The only proof for our belief in the hereafter is that they were told by the Trustworthy Beloved— insists Jaihoon.

He made His Beloved so beautiful,
Dust or dirt not upon him fall.
He covered him in the ocean of praise,
Light would be exhausted to reach its depth.

Yet, the Lord is kind and forgiving,
Forbid He not on sinners his extolling.

Lines few fell on my sinful heart,
From the pages of the Grand Tablet.

Love is my religion,
Humanity is my caste,
Hope is my philosophy,
Yes, in Muhammad is my belief.

He is the preamble of Creation,
The prince on the Day of Resurrection.
Across worlds is spread his fame,
Yes, in Muhammad is my belief.

In the beginning I felt naught and unreal,
I then looked in the Mirror of His Beloved.
Behold! I was convinced of my Existence,
Yes, in Muhammad is my belief.

I have no evidence for Hell or Heaven,
Nor for the Mighty Lord or His Throne.
Nothing of the other world have I seen, but –
Yes, in Muhammad is my belief.

He is the flute and its song,
The Cloud and its rain,
Sun and its light,
Yes, in Muhammad is my belief.

His is the only face I remember,
When I walk to Hope’s chamber.
His love for me is more sincere,
Yes, in Muhammad is my belief.

He held humanity as dear,
Their pain was his only fear.
Only the Lord could create his beauty,
Yes, in Muhammad is my belief.

The stamp of his love be sufficient,
For Paradise guards to recognize.
He is my pride and ambition –
Yes, in Muhammad is my belief.

Neither in my deeds,
Nor in these words,
All are for me naught,
Yes, in Muhammad is my belief.

O friend,
Judge not the beauty of His Rose,
By this nightingale’s song alone.

Muhammad, that Beloved of God,
Is times eternal more beautiful
Than what I can ever describe
Yes, in Muhammad is my belief.

Wounded by the pangs of Love,
My heart craves to write more.
But it is too tiny to cross
The Sidra of His Desire.

July 24 2011. Edit Feb 2024