Poem: When Sorrow is Your Only Companion
Written by Ibn Shahid:
If sorrow is the only companion you find
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Then do not hold back the tears that flow unconfined.
The noble sun of Abu Abbas has set,
And the star of truth in the west is dimming yet.
We thought that the voice calling out in sorrow,
Was truthful in its lament for tomorrow’s shadow.
We believed that the bright morning had turned to night,
As we descended into grief, away from light.
We mourned in darkness for your departure,
For you, O best of humanity, are our enrapture.
Your essence did not vanish once in the grave you lay,
But Islam withdrew, fading away.
As you chose to endure that fateful night,
We honored you with noble riders, a sight.
The splendid bier moved forth, surrounded by grace,
As relatives mourned, finding their place.
Angelic whispers graced the air,
Greeting the remnant of the righteous with a prayer.
People gathered around your resting site,
As they sought solace in the peace of twilight.
Who can navigate the words that shine forth?
If ever we opposed, valiant in our worth.
And who, in the spring of the faithful’s call,
Can nourish them despite the falsehood that befalls?
Oh, the weight on my heart, how it sighs with pain,
For our defender has departed, and sorrow reigns.
The one who brought joy in his gentle embrace,
Now we tread through the night, lost in space.
He commanded respect in the midst of any crowd,
A true leader whose grace made us proud.
Such a sword, sharp and true,
Defended the faith, and the truth, it drew.
O Abu Hatim, endure the strife,
For patience is sweeter, bearing rich life.
You instilled courage in us as time revealed,
Facing adversity with strength, our hearts healed.
May I plead with time to grant you life anew,
As I yearn for the health of your body, too.
Poem: Enough is My Complaint Seeing Glory Weep
Written by Ibn Khafaja:
Enough is my complaint seeing glory lament,
And the calamities over me, a source of discontent.
I tend a heart that shatters, gasping for air,
With echoes of pain that fill the silent air.
How can I ignite flames from a source so barren,
When I am but a stream, quenched and wearin’?
In nights overwhelming with troubles, here I stand,
With wails that echo wildly, grief unplanned.
Each hardship unfolds like a dagger in my breast,
While hope eludes my sight, never to rest.
And the clarity of our bond, once so clear,
Now makes it painful to drink pure water near.
How often I was mocked by the clueless crowd,
Yet, still the burden refuses to bow down proud.
I said to her: “Indeed, weeping brings relief,”
It heals the soul of those with disbelief.
But behold, time has taken my youth and friends,
In an era that steals hearts, with no amends.
Though I used to offer praise, in the desert alone,
How can I dedicate sorrow in this silence of stone?
O beloved, at the heights, did you turn away,
By the decree of nights that silent betray?
Thus, I limit my complaints, release the tears from me,
As I lowered my voice, quietly beseechingly.
How I wish to see patience flourishing bright,
Beyond the darkness, holding stars at night.
For if the circle of friends is out of sight,
In the negotiations of time, they lose their light.
And oh, how sweet the reward of those struggles won,
In those times, illuminating all I’ve begun.
And what more delightful than that sun of gold,
That shone in your company, with warmth to behold?
And let us remember those days, like fragrant blooms,
In a garden of memories where joy resumes.
So shall I ask the nights, what awaits in return?
With the fellowship of those spirits that yearn?
For I am here, grief striking thus loudly,
But with a heart that sways gently, a humble body.
I long for a breath of youth, a vibrant air,
Yet find myself tracing shadows in despair.
Where is the beauty in laughter shared?
When silences linger, and dreams have flared?
Still, fond memories, like fragrant clovers, remain,
In each whisper, I feel, my heart can reclaim.
Let me voice my concerns, speak of my sorrow,
As I await joyous days each morrow.
Poem: The Truth is Clear and the Path Illuminated
Written by Ibn Abd Rabbih:
The truth is clear, and the path is bright,
The full moon shines in the darkest night.
The sword levels all that oppose its fight,
While the blind remain lost, devoid of sight.
When fortresses tremble and their doors breached,
The sword unlocks every bond that was leached.
The caliph raised his resolve to clear the way,
As he gathered armies, ready to sway.
A multitude of battalions united as one,
With waves of brigades beneath the sun.
You would see them toil with weapons and might,
Like the sea in tumult, a powerful sight.
