To HIM Begin Your Walk

This is based on the Quranic verse where Allah guarantees his slaves “Remember Me and I Shall Remember you”. The poet is clarifying his doubt with Mansoor Al Hallaj, the Persian mystic saint who is well-known for his notorious utterance “I am the truth”, an apparent self-proclamation of divinity for which he was executed by the then Caliph at Baghdad. He was a student of Junaid Al Baghdadi who later dispelled him for his outspoken stand on divine secrets.

The verse stated above may give the reader an apparent suggestion that Allah will remember his slaves ONLY when he is remembered in return. This however is a misconception. Hallaj rebukes such a mean thought of the poet and explains that Allah recognizes the need of each slave and is merciful to all irrespective whether the slave remembers Him or not.

Narrated Anas (R): The Prophet (S) said, “Allah says: ‘When a slave of Mine draws near to Me a span, I draw near to him a cubit; and if he draws near to Me a cubit, I draw near to him a fathom. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.'” [Al-Bukhari]

One day my soul wandered across Baghdad
And passed by the man who in Him went mad

I was wounded for long with a doubt
I bled without stop to find a way out

“O Mansur, unveil for me His truth
Did you not claim ‘I am the Truth’

Were you not killed for His love?
Had you not gone mad in his Love?

I have a question about Your Lord
To solve my mystery can you afford?

Why in His Book did He utter-
Remember me and you I shall remember?

Is He not the Merciful of all?
Is He not the Loving of all?

Is He not the thoughtful of all
Is He not the Lord of all

Why then He puts such a demand
We first, only then He shall respond

Is this the majesty of His Love-
For which you lost senses in crave

“O Mansur, unveil for me His truth
Did you not claim ‘I am the Truth’

Replied the maddened son of Hallaj
Who passed in Him stage after stage