Hajj Poem: The Farewell Tawaf (part six)

[The Farewell Tawaf]

When they’ve achieved at Mina all their gains,

Once more they fill the valleys and plains:

To the Ka’bah, the Sacred House, by the end of the day,

To circle it seven times, and then to Pray.

When departure nears and they are certain

That the bond of proximity is about to loosen,

There’s only a last stand for a final farewell:

Now for Allah are the eyes that swell,

And for Allah are the heavy hearts that turn

Into cauldrons of desire where fire does burn;

And the passionate sighs whose heat so vigorous

Nearly melts the Lover, ecstatic, rapturous!

Now you see those bewildered, perplexed in the throng,

Whilst others chant their sorrowful song:

“I depart, but there remains for You my yearning,

My fire of grief is raging and burning;

I bid farewell, but longing pulls my reins –

My heart is encamped in Your eternal plains!”

No blame today for saying what you feel:

No blame for expressing what you used to conceal!

– Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah

O Allah grant us the chance to make Hajj

Hajj Poem: Mina (part five)

[Mina]

Then they return to Mina, each to his tent,

Every minute wish is granted, and they are content;

They stay there a day, then another, then a third,

They’re allowed to depart early, but to stay is preferred;

They stone the pillars daily after the sun’s decline,

With a slogan of Takbir in the presence of the Divine!

If only you could see their standing there:

Palms outstretched, hoping for Mercy’s share!

“O Lord! O Lord! Knowing as You do

That we hope for no-one, only You!

Then grant our wish, O You All-Knowing,

We pray for Your Mercy overflowing.”

Part Six: The Farewell Tawaf comming soon

Hajj Poem: Muzdalifah and Mina (part four)

[Muzdalifah & Mina]

Now to Muzdalifah, to spend the night

In the Sacred Area, then Prayer at first light;

Now on to the Great Pillar, which they need

To stone at the time of the Prayer of ‘Id;

Now to their tents for the sacrifice prepared,

Reviving the tradition of a Father revered.

If sacrificing themselves were Allah’s demand,

They would respond, submitting to the command;

Just as they’d expose their necks in Jihad

To Allah’s enemies, till these stream with blood;

They discipline themselves, presenting the head for a shave:
Bringing humility and happiness to the obedient slave.
…..

[The Tawaf of Ifadah/Ziyarah]

So when they’ve removed those natural growths,

Completed their rites, and fulfilled their oaths,

He invites them again to visit His House:

What honour and welcome this visit allows!

By Allah, they visit it in so much splendour,

Receiving their rewards and plenty of honour;

There Allah bestows Grace, Favour and Kindness,

Showing Generosity, Mercy and Forgiveness.

Part Five: Mina here

The Hajj: ‘Arafah (part three)

[‘Arafat]

Now to ‘Arafat, hoping for Mercy and Forgiveness

From the One overflowing with Generosity and Kindness;

Now for Allah is that Magnificent Standing

Like, though lesser than, the Day of Reckoning.

The Irresistible draws near, His Majesty manifest,

Boasting to His angels, for He is the Mightiest,

“My slaves have come to Me so lovingly,

I’ll be Generous and Merciful, willingly.

I have forgiven their sins, – to this you are witness –

Fulfilled their hopes, and showered them with goodness.”

So joyous news! O people of that standing,

When sins are forgiven and Mercy is spreading;

How many slaves are set completely free?

Whilst others seek a cure, and heal will He.

Now Satan is never known to lose such face:

He’s blameworthy, rejected, in utter disgrace.

For he sees a matter that enrage him must:

He flees, slaps his face and covers it in dust!

Such Forgiveness he never did see

As granted by the Lord, and such Mercy!

He built his edifice from every temptation available

Till he thought it was complete, unassailable;

Then Allah struck his building at its very foundation,

So it fell upon him, tumbling in devastation;

What worth has his structure, this evil ploy,

That he does build, and the Lord does destroy?