As arrows flew like whispers to the air,
Flags moved swiftly, stirring hearts laid bare.
And the knights emboldened by the roar of drums,
Face their enemies as the battle succumbs.
Clad in armor like shadows of night,
With courage painted on their faces, they rise to fight.
Yet there were those who met a sudden fate,
Lemented in the light, societies wait.
For in the fray, honor lost takes no toll,
Powerful dreams crushed by relentless patrol.
And as requests emerge from those once bold,
Lessons of valor through stories retold.
These are the victories that brought us forth,
Heralding the light that shines upon the earth.
Poem: The Branches Rise to Glory from the Noble Tree
Written by Ibn Shahab:
Branches that rise to glory from the noble tree,
Pursuing the beauty that is neither India nor the sea.
How great it is to praise such a line,
That weathered the storms, its roots entwined.
It flourishes in the heights of honor’s quest,
Bequeath our dreams of both faith and zest.
May the branches, glittering with beauty divine,
Dazzle under the sun as though they were fine.
With aroma of blossoms and worlds spread wide,
Each petal tells tales of joy inside.
On the trees of wisdom, their flowers bloom,
With fragrances that remove all room for gloom.
Have they borne anything but heavenly fare,
Diluting the memories of trials laid bare?
Wrought with secrets of the universe vast,
Like tales whispered from the shadows of the past.
For when misfortunes strike with consequence high,
Their shade becomes a refuge where spirits fly.
It is the highest sanctuary where come all those,
Cleansing darkened hearts from their heavy woes.
Nor is it surprising to derive strength from the one,
The most honored of all, the beloved son.
Who instilled majesty with noble might,
Within the realms of knowledge, he lit up the night.
He built for them a mansion of great esteem,
Inheriting the essence of all our dreams.
By Haidar, I mean the son of Fatima strong,
Who stood firm against an injustice so wrong.
Along with Fatima and the beloved ones we revere,
Who carry the honor of each generation here.
These, the champions of grace from the House of Hashim,
Builders of greatness, nothing less than a dream.
And amongst them remain guiding stars that lead,
To light paths obstructed by misconceptions’ seed.
From them flows the tale of glory shared,
In wisdom’s tradition, where knowledge is spared.
Peace be upon them and blessings bestowed,
In their presence, life and the truth unfold.
Poem: Speak, for Your Kingdom is Crowned with Wealth
Written by Ibn Zaydun:
Speak, for your kingdom is crowned with wealth,
And seek, for your fortune promises with stealth.
Connect the stars with the fate of those who desire,
Who gravitate towards the light, their souls on fire.
Seek the lush habitats where dreams soar high,
For the bold shall find their wings to fly.
O king, whose plans tower above all reign,
Your empire unfolds where visions remain.
These nights are paved with wishes and grace,
And when you call forth, it shall follow with purpose in place.
Mind the fleeting opportunities around the wise,
As good tidings approach in a glorious guise.
Time presents you gifts, a precious delight,
For they reside with you, basking in your light.
The sun set within a world full of waste,
And in its radiance, your fortunes laid waste.
Its glow accompanies the full moon’s gentle charm,
A promise of dawn, a comforting calm.
The light is bridled with the tales of old,
As the circumstance of the present unfolds.
Joy shines like the radiance from a generous source,
Should this be spoken, twinkling with force.
So savor with grace, the reward of your staying,
And listen to the melodies that are playing.
As you drink deeply from the chalice of bliss,
Wherein a thousand wishes find humble solace.
For just like sweet fragrance, hollow and sincere,
Your path unwinds, guiding your journey here.
What is life but enchantment in the arms of the present?
With ecstasy shimmering like gold in the crescent.
So rest in the cushions of dignity’s rest,
And let joy find its home, all blessed.
Embrace everything that sways with affection,
And surrender to the pace of good connection.
He who doesn’t dream shall find sorrow mounting,
But those, who sing in joy, have beauty counting.
So relish every victory that brings joy near,
As challenges borne from strength persevere.
And should the clouds of fortune drift closer to you,
Grasp the treasures that light the azure too.
The times are known for ensuring we shouldn’t bend,
For it is through you that our joy will extend.
Life unfolds at your command, an art so fine,
That life’s vibrant happiness shall forever be thine.
Let the foreboding shadows fall gently away,
So we may bask in brightness of the coming day.