Poetry

I may cross your mind at times,
and you may wonder how I am.
After all I’ve been through,
it may seem as though I would be broken.
But the truth is,
all that I am,
all I hope to be,
is a result of all I’ve taken and all I’ve seen.

It took more out of me than I had expected.
Time and time again,
I would fight,
and would be left alone.
And if I would walk taller,
one or another would find a way to make me feel,
feel like a failure.

But, failure,
ah, how beautiful it is,
As it has made me who I am today.
My failures have been my greatest blessings.
They have made me stronger, powerful.
Seemingly invincible.

My humanity is all that restrains me
from becoming a beast.
My faith is all that maintains me
from becoming a reflection of sorrow.
How beautiful it is to be a mosaic of shattered pieces,
than to be plain glass of one view.
Through the different pieces of me,
I have developed into a variety.

I am thankful and grateful,
for all that I have faced.
For the times my heart has been broken,
despite giving my all to be the best man I could be;
For when I have felt that my goals and dreams,
would remain as nothing more than a fantasy;
For when I would be surrounded by naysayers,
who seemed to be determined to ruin me;
For all these experiences,
I am left with no grievances.
Instead, I reflect,
and look at who and what I’ve lost,
and learn that through losing,
I have gained the greatest thing…
I have gained me.

We are not created to be perfect.
We are created to be tested,
To be scarred and to heal,
To make mistakes and to learn,
To fall and to get back up.

It is we who are reliant upon the Creator,
Not Him upon us.
As we cannot heal, learn, or get back up,
Unless we fully submit to Him.

Much as a diamond is made under pressure,
We are placed under the utmost care,
As we are tested and put through struggle,
To eventually become stronger and more rare.

Much as a painter seeks out perfecting intricate details,
In the same way, should we treat our lives.
There will always remain space for improvement,
But we must try our best to get close to perfection.
The minute details may seem unimportant,
Or like too tedious or difficult a task to bother,
But without them,
Every painting would be the same.

Look not to God in agony,
Asking for reasons to your misery.
Instead, look to yourself to see,
That your choices brought you to where you are.
Don’t mope on the past,
But forgive yourself instead.
And from here onwards,
Turn to Him and you will find clarity.
And when the pressure builds,
And the details reveal themselves,
You will only be grateful,
On the condition that you have truly submitted to Him.
Things will be difficult.
You may fall more than you stand.
But know that you are not created to achieve perfection.
You are created for progression in constantly striving to please and worship Him.

Have you ever met a man truly at peace?
He lives a life one would pray to avoid,
but would also envy because of the ease in which he dwells?
This man is a rarity,
as he has tasted true faith,
and through that, has found peace.

What a beautiful state this is!
To be able to soar through the fog of life,
and find vision in the darkest of nights.
To find comfort in knowing that He will suffice,
because it is God Himself that brings about the calm,
when tested and faced with the greatest of storms.
This is always the case,
but until one has tasted true faith,
he will never see this,
and thus, will never find peace.

Through simplicity and conviction,
sincerity and ambition,
one can become amongst the most peaceful of men.
But this is a condition that comes with its conditions,
as it takes little time to recognize His Plan and Attributes,
but sometimes a lifetime to act on that recognition.
To be peaceful requires internal bliss,
a state of mind that comes only through faith.
And to have faith is a test of faith,
so overcome it knowing that He will never overburden you.

The world will push you,
the people will confuse you,
but you must not rest,
until you have found peace.
A lifelong journey,
but one worth every step.
Because, as long as your pursue it,
you will be at peace,
until the day arrives when all that will survive of this,
is the wishes of people that you rest in peace.

I don’t think there is anyone as beautiful as her.
Anyone.
But, there’s more to it than that.
Have you ever thought of what it would be like?
To find that person who is exactly what you had dreamt of?
The person, who if all limitations from external factors were removed,
they would be the perfect spouse?
Then, you find that even the external factors don’t hold you back?
Or that if they do, they slowly, but surely are overcome,
and you are giving the blessing of an opportunity to be
with the one you love?

Have you ever considered it?

That you met this person who loved you,
just as you loved them,
but in your own ways,
because you both were different,
yet the same?

That you found yourself in dilemmas,
and sought out the guidance of God,
to find Him telling you to just be patient,
as He makes things easy for you,
when you’d expect yourself to be completely shattered by now?

That from hearing their voice,
your heart flutters,
and from seeing their face,
you begin to tingle,
and from everything you experience,
you think of them?

