Poem: O Night, Did We Not Visit Um Haitham?
The poet Al-Akhthal expresses in his poem “O Night, Did We Not Visit Um Haitham?”:
O night, did we not visit Um Haitham
at a place familiar to our travels, with distinction.
Her eyes captivate you, and you see
where the husband lies, relaxed and easy.
If the purebred mare has her color clear,
you would not find her slender neck unsightly.
As she walks, there is a no hint of redness,
nor do you suppose any half-truth conceals her form.
Poem: Maiden or Necklace from Ma’an
The poet Kahlil Gibran reflects in his poem “Maiden or Necklace from Ma’an”:
Maiden or necklace from Ma’an,
combining in a unique beauty of blossom,
a reflection of joy that reveals
in the adornments of noble traits.
Blessed is the mother who bore the finest children
in devotion, generosity, and loyalty.
Blessed is the husband for his decency and fidelity
to his noble and sincere partner.
Poem: When We Invade, Our Invasion is in Ankara
The poet Da’bul Al-Khaza’i conveys in his poem “When We Invade, Our Invasion is in Ankara”:
When we invade, our invasion is in Ankara,
and the people of Salma with the sword of the sea from my soul.
Alas, alas, the distance between the two homes!
I have exhausted my longing, having prolonged my gazing.
The guest never departs after my hospitality,
like a walnut trapped between the jaws of a fool.
I love my kin, and I do not wrong them in my affection.
They said I was ignorant in my attachment; what an absurd statement!
My tongue is for praising and commending them,
yes, and my heart, and all that I possess,
allow me to connect with my kin if you sever it.
Indeed, family ties must not be severed,
so keep your close kin, for they certainly have
a right to distinguish between husband and wife.
My people are the sons of Midhaj, and Al-Azd are their brothers,
and the clan of Kinda and the tribes of Al-‘Illa.
They established their pride; if their protection is granted,
they will raise their swords and strike down every oppressor.
My soul competes with me for every noble deed
reaching for high achievements, although it resists.
And how often have I confronted death’s path
with a drawn sword, thus leading me to prosperity.
Not a guest departs from me after their night,
without provisions, accompaniment, and an apology.
They say money will fade; I replied to them:
What is between a reward received and a praise given?
You have spoiled your wealth, I said wealth spoils me
if I am stingy with it, for generosity is my principle.
My sustenance is predestined by my Lord for those who can bear it,
wherever He wills, it flows into my disposition.
Do not jest with a foolish individual,
what his heart has not accepted will flow from his lips.
For perhaps a verse in jest can emerge
vividly, even if it did not intend to grow.
To a response once great, after its interruption,
like the return of a verse after it has been recited.
If I say a line, it has died with its speaker,
and to whom it is told, and the verse will never perish.
Poem: O Assembly of Women, Is Anyone Listening?
The poet Ibn Shihab presents in his poem “O Assembly of Women, Is Anyone Listening?”:
O assembly of women, is there anyone hear this?
Admonitions that are shared with you all.
And whoever acts upon my words,
that one will dwell in the Gardens of Eden.
Staying in the transient world is brief,
and it leads to the everlasting abode.
O God, O maidens of Allah,
adhere to your own homes and maintain your virtue,
for this age lacks any loyalty.
You have heard the speech before,
and all goodness lies in prayer,
its performance at the beginning of the times.
Between a Muslim and a disbeliever,
there is nothing but prayer in the well-known history.
Be content with little,
and you will find yourselves rewarded with paradise on the Day of Gathering.
Reject pride, envy,
and everything that the Eternal has prohibited.
Among the ugliest of despicable acts
is the reprehensible gossip and slander.
That which, may the Merciful protect us,
leads to punishment in the fires.
Obedience to husbands is an essential duty,
through which victory and gains are attained.
Woe, indeed woe, and the Abyss
for whoever disobeys her husband.
Know that his rights are immense,
and the reward for fulfilling them is great.
The Prophet entered the house of Fatimah,
her eyes shedding tears profusely.
He asked, “Why are you crying?” She replied, “O my father,”
“I spoke a word to Ali that angered him,
unintentionally and without intention on my part.
I approached him wanting his satisfaction,
and I said, “My dear, forgive me for this sin,”
“and I seek refuge in no one but Him.”
He did not speak to me and turned away from me.
I circled around him multiple times seeking his approval
until he was pleased with me and smiled in my face.
With his approval, I feared the Creator of the breeze,
He said to her, “If death were to come to you
before gaining my satisfaction, you would not have prayed.”
So see how the virtuous behaved,
and what the Messenger answered her.
In the authentic hadiths and their references,
I cannot count their numbers.
Here, my virtuous speech comes to a halt,
so praise be to Allah, the Generous, and enough.
May blessings and peace be upon our Messenger
and upon his noble family and companions.
Poem: The One Between Us Has Departed
The poet Abdul Rahim Mahmoud expresses in his poem “The One Between Us Has Departed”:
My soul, for the one between us has departed,
like the past that will not return.
Do not grieve over my state,
and forget my oaths and betray my promises.
Do not hold onto memories of love,
for love is burdensome and my load is heavy.
My tears that have humbled me, I have held them back,
oh, how many tears you have made me shed.
And this wound in my heart, I have tried to heal,
extinguishing the fire within my chest.
My wandering mind, I have quelled it,
yet I never hoped for its return.
My soul, for associating partners is not my belief,
and I shall not tolerate another beside my beloved.
I am selfish, and it has not pleased me
to see anyone else as the king of your heart.
If you were to glance at me,
I would detest my world and yours.
I have stripped my heart of all loyalty,
and you have crushed it beneath your feet.
I fear losing my heart, my guidance is misplaced,
and I have ruined my return to the past.
If my heart were to return to what is bygone,
I would bring a fire and burn it down.
Poem: My Friend, I Confide in You as Long as You Do Not Forsake Me
The poet Mahmoud Sami Al-Baroudi shares in his poem: “My Friend, I Confide in You as Long as You Do Not Forsake Me”:
I confide in you, my friend, as long as you do not forsake me,
I have held him accountable, neither harsh nor bitter.
If he returns with kindness, I will as well; if he refuses,
I will endure to honor the bond of friendship with patience.
If he heightens his estrangement, I will erase his name,
and I will refrain from my anger against him and from offering thanks.
And this is not a sign of prophecy from me, but rather I
“cleanse” my spirit of mingling with treachery.