,
Let us pass the whole day in fasting”
Notes
Ya Badee’al Ajaaib! Bil Khairi ya Badee’ : “O Originator of wonder! With goodness me YOU shower!” (A special prayer regularly recited by Shah Waliyullah Dehlavi)
Ghaaib : hidden
As-Samee’ : All Hearing (One among the 99 names of Allah)
Seeker of Babylon : The reference is to Prophet Ibrahim (as), born in Babylonia
Khalil : Friend (of Allah). Title given to Prophet Ibrahim.
Umar Qazi : The Sufi poet and judge who fought against the British colonial rule in India.
Son of Amina : The Holy Prophet
Tasbih : Rosary
Qarina : well-arranged setting
Rabia : The lady saint of Basra (Iraq). She had many scholars and saints as her students.
Dec 22 2001. Edit March 2022