That you get this feeling…
not a burning passion,
not butterflies,
not special chemistry,
not any of the stuff you hear about in fairytales,
but instead this deep sense of comfort…
as though the person,
without even speaking or doing anything,
has hugged your heart,
and given you warmth you’d never felt before?

That you would fall back and forth with this person,
and still wouldn’t feel any reason to give up,
on a love that was once declared,
and now remains hidden in your hearts,
and could be the answer to your dreams,
or could remain an unrequited love?

What would you do?
Would you take up the courage and try again?
Would you talk to them, though you feel they might refuse you,
after they spent so much of themselves to be with you?
Would you be afraid of how they might see you,
and judge you for making things difficult?

Have you considered it?

I have.
And I will tell you,
with all of the conviction I can muster,
and all of the hope and faith I hold,
that if there is someone you love,
you must speak out and proclaim your love.
Yes, you may lose them.
Yes, it may be difficult.
But, you will have tried.

I will tell you this:
If you took up the courage to speak to me again,
if you asked me if we could try again,
if you opened up to me as you once did,
and went beyond your comforts to ask me again…
I will not judge you.
I will not make you feel as any less than incredible.
I will applaud you on your courage,
as I once did when we first met.
I will not refuse you.
I will say yes to us again.

And one day, God-willing, when our children will ask,
“What was your story, Mama and Baba?”
I would want them to see the best of you,
and know you as I have loved you.
I will tell them that Baba was afraid,
because he wasn’t good enough for Mama.
But that Mama was strong and sought what she wanted,
because her heart knew it was us from the very first day.

Do you hear it?
The thunder?
I hear it every day.
Come rain or shine,
I hear it.
It sends a vibration through my veins,
pulsating my heart,
and ultimately seeping into my soul.

I try to find solace through faith.
Through prayer and the remembrance of Allah,
I find strength against the whispers of Shaitaan.
The thunder shouts at me.
It tells me that I will fail;
that my pursuit is a lost cause.
Every time it yells,
it makes my heart shudder.
Every time it goes silent,
I fear the time it will return.

I try to find solace in the rain.
Through every drop and the coolness it brings,
I find contentment with the thunder.
Shaitaan shouts at me.
He tells me that I will fail;
that my pursuit is a lost cause.
Every time he yells,
it makes my heart shudder.
Every time he goes silent,
I fear the time he will return.

Do you hear it?
The rain?
I hear it every day.
Come thunder or drought,
I hear it.
It sends a sense of calm through my veins,
massaging my heart,
and ultimately seeping into my soul.

Growing up in a musical family, I would often hear my parents walking around the house singing. My dad’s favourites included those by the late Indian playback singer, Mohammed Rafi. The influences of Rafi on my life and my poetry are monumental. Most of the songs I know, I learned from hearing my dad sing. In fact, until today, I still haven’t heard many of the originals!

Mohammed Rafi

Still, I was inspired by the words. It was lyrical genius! I don’t know if that was the work of Rafi or someone else, but as I see it, “A pen is only as strong as it’s holder.” Considering I didn’t know the language at first, and learned it through these songs, tells you how compelling his voice was! But, I don’t want to focus on his singing abilities as much as I’d like to show you the poetic inspiration that brought to life the hidden passion for poetry I had in me.

I am nowhere near the poetic caliber of whoever wrote these songs, but they have definitely inspired me and still continue to inspire me, especially as my family and I sing along with each other while playing cards on Family Night. Here’s a recent favourite that we sang together. It’s actually what compelled me to share this with all of you. Keep in mind, a lot is lost in translation. The song is called, “Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par” (“I would consider it a favour…”)

Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par

I would consider it a favour,
if you would let me tell you how I feel.
I’ve fallen in love with you.
Let me remain in the shelters of our love.
I would consider it a favour…

You are the one who taught me how to laugh…
You are the one who taught me how to laugh,
If you ask me to cry, I will.
I’ll cry, if you ask me to.
Do not grieve for my tears,
they will flow, so let them flow.
I’ve fallen in love with you.
Just give me the shelter of our love.
It’ll be a favour upon me.

Make me, if you wish.
Or destroy me, if you wish.
Even in death,
I will wish you well.
Even in death, I will wish you well.
As it floats in the air, every fleck of dust from my remains will say,
“My love, let me bear this pain of my heart,
For I have fallen in love with you,
just give me the shelter of our love.”

I would consider it a favour,
if you would let me tell you how I feel.
I’ve fallen in love with you.
Let me remain in the shelters of our love.
I would consider it a favour…

What do you guys think? Pretty amazing, if you ask me!