#8 'Tis the month of celebration
Hello!
I am sending out this newsletter after two weeks. I did not feel like sending one last week. And from this week onwards the newsletter will pop in your inbox every Saturday instead of Thursday. So that you can read it at leisure on weekends :)
When I send out this newsletter, it is with a lot of love, excitement and a hope that as much as I am ebullient to curate it, my readers would also be hyped to read it. So I hope that all 29 recipients of this newsletter will read and enjoy what I manage to bring out every week, will come to this fun corner to relieve themselves of their hectic schedules and will participate in this little community that I am striving to develop :)
I am not up to much these days other than updating my website, finishing up two series on Youtube and Apple TV and trying to read two books at a time… I am currently reading this short story collection which has some known names from the literary world.
Also, since this is the Islamic month of Rabi-ul-Awwal (the month when our Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H. was born), this issue is dedicated to this event’s celebration :) It is on 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal that we celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi or Mawlid — the day when our Prophet was born. The day when we got light and the path to Allah was illuminated for us by Muhammad-e-Mustafa (P.B.U.H.).
Below I will be sharing the poem “Muhammad (P.B.U.H.): An Ode”, written by me and also a part of my poetry collection A Leaf upon a Book.
I will also share two Urdu nazms (poems), also called naats (poems or songs written in praise of the Prophet). But I will be sharing those two Urdu naats in Roman/Latin script, sorry :(
Poetry
1. Muhammad (P.B.U.H.): An Ode by Anam Tariq
To speak thus of a man unparalleled so,
In humanity’s history most uncommon of all;
Of nobility, beauty, piety, of all manly qualities I avow
An epitome thou are O Muhammad and withal
A beguiling perfection yet no trace of conceit.
Semblance none did Jibrael find
Traversing far off universe. Just one star outshone
All the others since my Lord inclined
That not even a shadow shouldst be like thee and it’s known
No human shadow lay beneath thy blessed feet.
Powers mystic thee did hold
Sliding it by a finger’s move, moon thy plaything be,
For Ali once time thee did mould,
Reversing back, the sun anew shone fully.
Decreed by the Great Lord once,
On lightning Buraq commenced thy distinct journey,
Prophets all at Al-Aqsa thou led,
After universe whole, heaven and hell seen
Greeted by the Lord, only thou have met,
Returning from Meraj no time absorbed.
Guide to travellers adrift, thou brought
From caverns dark into the light of wisdom
And Islam, the deluded, faithless multitude. Thou sought
And justice did, earned rights the women of a kingdom
Which had prior girls buried alive. The Lord thee solicited
Up at nights whole for thy Muslim community’s remission sole
While foes thine, thee always absolved
And on the Final Day that’s each one’s dole
Sublime ahead us all, our advocate before the Lord,
The man leading us to paradise thou shalt be.
Note: Archaic English words - thee (you), thou (you), thy (your),
thine (yours), shouldst (should), shalt (shall)2. Woh Kamaal-e-Husn-e-Huzoor Hain by Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi R.A. (excerpt)
Woh Kamaal-e-Husn-e-Huzoor Hain Ki Gumaan-e-Naqsh Jahaan Nahi Yahi Phool Khaar Say Duur Hai Yahi Sham’a Hai Ki Dhu-aan Nahi Do Jahaan Ki Behtariyan Nahi Ke Amaaniye Dil-o-Jaan Nahi Kaho Kya Hai Wo Jo Yahan Nahi Magar Ik Nahi Ke Wo Haan Nahi Ba-Khuda Khuda Ka Yahi Hai Darr Nahi Aur Koi Mafar Maqar Jo Wahan Se Ho Yahin Aa Ke Ho Jo Yahan Nahi Toh Wahan Nahi Main Nisaar Tere Kalaam Par Mili Yun Toh Kisiko Zabaan Nahi Wo Sukhan Hai Jisme Sukhan Na Ho Wo Bayaan Hai Jiska Bayaan Nahi Tere Aagey Yun Hain Dabey Lachey Fusaha Arab Ke Bare Bare Koi Jaane Muh Me Zabaan Nahi Nahi Balki Jism Mein Jaan Nahi Wahi La-Makaan Ke Makeen Huwe Sar-e-Arsh Takht Nasheen Huwe Wo Nabi Hain Jiske Hain Ye Makaan Wo Khuda Hai Jiska Makaan Nahi Sar-e-Arsh Par Hai Teri Guzar Dil-e-Farsh Par Hai Teri Nazar Malakoot-o-Mulk Mein Koi Shay Nahi Wo Jo Tujh Pe Ayaan Nahi Karoon Madhe Ahl-e-Duwal Raza Parey Iss Balaa Mein Meri Balaa Main Gada Hoon Apne Kareem Ka Mera Deen Para-e-Naan Nahi
3. Zameen-o-Zaman Tumhare Liye by Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi R.A. (excerpt)
ZAMEEN O ZAMAN TUMHARE LIYE MAKEEN O MAKAN TUMHARE LIYE CHUNEEN O CHUNAN TUMHARE LIYE BANEY DO JAHAN TUMHARE LIYE DAHAN MEIN ZUBAN TUMHARE LIYE BADAN MEIN JAAN TUMHARE LIYE HUM AAYE YAHAN TUMHARE LIYE UTHEN BHI WAHAN TUMHARE LIYE KALIM O NAJI, MASIH O SAFI KHALIL O RAZI, RASUL O NABI ATIQ O WASI, GHANIYY O ALI SANA KI ZUBAAN TUMHARE LIYE TUMHARI CHAMAK, TUMHARI DAMAK TUMHARI JHALAK, TUMHARI MAHAK ZAMIN O FALAK, SIMAK O SAMAK MEIN SIKKA NISHAN TUMHARE LIYE YE SHAMS O QAMAR YE SHAM O SAHAR YE BARG O SHAJAR YE BAGH O SAMAR YE TEGH O SIPAR YE TAJ O KAMAR YE HUKM RAWAN TUMHARE LIYE YE FAYZ DIYE WO JUD KIYE KE NAM LIYE ZAMANA JIYE JAHAN NE LIYE TUMHARE DIYE YE IKRAMIYAN TUMHARE LIYE SAHAB E KARAM RAWANA KIYE, KE AB NIAM ZAMANA PIYE JO RAKHTE THE HUM WO CHAK SIYE, YE SATR E BADAN TUMHARE LIYE SABA WO CHALE KE BAGH PHALE WO PHOOL KHILE KE DIN HON BHALE LIWA KE TALE SANA MEIN KHULE RAZA KI ZABAN TUMHARE LIYE NA RUHEY AMIN, NA ARSHEY BARIN NA LOHEY MUBIN KOI BHI NAHIN KHABAR HI NAHIN JO RAMZ KHULEY AZAL KE NIHAN TUMHARE LIYE ZAMEEN O ZAMAAN TUMHARE LIYE
Quotes
Some quotes by Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.):
Allah does not look at your forms and possessions but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.
A white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good actions.
He is not a true believer who eats his fill while his neighbor is hungry.
Make things easy for people and not difficult. Give people good news and bring them joy, and do not turn them away.
When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, look to those who have been given less.
Recommendations
1. The History of Mawlid Poems: From the Sahabah Until Today - Came across this article, haven’t read it yet, but it seems nice and informative. You can check it out.
2. I liked this issue of the newsletter Feelings Not Aside by Kayti Christian. You can read it below:
3. The Window Across The Street - I don’t know why but I somehow always happen to read or listen to something which is exactly related to what I’m going through at that time. In this essay the narrator is doing what I long to do but mostly give up, maybe because I am not ready to leave my childhood home, parents, hometown behind, no matter how much I wish to explore the world. Maybe I am not accustomed to change…. But let’s keep this story for another day!
4. I have made a playlist of naats to listen to this month. Check it below. One of them is in English too (Al-Mu’allim).
I think that is it for today. And I think you will get it late because I was busy today and couldn’t send it earlier.
Eid Milad-un-Nabi Mubarak!!! Recite a lot of Durood!
Allah hafiz and take care! Bye :)