The Guide
So constant shines your light my Love
through dark and lonely nights,
glowing gently in the woods
a guide for all mankind
Sometimes the glow seems weaker
when my tired eyes do roam
Yet ever burning still my Love
You guide me gently home
At times the glow seems stronger
when lit and fueled by faith
a never changing stillness
calms my hurried haste
As you shine tonight my Love
guide me safely through
teach me how to love you more
how to rest in you
………………….
Like a gentle spinning wheel,
Inside my Master’s room,
Gratitude and harmony,
do strain around the loom.
Love for Man with every turn,
Is felt by bride and groom,
and as the wheel does spin its yarn,
old maidens in their bloom.
Never stopping ever weaving,
The loving wheel goes round,
Quilting good for every hour,
with blessings most profound,
Autumn winds and vanities.
Drown out many sounds.
Creeping maids and innocence.
Bring tears of age and frown,
the pedalled wheel continues on
Its sound is ever present,
exchanging gloom for happy days,
laments for every pleasance.
……………………………………….
Oh looming angel
Oh looming angel how you scold me,
forcing me to grow by day,
Honoured touch your lashes hurt me
still there is no other way,
Stubbornly I try to protest
as you raise the sword in hand,
sent by him who knows me better,
holds my life upon his hand,
Screeching on the ground with loathing
like a demon lost in hell.
Blessed lash you cleanse each moment
for my soul you will not sell
Your wings I hear them crash above me
brilliant white like clouds in sky
Legs like steel and eyes so fiery
I have no choice to do or die
Blessed being soar above me
rain down truth to wash me clean
Purer brighter understanding
From the worlds of all unseen
…………………………..
The tasbih
O’er waiting tasbih in my mind
there sweeps a power
Illumined thoughts that comes to man
each waiting hour
And o’er the angry waves of life
A man does walk
Though gone from sight through writings still
He comes and talks
Then His perfumed, sweet presence shows
a truer sight
With Kissed Koran, I wake to know
A world more bright
With tired limbs and burdened heart
Its hard to see
Where you are my dear Imams
I long to be
Your lamp of truth it guides my boat
Upon Life’s shore,
The waves and tides that once did shock,
Oh, nevermore!
And now a white-winged angel comes
and wipes my tears
I kiss my pain and praise Allah
Who’s ever near
…………………….
Angels wings are all embracing, With the thoughts of him above,
Holy arms they lift us higher, To the Throne of Grace and Love.
Gently resting on those feathers, In the warmth of their embrace,
Rising up our minds from shadows, To a place of ever Faith
Like a swan who treads the river, With her babes not far behind,
A group of Angels soaring upwards, To raise the thoughts of all mankind.
Yet still within the bliss we protest, Mistaking pain for downward flight,
Still each thorn it sends us soaring, Like a child with upward kite
O blessed Angels pointing skyward, Are Life’s tests which rest with me,
Taking me forever higher, Rising upward by decree.
Without the pain we cannot reach him, However long? We cannot say,
Long slender fingers promise heaven, But first the sins must die away.
White robed figures swirl around me, Angels Blessings? Allahs curse?
Rising upward nearing Heaven, Always better never worse.
When you feel that Life is scourging Rejoice an Angel does draw near,
Surrender to the journey upwards, Old beliefs will die with tears.
Lighting up the ghosts around me With a light so soft so dear
Filling my sad heart with gladness In its holy power grasps
Comes the rule to have to live by, nothing here at all does last
Islam in its blessed outpourings Godlike as I fall so weak
Conquering every single shadow,Bringing all I e’er could seek
………………………………………………
The lamp that lights all darkness,
is drawn from sorrows vein
Angels tend its lonely wick
to see its glow remain
Its rays spark soft and gentle,
its red bears many scars
hang in the sky like ruby stones
amidst the twinkling stars
The Angel’s blessed scourges
are brought to feed the flame
tortures, sorrows, death and woes
wash us in holy rain
The lamp can e’er be followed
bright and most profound
always lighting higher paths
which lead to holy ground
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
The Eyes of imam Reza ((عليه السلام).)
Last night I dreamt they followed me
Like marbles set in sand
Such beauty words cannot describe
Of one led by God´s hand
Last night I dreamt my Master came
And held me in his arms
He took me to the Kaaba’s door
And sheltered me from harm
His eyes were brown, no, hazel, green,
And more with every smile,
With every step their colour changed
Again with every mile
As we reached dear Mecca’s gate,
His face was all aglow
Then I awoke to find his Light
In books from long ago
Words of Love at every turn
Blessed guiding light
Always pointing to the skies
Keeping God in sight
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
In Memory of a Special Trip to Radio Nederland Wereldomroep (World Service), shortly after its closure; Hilversum,The Netherlands with Abdul Haq.
Gentle drops of rain upon the ground,
Mourning lost forever happy sounds,
A reflecting pool for thinkers wandering round,
Treading sacred paths with Abdul Haq.
Memories of youth in distant past,
Swirling round a huge transmitter mast,
While Angels whisper “nothing here does last”,
Treading sacred paths with Abdul Haq.
Staring in the pool with heavy eyes,
While Angels fingers point to Paradise,
Reflecting back a death I recognise,
Treading sacred paths with Abdul Haq.
A soft sweet figure swirls around my head,
It asks “why seek ye life amongst the dead?
Him you’ll find in all the paths you tread”
Treading sacred paths with Abdul Haq.
Gods unfoldment takes another turn,
Angels turn the wheel, new things begun
Presenting God anew to everyone,
Treading sacred paths with Abdul Haq.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
I wrote this poem to try to capture the moment of recognising the “Mahdi” in thought. That moment where everything makes sense
They came just after zuhr prayer.
Those wondrous words of old,
With Angels bending near the earth,
To hear one take the oath,
They came with Love and peacefulness
first softly like a stream,
To see a Man whose with us still
to break earth’s empty dream,
They came upon earth’s angry sea,
Where ships are sinking low,
Where guiding lights are far from seen,
and man is bending low.
They came with staff and rod in hand,
To heal heart soul and mind,
To fulfill the laws and promises,
Our Prophet left behind,
They came and rest contented,
where seeds of Love are sown,
Daily in our loving Mosques,
Which God himself does own.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
In Allah no feud is found
Past are my Brother’s fears
The Imams Love and gratitude
Wipe painful bitter tears
Now the paths of tribes reflect
Right, Truth, Peace and Love
Abiding in our Prophet´s Light
With Angels from above
And oh the years of sadness
Of darkness and disdain
When we fought and killed each man
By the river´s grassy plains
And as for my forefathers
With covenants passed to keep
I testify of new found love
Drawn from His well so deep
This lowly servant, that I am
Proclaims that Allah´s Love
Weaves together unity
A mantle from above.
……………………………………………..
In every darkened place and time there lies a dark stained land, where people die with martyr´s blood which stains the yellow sand Perhaps a place within our minds which kills all false ideas but with it love and peace are pushed to fall and disappear like Hussain's death at Kerbala or Hasan´s poisoned cup We seem to think such evil things with thoughts which do corrupt Silently we think our thoughts from places dark inside which reap a battle outwardly which never do subside and then we mourn as saints, the men, whose blood they left behind not knowing we ourselves did kill by our false thoughts in mind ........................................ After Jummah shadow dwells Back to the world we part With a thought, a vanished hour With sadness in our hearts Yet souls, rise up on wisdom's wings, With each prayer we find Life has a higher recompense Than just to please mankind. Supreme and omnipresent God, Guide us in wisdom's way! Give peaceful triumph to the Truth, And melt our sins away ............................................... A Muslim’s heart is like a flower Where there is always room For every lovely seed from God Comes to perfect bloom A Muslim’s heart is like a Mosque A room of peace and Love Where Angels make their presence felt With ideas from above A Muslim’s heart is like a fort Of mighty rugged stone Where sayings kept of Mirza dear Rest upon its throne A Muslim’s heart is like a star Reflecting light from God Shining brightly in the night On pathways deeply trod A Muslim’s heart is broken still So God can build anew A pathway closer to himself Of purity and truth A Muslim’s Heart beats larger When love is given free Without condition or distrust Our Hearts light up with glee ....................................... Small Mosque you nestle in the stars In a city full of bikes and cars An Azan called for near and far Its Fajr Time in Glasgow Arabs wave and pass me by While children stare with big brown eyes Through the night the time does fly Its Fajr time in Glasgow Mondays faces have all gone Today new people pray and yawn Some look tired they sit till dawn Its Fajr time in Glasgow Tired and worn, another week Everyone wating, everyone seeks Some superficial, others more deep Its Fajr time in Glasgow .......................... At Fajr Prayer A great silence in our quiet hours Waits in His Love, Awe and Power With birds and nature we sojourn Allah keep us, this new morn The rain drops upon the gentle flowers While deer upon a sighting cowers Keep us Allah shining bright As from darkness, comes first light As birds upon two branches bend Blessings on us, all, you send In lofty castles or houses small In mining pits or marble halls Send us higher in our thoughts Where Truth and Light is always brought Keep us in our waking hours We trust in you O Sacred Power ..............................
Kilbirnie & Beyond 