…

Part Four: Muzdalifah & Mina here

There is great virtue in fasting the day of Arafat

Hajj Poem: At The Ka’bah (part two)

[At the Ka’bah]

When they see His House – that magnificent sight

For which the hearts of all creatures are set alight –

It seems they’ve never felt tired before,

For their discomfort and hardship is no more.

Now the eye of the Lover drowns in its streams,

It sees through its tears the goal of its dreams;

Now for Allah, how many tears are issued,

Each one being followed by a multitude?

When the eye perceives the House, its darkness clears,

And from the sorrowful heart, pain disappears;

Vision cannot encompass this beautiful sight:

Each glance returns with greater delight!

No wonder at this, for when the Merciful preferred

The House for Himself, it became most honoured.

He clothed it in Majesty, a magnificent garment;

Embroidered it with Beauty, a wonderful ornament!

The hearts all love the House therefore,

Awed and humbled, in respect and honour.

Part Three: ‘Arafat here

The Hajj: A Poem (part one)

By Him whose House the loving pilgrims visit,

Responding with ihram at the appointed limit,

Uncovering their heads in total humility

Before One to Whom faces bow in servility.

They exclaim in the valleys, “We have responded to You –

All Praise is Yours, and Kingdom too!”

He invited and they answered, with love and pleasure;

When they called upon Him, nearer came the Divine treasure.

You see them on their mounts, hair dusty and dishevelled,

Yet never more content, never happier have they felt;

Leaving homelands and families due to holy yearning,

Unmoved are they by temptations of returning.

Through plains and valleys, from near and far,

Walking and riding, in submission to Allah.

Part Two At The Ka’bah here

” a reward in proportion”

مَنۡ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا مِّن ذَڪَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٌ۬ فَلَنُحۡيِيَنَّهُ ۥ حَيَوٰةً۬ طَيِّبَةً۬‌ۖ وَلَنَجۡزِيَنَّهُمۡ أَجۡرَهُم بِأَحۡسَنِ مَا ڪَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ

Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islâmic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)
[Surah An-Nahl (16):97]

A poet once wrote:

There is no home for a man after death
Except that which he used to build before he died.
If he built it with bricks of good deeds,
Then the architecture shall come out beautiful.
And if he built it with evil,
Its architect will fall into ruin.

“If I knew for certain that my entire life would last an hour…”

Abu al-Walid Sulayman bin Khalaf bin Sa’d al-Andalusi used to say to himself:

If I knew for certain
That my entire life would last an hour;

Why would I be cheap with it
And not dedicate it to righteousness and obedience?

Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Masruq at-Tusi said:

“I recited to Mahmud bin al-Hasan:

Utilize your youth before it becomes spoiled
And the health of your body before it becomes sick;

And the days of your life before you die
For the one who lives will not live long;

And utilize your free time
Let your nights be spent in some work;

And put something forth, as every man is travelling towards
That which he has put forth…

Abu ‘Abdillah Ahmad bin Ayyub used to say to himself:

In your free time, take advantage of the virtue of bowing in prayer
It might be that your death comes suddenly;

How many healthy ones have you seen without disease
Whose healthy selves disappeared and escaped them…

One of Dawud at-Ta’i’s brothers said to him:

“O Abu Sulayman! You know the kinship between us. So, advise me!”

So, his eyes began to water, and he said: “My brother! Indeed, the night and day are stages that the people pass through – one stage at a time – until they reach the end of their journey. So, if you are able to put forth for every day some provision for each stage, do so. And if your journey is cut short, prepare for your journey what you can, and fulfill what you are able of this affair, because it is as if its end will catch you by surprise. I do not know anyone who is more wasteful in this affair than I am.”

He then got up and left.”

Collected in the abridged version of al-Khatib al-Baghdadi’s ‘Iqtida’ al-’Ilm al-’Amal’ (p. 43-47), in the chapter titled ‘Rushing to Deeds Before One’s Youth and Health Disappear’: